🧀 Cheese Vocab
Cheese names can reflect the milk, texture, age, or way a cheese is made. Some cheeses are soft enough to spread, while others are firm enough to grate. Some melt into creamy sauces, while others hold their shape and squeak when grilled. The names below explore the many textures, flavors, and styles of cheese.
🤍 Soft-Ripened
🇫🇷 Brie
soft French cheese with a white edible rind and a creamy inside
Example: Ripe brie runs a little when you cut the wedge.
🇫🇷 French: Brie
🇩🇪 German: Brie
🇮🇹 Italian: Brie
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Brie
💡 Nuance: Larger wheel, milder cream. Camembert is the smaller, often earthier cousin.
soft French cheese with a white edible rind and a creamy inside
Example: Ripe brie runs a little when you cut the wedge.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Brie🇫🇷 French: Brie
🇩🇪 German: Brie
🇮🇹 Italian: Brie
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Brie
💡 Nuance: Larger wheel, milder cream. Camembert is the smaller, often earthier cousin.
🤍 Camembert
soft-ripened French cheese with a bloomy white rind and an earthy flavor
Example: A whole camembert baked until the center moved.
🇫🇷 French: Camembert
🇩🇪 German: Camembert
🇮🇹 Italian: Camembert
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Camembert
💡 Nuance: Same family as brie. Usually a small round and a bit more mushroom than cream.
soft-ripened French cheese with a bloomy white rind and an earthy flavor
Example: A whole camembert baked until the center moved.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Camembert🇫🇷 French: Camembert
🇩🇪 German: Camembert
🇮🇹 Italian: Camembert
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Camembert
💡 Nuance: Same family as brie. Usually a small round and a bit more mushroom than cream.
🧀 Neufchâtel
soft French cow's-milk cheese in the brie family, often heart-shaped
Example: French neufchâtel is a bloomy rind, not the American block sold as a light cream cheese.
🇫🇷 French: Neufchâtel
🇩🇪 German: Neufchâtel
🇮🇹 Italian: Neufchâtel
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Neufchâtel
💡 Nuance: In France it sits next to brie. In U.S. shops the same word is sometimes a lower-fat cream cheese. Different products.
soft French cow's-milk cheese in the brie family, often heart-shaped
Example: French neufchâtel is a bloomy rind, not the American block sold as a light cream cheese.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Neufchâtel🇫🇷 French: Neufchâtel
🇩🇪 German: Neufchâtel
🇮🇹 Italian: Neufchâtel
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Neufchâtel
💡 Nuance: In France it sits next to brie. In U.S. shops the same word is sometimes a lower-fat cream cheese. Different products.
🧡 Taleggio
soft Italian washed-rind cheese - strong smell, milder buttery taste
Example: Taleggio melted into the polenta without tasting as loud as it smelled.
🇫🇷 French: Taleggio
🇩🇪 German: Taleggio
🇮🇹 Italian: Taleggio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Taleggio
💡 Nuance: Washed rind, not bloomy white like brie. Aroma is not a warning about the flavor.
soft Italian washed-rind cheese - strong smell, milder buttery taste
Example: Taleggio melted into the polenta without tasting as loud as it smelled.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Taleggio🇫🇷 French: Taleggio
🇩🇪 German: Taleggio
🇮🇹 Italian: Taleggio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Taleggio
💡 Nuance: Washed rind, not bloomy white like brie. Aroma is not a warning about the flavor.
🥛 Fresh & Creamy
🇮🇹 Mozzarella
mild, stretchy Italian cheese, buffalo or cow's milk
Example: Fresh mozzarella leaked milk onto the tomato.
🇫🇷 French: Mozzarella
🇩🇪 German: Mozzarella
🇮🇹 Italian: Mozzarella
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mussarela / mozzarella
💡 Nuance: Fresh balls are wet and mild. Low-moisture pizza mozzarella is a drier cousin. Halloumi is the one that holds a grill.
mild, stretchy Italian cheese, buffalo or cow's milk
Example: Fresh mozzarella leaked milk onto the tomato.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mozzarella🇫🇷 French: Mozzarella
🇩🇪 German: Mozzarella
🇮🇹 Italian: Mozzarella
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mussarela / mozzarella
💡 Nuance: Fresh balls are wet and mild. Low-moisture pizza mozzarella is a drier cousin. Halloumi is the one that holds a grill.
