une bas mère
a bas mother
Literalmente: a low mother
Use this phrase to describe the foundational 'starter' substance in a technical or artisanal process.
En 15 segundos
- A foundational substance or starter culture used in production.
- Common in culinary, artisanal, or technical French contexts.
- Refers to the 'source' material, not a human parent.
Significado
This phrase refers to a 'low mother' or 'base mother,' often used in technical or culinary contexts to describe a foundational substance or a starter culture.
Ejemplos clave
3 de 6In a traditional vinegar workshop
Nous devons protéger cette bas mère pour le prochain lot.
We must protect this base mother for the next batch.
Discussing a chemical process
La bas mère est trop diluée cette fois.
The base mother is too diluted this time.
Explaining a recipe to a friend
C'est une bas mère que j'utilise depuis dix ans.
It is a base mother I have been using for ten years.
Contexto cultural
The concept of a 'mother' culture is central to French gastronomy and traditional chemistry. It represents the 'living' part of a process that is preserved and reused for decades. In some regions, these starters are considered family heirlooms.
The Gender Rule
Always keep it feminine because `mère` is feminine, even if the substance looks like a blob!
Don't call your mom this
If you call your mother `une bas mère`, she might think you are calling her 'low' or 'vile'. Stick to the kitchen!
En 15 segundos
- A foundational substance or starter culture used in production.
- Common in culinary, artisanal, or technical French contexts.
- Refers to the 'source' material, not a human parent.
What It Means
In French, une bas mère is a term you might encounter in specialized environments. It refers to a foundational element or a starter culture. Think of it like a sourdough starter. It is the 'mother' from which other things grow. It is the base layer of a process. It is not about a human mother. It is about a physical or chemical foundation.
How To Use It
You use this phrase when discussing production or biology. It often appears in artisanal crafts or chemistry. You treat it as a feminine noun. You can say la bas mère for the specific one. You can say une bas mère for any example. It acts as the starting point for your work. Keep it focused on the object or substance.
When To Use It
Use it when you are in a workshop. Use it when you are in a kitchen. It is perfect for explaining how a product began. Use it when talking to a fellow specialist. It works well when documenting a recipe or process. It helps clarify the origin of a batch. Use it to show you understand the craft.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this to describe your actual parent. That would be very confusing and strange. Avoid it in general social conversations about families. It is not a term of endearment. Do not use it for a 'foundation' in makeup. That is un fond de teint. Do not use it for a building foundation. That is les fondations.
Cultural Background
French culture values the 'source' of things deeply. Whether it is wine, bread, or vinegar, the 'mother' is sacred. It represents continuity and tradition. Artisans often pass these 'mothers' down through generations. It is a symbol of living history in a jar. It reflects the French respect for slow, natural processes.
Common Variations
You might hear mère de vinaigre for vinegar. You might hear levain for bread. Sometimes people just say la mère. In technical settings, solution mère is more common. Each variation specifies what kind of base it is. Stick to bas mère for the specific foundational layer.
Notas de uso
This is a technical collocation. It is neutral in register but highly specific to certain trades. Never use it to refer to people.
The Gender Rule
Always keep it feminine because `mère` is feminine, even if the substance looks like a blob!
Don't call your mom this
If you call your mother `une bas mère`, she might think you are calling her 'low' or 'vile'. Stick to the kitchen!
The Living Heirloom
In France, some 'mothers' for vinegar or bread are over 100 years old and are treated like family pets.
Ejemplos
6Nous devons protéger cette bas mère pour le prochain lot.
We must protect this base mother for the next batch.
Refers to the bacterial culture used to make vinegar.
La bas mère est trop diluée cette fois.
The base mother is too diluted this time.
Used to describe the primary solution in a lab.
C'est une bas mère que j'utilise depuis dix ans.
It is a base mother I have been using for ten years.
Shows the longevity and value of the starter.
Tu as vérifié l'état de la bas mère ?
Did you check the condition of the base mother?
Quick check-in on a production element.
Ne réveillez pas la bas mère, elle est fatiguée !
Don't wake up the base mother, she is tired!
Personifying the culture for a laugh.
J'ai peur que la bas mère soit morte.
I am afraid the base mother is dead.
Used when a biological starter stops working.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the correct word to complete the phrase about a starter culture.
Pour faire ce vinaigre, il faut une ___ mère.
The term `bas mère` specifically refers to the foundational or base culture.
Identify the correct context for using this phrase.
On utilise le terme 'bas mère' dans ___.
This is a technical or artisanal term used in production environments.
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Ayudas visuales
Formality of 'une bas mère'
Used among artisan friends.
Ma mère est en forme !
Standard technical description.
Utilisez une bas mère.
Industrial or scientific documentation.
La solution bas mère est stable.
Where to find a 'bas mère'
Vinegar Making
Creating artisanal vinegar.
Chemistry Lab
Preparing a stock solution.
Bakery
Managing a sourdough starter.
Kombucha Brewing
Checking the SCOBY.
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, bas here refers to 'base' or 'low' in a structural sense, not height. It describes the foundational layer of a substance.
While levain is more common for bread, bas mère can describe the base culture in technical baking discussions.
Not really. You will mostly hear it in specialized fields like fermentation, chemistry, or traditional crafts.
Only if used to describe a person. In its proper technical context, it is perfectly professional and neutral.
The plural is des bas mères. You use it when discussing multiple different starter cultures.
You would typically use solution mère, but bas mère might refer to the sediment or base layer specifically.
The term is fairly standard across France, though artisanal regions like Bordeaux or Burgundy use it more frequently in vinegar making.
No, that is une carte mère. Using bas mère for electronics would be incorrect.
Because it 'gives birth' to the next batch of product. It is the life-giving source of the fermentation.
Yes, it modifies mère to indicate its position at the bottom or its role as a base layer.
Frases relacionadas
une solution mère
un levain
une mère de vinaigre
une carte mère
un socle
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