# Madeleine

/ˌmædəˈɫɛn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/madeleine
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a small cake

noun · CEFR B2

a small, light French cake that is shaped like a seashell.

For teachers: a small French sponge cake, typically baked in a shell-shaped mould and often flavoured with lemon or almond.

- We had tea and a fresh madeleine at the small bakery in Paris.
- The pastry chef dusted each madeleine with icing sugar, highlighting the delicate ridges formed by the traditional scallop-shaped tin.

### 2. a memory trigger

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

something, like a smell or a sound, that suddenly makes you remember your past.

For teachers: a sensory experience that triggers a sudden, intense burst of nostalgia or a long-forgotten memory.

- The smell of old books was a madeleine that took him back to his school days.
- For the novelist, the sound of the distant foghorn acted as a madeleine, instantly transporting him back to the summers of his childhood.

Usage: Usually used as a metaphor referring to Marcel Proust's literature.

Teaching tip: This sense refers to Marcel Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time'; it is a sophisticated literary allusion that learners will encounter in high-level cultural discussions.

## Examples

- She dipped her madeleine into the tea just like she did as a child.
- The bakery's window was filled with golden madeleines, their distinct shell patterns dusted lightly with sugar.
- For many readers, the madeleine serves as the ultimate literary symbol for the way a simple taste can unlock years of forgotten childhood experiences.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.