🤍 Ricotta
soft fresh Italian cheese with a light, grainy cream texture
Example: The lasagna used ricotta, not mascarpone.
🇫🇷 French: Ricotta
🇩🇪 German: Ricotta
🇮🇹 Italian: Ricotta
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ricota
💡 Nuance: Traditionally made from leftover whey. Lighter than mascarpone. Not a melting stretch cheese.
soft fresh Italian cheese with a light, grainy cream texture
Example: The lasagna used ricotta, not mascarpone.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Ricotta🇫🇷 French: Ricotta
🇩🇪 German: Ricotta
🇮🇹 Italian: Ricotta
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ricota
💡 Nuance: Traditionally made from leftover whey. Lighter than mascarpone. Not a melting stretch cheese.
🍰 Mascarpone
very rich, silky Italian cream cheese used in desserts and sauces
Example: Tiramisu is built on mascarpone, not ricotta.
🇫🇷 French: Mascarpone
🇩🇪 German: Mascarpone
🇮🇹 Italian: Mascarpone
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mascarpone
💡 Nuance: Fat and silk. Ricotta is lighter and slightly grainy.
very rich, silky Italian cream cheese used in desserts and sauces
Example: Tiramisu is built on mascarpone, not ricotta.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mascarpone🇫🇷 French: Mascarpone
🇩🇪 German: Mascarpone
🇮🇹 Italian: Mascarpone
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mascarpone
💡 Nuance: Fat and silk. Ricotta is lighter and slightly grainy.
🐐 Goat Cheese (Chèvre)
cheese from goat's milk - often a soft tangy log, but the word covers many styles
Example: The salad used a cold log of chèvre, crumbled over beets.
🇫🇷 French: Chèvre
🇩🇪 German: Ziegenkäse
🇮🇹 Italian: Formaggio di capra
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Queijo de cabra
💡 Nuance: Chèvre means goat. Soft logs are the common shop form, not the only one.
cheese from goat's milk - often a soft tangy log, but the word covers many styles
Example: The salad used a cold log of chèvre, crumbled over beets.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Queso de cabra / chèvre🇫🇷 French: Chèvre
🇩🇪 German: Ziegenkäse
🇮🇹 Italian: Formaggio di capra
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Queijo de cabra
💡 Nuance: Chèvre means goat. Soft logs are the common shop form, not the only one.
🇲🇽 Queso Fresco
fresh mild Mexican cheese - soft, crumbly, not meant to melt into a stretch
Example: Queso fresco went over the beans while they were still hot.
🇫🇷 French: Queso fresco
🇩🇪 German: Queso fresco
🇮🇹 Italian: Queso fresco
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Queijo fresco
💡 Nuance: Fresh and mild. Cotija is the drier, saltier sprinkle cheese.
fresh mild Mexican cheese - soft, crumbly, not meant to melt into a stretch
Example: Queso fresco went over the beans while they were still hot.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Queso fresco🇫🇷 French: Queso fresco
🇩🇪 German: Queso fresco
🇮🇹 Italian: Queso fresco
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Queijo fresco
💡 Nuance: Fresh and mild. Cotija is the drier, saltier sprinkle cheese.
🔵 Blue
🇮🇹 Gorgonzola
Italian blue cheese with blue-green veins and a pungent savory flavor
Example: Dolce gorgonzola is creamier; piccante is sharper.
🇫🇷 French: Gorgonzola
🇩🇪 German: Gorgonzola
🇮🇹 Italian: Gorgonzola
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gorgonzola
💡 Nuance: Cow's milk blue. Roquefort is sheep. Stilton is the English crumbly one.
Italian blue cheese with blue-green veins and a pungent savory flavor
Example: Dolce gorgonzola is creamier; piccante is sharper.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Gorgonzola🇫🇷 French: Gorgonzola
🇩🇪 German: Gorgonzola
🇮🇹 Italian: Gorgonzola
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gorgonzola
💡 Nuance: Cow's milk blue. Roquefort is sheep. Stilton is the English crumbly one.
🇫🇷 Roquefort
French sheep's-milk blue - strong, tangy, aged in caves
Example: A little roquefort in the dressing was enough.
🇫🇷 French: Roquefort
🇩🇪 German: Roquefort
🇮🇹 Italian: Roquefort
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Roquefort
💡 Nuance: Sheep's milk. Often louder and wetter than stilton.
French sheep's-milk blue - strong, tangy, aged in caves
Example: A little roquefort in the dressing was enough.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Roquefort🇫🇷 French: Roquefort
🇩🇪 German: Roquefort
🇮🇹 Italian: Roquefort
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Roquefort
💡 Nuance: Sheep's milk. Often louder and wetter than stilton.
🇬🇧 Stilton
English blue with a crumbly paste and a pronounced flavor
Example: Port and stilton is an old pairing for a reason.
🇫🇷 French: Stilton
🇩🇪 German: Stilton
🇮🇹 Italian: Stilton
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Stilton
💡 Nuance: Crumbly, not as creamy as dolce gorgonzola. Blue veins, English rules.
English blue with a crumbly paste and a pronounced flavor
Example: Port and stilton is an old pairing for a reason.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Stilton🇫🇷 French: Stilton
🇩🇪 German: Stilton
🇮🇹 Italian: Stilton
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Stilton
💡 Nuance: Crumbly, not as creamy as dolce gorgonzola. Blue veins, English rules.
🪨 Hard, Aged & Salty
🇮🇹 Parmesan
hard aged Italian cow's-milk cheese - granular and very savory
Example: Real Parmigiano Reggiano is a type of parmesan with a protected name.
🇫🇷 French: Parmesan
🇩🇪 German: Parmesan
🇮🇹 Italian: Parmigiano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Parmesão
💡 Nuance: Cow. Pecorino is sheep and saltier. Grate, don't melt into a stretch.
hard aged Italian cow's-milk cheese - granular and very savory
Example: Real Parmigiano Reggiano is a type of parmesan with a protected name.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Parmesano🇫🇷 French: Parmesan
🇩🇪 German: Parmesan
🇮🇹 Italian: Parmigiano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Parmesão
💡 Nuance: Cow. Pecorino is sheep and saltier. Grate, don't melt into a stretch.
🐑 Pecorino Romano
hard Italian sheep's-milk cheese - salty and sharp
Example: Cacio e pepe wants pecorino, not a mild parmesan.
🇫🇷 French: Pecorino romano
🇩🇪 German: Pecorino Romano
🇮🇹 Italian: Pecorino romano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pecorino romano
💡 Nuance: Pecora = sheep. Romano is one style: extra salty, made for grating.
hard Italian sheep's-milk cheese - salty and sharp
Example: Cacio e pepe wants pecorino, not a mild parmesan.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pecorino romano🇫🇷 French: Pecorino romano
🇩🇪 German: Pecorino Romano
🇮🇹 Italian: Pecorino romano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pecorino romano
💡 Nuance: Pecora = sheep. Romano is one style: extra salty, made for grating.
🇮🇹 Asiago
Italian cheese that starts milder when young and turns firm and sharp as it ages
Example: Aged asiago can stand in for parmesan in a pinch. Fresh asiago is closer to a table cheese.
🇫🇷 French: Asiago
🇩🇪 German: Asiago
🇮🇹 Italian: Asiago
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Asiago
💡 Nuance: Age changes the job. Young = slice. Old = grate.
Italian cheese that starts milder when young and turns firm and sharp as it ages
Example: Aged asiago can stand in for parmesan in a pinch. Fresh asiago is closer to a table cheese.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Asiago🇫🇷 French: Asiago
🇩🇪 German: Asiago
🇮🇹 Italian: Asiago
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Asiago
💡 Nuance: Age changes the job. Young = slice. Old = grate.
🇪🇸 Manchego
firm Spanish sheep's-milk cheese with a patterned rind and a nutty flavor
Example: Thin slices of manchego next to quince paste.
🇫🇷 French: Manchego
🇩🇪 German: Manchego
🇮🇹 Italian: Manchego
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Manchego
💡 Nuance: Sheep, Spain, basket pattern on the rind. A table cheese more than a grate-over-pasta cheese.
firm Spanish sheep's-milk cheese with a patterned rind and a nutty flavor
Example: Thin slices of manchego next to quince paste.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Manchego🇫🇷 French: Manchego
🇩🇪 German: Manchego
🇮🇹 Italian: Manchego
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Manchego
💡 Nuance: Sheep, Spain, basket pattern on the rind. A table cheese more than a grate-over-pasta cheese.
🇲🇽 Cotija
firm, salty Mexican cheese, usually crumbled over hot food
Example: Elote got cotija, lime, and chili.
🇫🇷 French: Cotija
🇩🇪 German: Cotija
🇮🇹 Italian: Cotija
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cotija
💡 Nuance: The salty finish. Queso fresco is milder and wetter. Cotija is closer to a Mexican pecorino in job.
firm, salty Mexican cheese, usually crumbled over hot food
Example: Elote got cotija, lime, and chili.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Cotija🇫🇷 French: Cotija
🇩🇪 German: Cotija
🇮🇹 Italian: Cotija
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cotija
💡 Nuance: The salty finish. Queso fresco is milder and wetter. Cotija is closer to a Mexican pecorino in job.
🫕 Firm, Melting & Everyday
🟠 Cheddar
firm cheese from mild to sharp - rich and tangy
Example: Sharp cheddar on the burger; mild cheddar in the sauce.
🇫🇷 French: Cheddar
🇩🇪 German: Cheddar
🇮🇹 Italian: Cheddar
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cheddar
💡 Nuance: Age is the flavor. Colby and jack are milder American cousins.
firm cheese from mild to sharp - rich and tangy
Example: Sharp cheddar on the burger; mild cheddar in the sauce.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Cheddar🇫🇷 French: Cheddar
🇩🇪 German: Cheddar
🇮🇹 Italian: Cheddar
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cheddar
💡 Nuance: Age is the flavor. Colby and jack are milder American cousins.
🇳🇱 Gouda
Dutch cheese - mild and supple when young, firm and caramel-like when aged
Example: Aged gouda snaps like candy. Young gouda melts.
🇫🇷 French: Gouda
🇩🇪 German: Gouda
🇮🇹 Italian: Gouda
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gouda
💡 Nuance: Age changes everything. Edam is the milder round Dutch neighbor.
Dutch cheese - mild and supple when young, firm and caramel-like when aged
Example: Aged gouda snaps like candy. Young gouda melts.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Gouda🇫🇷 French: Gouda
🇩🇪 German: Gouda
🇮🇹 Italian: Gouda
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gouda
💡 Nuance: Age changes everything. Edam is the milder round Dutch neighbor.
🔴 Edam
semi-hard Dutch cheese, often a mild ball in red wax
Example: The red wax ball was edam, not aged gouda.
🇫🇷 French: Edam
🇩🇪 German: Edamer
🇮🇹 Italian: Edam
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Edam
💡 Nuance: Milder and drier than young gouda. Shape and wax are the supermarket clue.
semi-hard Dutch cheese, often a mild ball in red wax
Example: The red wax ball was edam, not aged gouda.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Edam🇫🇷 French: Edam
🇩🇪 German: Edamer
🇮🇹 Italian: Edam
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Edam
💡 Nuance: Milder and drier than young gouda. Shape and wax are the supermarket clue.
🇨🇭 Gruyère
firm Swiss cheese - nutty, savory, built for melting
Example: French onion soup wants gruyère on the toast.
🇫🇷 French: Gruyère
🇩🇪 German: Gruyère
🇮🇹 Italian: Gruyère
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gruyère
💡 Nuance: Few or no big holes. Swiss and emmental are the holey cousins.
firm Swiss cheese - nutty, savory, built for melting
Example: French onion soup wants gruyère on the toast.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Gruyère🇫🇷 French: Gruyère
🇩🇪 German: Gruyère
🇮🇹 Italian: Gruyère
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gruyère
💡 Nuance: Few or no big holes. Swiss and emmental are the holey cousins.
🕳️ Swiss Cheese
mild firm cheese known for its holes, or eyes
Example: The deli sandwich used Swiss, not a named Alpine wheel.
🇫🇷 French: Fromage suisse
🇩🇪 German: Schweizer Käse
🇮🇹 Italian: Formaggio svizzero
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Queijo suíço
💡 Nuance: In English this often means a mild holey sandwich cheese. Emmental is the traditional Swiss name with large eyes.
mild firm cheese known for its holes, or eyes
Example: The deli sandwich used Swiss, not a named Alpine wheel.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Queso suizo🇫🇷 French: Fromage suisse
🇩🇪 German: Schweizer Käse
🇮🇹 Italian: Formaggio svizzero
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Queijo suíço
💡 Nuance: In English this often means a mild holey sandwich cheese. Emmental is the traditional Swiss name with large eyes.
🧀 Emmental
traditional Swiss cheese with large holes and a mild nutty flavor
Example: Fondue recipes often split the pot between emmental and gruyère.
🇫🇷 French: Emmental
🇩🇪 German: Emmentaler
🇮🇹 Italian: Emmental
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Emmental
💡 Nuance: The classic big-eyed Swiss. Gruyère is nuttier and usually tighter in the paste.
traditional Swiss cheese with large holes and a mild nutty flavor
Example: Fondue recipes often split the pot between emmental and gruyère.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Emmental🇫🇷 French: Emmental
🇩🇪 German: Emmentaler
🇮🇹 Italian: Emmental
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Emmental
💡 Nuance: The classic big-eyed Swiss. Gruyère is nuttier and usually tighter in the paste.
🇩🇰 Havarti
semi-soft Danish cheese - buttery, mild, good on a sandwich
Example: Havarti melted evenly on the rye.
🇫🇷 French: Havarti
🇩🇪 German: Havarti
🇮🇹 Italian: Havarti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Havarti
💡 Nuance: Everyday melt. Less tang than cheddar, fewer holes than Swiss.
semi-soft Danish cheese - buttery, mild, good on a sandwich
Example: Havarti melted evenly on the rye.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Havarti🇫🇷 French: Havarti
🇩🇪 German: Havarti
🇮🇹 Italian: Havarti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Havarti
💡 Nuance: Everyday melt. Less tang than cheddar, fewer holes than Swiss.
🇮🇹 Provolone
semi-hard Italian pulled-curd cheese - mild or sharp depending on age
Example: The hoagie asked for sharp provolone.
🇫🇷 French: Provolone
🇩🇪 German: Provolone
🇮🇹 Italian: Provolone
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Provolone
💡 Nuance: Same pulled-curd family as mozzarella, then aged. Dolce is mild; piccante is sharp.
semi-hard Italian pulled-curd cheese - mild or sharp depending on age
Example: The hoagie asked for sharp provolone.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Provolone🇫🇷 French: Provolone
🇩🇪 German: Provolone
🇮🇹 Italian: Provolone
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Provolone
💡 Nuance: Same pulled-curd family as mozzarella, then aged. Dolce is mild; piccante is sharp.
🇮🇹 Fontina
semi-soft Italian cheese - creamy, nutty, earthy, melts cleanly
Example: Fontina in the baked pasta browned without turning greasy.
🇫🇷 French: Fontina
🇩🇪 German: Fontina
🇮🇹 Italian: Fontina
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fontina
💡 Nuance: Alpine melt. True Fontina Val d'Aosta is earthier than many supermarket copies.
semi-soft Italian cheese - creamy, nutty, earthy, melts cleanly
Example: Fontina in the baked pasta browned without turning greasy.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Fontina🇫🇷 French: Fontina
🇩🇪 German: Fontina
🇮🇹 Italian: Fontina
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fontina
💡 Nuance: Alpine melt. True Fontina Val d'Aosta is earthier than many supermarket copies.
🇺🇸 Monterey Jack
semi-soft American cheese - mild, buttery, melts well
Example: Quesadillas used Monterey Jack for stretch, not flavor.
🇫🇷 French: Monterey Jack
🇩🇪 German: Monterey Jack
🇮🇹 Italian: Monterey Jack
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Monterey Jack
💡 Nuance: Melt first. Pepper Jack is the same cheese with chili. Colby is the orange, slightly more open cousin.
semi-soft American cheese - mild, buttery, melts well
Example: Quesadillas used Monterey Jack for stretch, not flavor.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Monterey Jack🇫🇷 French: Monterey Jack
🇩🇪 German: Monterey Jack
🇮🇹 Italian: Monterey Jack
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Monterey Jack
💡 Nuance: Melt first. Pepper Jack is the same cheese with chili. Colby is the orange, slightly more open cousin.
🟠 Colby
semi-hard American cheese - mild, creamy, a little more open in texture than cheddar
Example: Colby-Jack is a marble of Colby and Monterey Jack.
🇫🇷 French: Colby
🇩🇪 German: Colby
🇮🇹 Italian: Colby
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Colby
💡 Nuance: Looks like cheddar, tastes milder. Not a sharp aging cheese.
semi-hard American cheese - mild, creamy, a little more open in texture than cheddar
Example: Colby-Jack is a marble of Colby and Monterey Jack.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Colby🇫🇷 French: Colby
🇩🇪 German: Colby
🇮🇹 Italian: Colby
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Colby
💡 Nuance: Looks like cheddar, tastes milder. Not a sharp aging cheese.
🇨🇾 Halloumi
firm Cypriot cheese that keeps its shape on heat - grilled or fried
Example: Halloumi squeaked on the grill and did not melt into a puddle.
🇫🇷 French: Halloumi
🇩🇪 German: Halloumi
🇮🇹 Italian: Halloumi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Halloumi
💡 Nuance: High melting point on purpose. Mozzarella stretches. Halloumi browns.
firm Cypriot cheese that keeps its shape on heat - grilled or fried
Example: Halloumi squeaked on the grill and did not melt into a puddle.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Halloumi🇫🇷 French: Halloumi
🇩🇪 German: Halloumi
🇮🇹 Italian: Halloumi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Halloumi
💡 Nuance: High melting point on purpose. Mozzarella stretches. Halloumi browns.
🧠 Useful Distinctions
🇫🇷 Brie vs. Camembert vs. Neufchâtel
Same bloomy-rind family. Brie is the larger, creamier wheel. Camembert is smaller and often earthier. French neufchâtel belongs here. American "neufchatel" in a tub is usually a light cream cheese.
Same bloomy-rind family. Brie is the larger, creamier wheel. Camembert is smaller and often earthier. French neufchâtel belongs here. American "neufchatel" in a tub is usually a light cream cheese.
🇮🇹 Parmesan vs. 🐑 Pecorino Romano
Both grate. Parmesan is cow and nutty-savory. Pecorino is sheep and saltier. Cacio e pepe wants pecorino.
Both grate. Parmesan is cow and nutty-savory. Pecorino is sheep and saltier. Cacio e pepe wants pecorino.
🔵 Gorgonzola vs. Roquefort vs. Stilton
All blue. Gorgonzola is Italian cow (creamy or sharp). Roquefort is French sheep. Stilton is English and crumbly.
All blue. Gorgonzola is Italian cow (creamy or sharp). Roquefort is French sheep. Stilton is English and crumbly.
🇨🇭 Gruyère vs. Swiss vs. Emmental
Gruyère melts and stays nutty, few holes. Emmental is the big-eyed traditional Swiss. In a U.S. deli, Swiss often means a milder holey sandwich slice.
Gruyère melts and stays nutty, few holes. Emmental is the big-eyed traditional Swiss. In a U.S. deli, Swiss often means a milder holey sandwich slice.
🇮🇹 Mozzarella vs. 🇨🇾 Halloumi
Mozzarella stretches and melts. Halloumi browns and holds its shape.
Mozzarella stretches and melts. Halloumi browns and holds its shape.
🇲🇽 Queso fresco vs. Cotija
Both get crumbled. Fresco is mild and moist. Cotija is dry and salty.
Both get crumbled. Fresco is mild and moist. Cotija is dry and salty.
🇮🇹 Ricotta vs. Mascarpone
Ricotta is light and a little grainy. Mascarpone is dense silk for desserts.
Ricotta is light and a little grainy. Mascarpone is dense silk for desserts.
🟠 Cheddar vs. Colby vs. Monterey Jack
Cheddar can go sharp. Colby stays mild. Jack is the melt with the least tang.
Cheddar can go sharp. Colby stays mild. Jack is the melt with the least tang.
💬 Everyday Cheese Phrases
🫕 I need something that melts, not a grating cheese.
jack, young gouda, or mozzarella - not parmesan
🇫🇷 Il me faut un fromage qui fond, pas un fromage à râper.
🇩🇪 Ich brauche etwas zum Schmelzen, keinen Reibekäse.
🇮🇹 Mi serve qualcosa che fonde, non un formaggio da grattugia.
🇵🇹 Preciso de algo que derreta, não um queijo para ralar.
jack, young gouda, or mozzarella - not parmesan
Show translations
🇪🇸 Necesito algo que funda, no un queso para rallar.🇫🇷 Il me faut un fromage qui fond, pas un fromage à râper.
🇩🇪 Ich brauche etwas zum Schmelzen, keinen Reibekäse.
🇮🇹 Mi serve qualcosa che fonde, non un formaggio da grattugia.
🇵🇹 Preciso de algo que derreta, não um queijo para ralar.
🇨🇾 Halloumi will brown. It will not turn into sauce.
high-heat cheese
🇫🇷 Le halloumi dore. Il ne devient pas une sauce.
🇩🇪 Halloumi bräunt. Es wird keine Soße.
🇮🇹 L’halloumi dorera. Non diventa salsa.
🇵🇹 O halloumi doura. Não vira molho.
high-heat cheese
Show translations
🇪🇸 El halloumi se dora. No se vuelve salsa.🇫🇷 Le halloumi dore. Il ne devient pas une sauce.
🇩🇪 Halloumi bräunt. Es wird keine Soße.
🇮🇹 L’halloumi dorera. Non diventa salsa.
🇵🇹 O halloumi doura. Não vira molho.
🐑 That’s pecorino - saltier than the parmesan.
sheep vs. cow on the grater
🇫🇷 C’est du pecorino, plus salé que le parmesan.
🇩🇪 Das ist Pecorino - salziger als der Parmesan.
🇮🇹 È pecorino: più salato del parmigiano.
🇵🇹 Isso é pecorino - mais salgado que o parmesão.
sheep vs. cow on the grater
Show translations
🇪🇸 Eso es pecorino: más salado que el parmesano.🇫🇷 C’est du pecorino, plus salé que le parmesan.
🇩🇪 Das ist Pecorino - salziger als der Parmesan.
🇮🇹 È pecorino: più salato del parmigiano.
🇵🇹 Isso é pecorino - mais salgado que o parmesão.
🇲🇽 Fresco on the beans, cotija on the corn.
mild crumble vs. salty finish
🇫🇷 Du fresco sur les haricots, du cotija sur le maïs.
🇩🇪 Fresco auf die Bohnen, Cotija auf den Mais.
🇮🇹 Fresco sui fagioli, cotija sul mais.
🇵🇹 Fresco no feijão, cotija no milho.
mild crumble vs. salty finish
Show translations
🇪🇸 Fresco en los frijoles, cotija en el elote.🇫🇷 Du fresco sur les haricots, du cotija sur le maïs.
🇩🇪 Fresco auf die Bohnen, Cotija auf den Mais.
🇮🇹 Fresco sui fagioli, cotija sul mais.
🇵🇹 Fresco no feijão, cotija no milho.
🏆 Final Practice
English in the Real World:
Read the situation. Choose the more precise cheese word.
Read the situation. Choose the more precise cheese word.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%