champagne
champagne
Pronunciation
sham-: /ʃæm/
/ʃ/ - voiceless palato-alveolar sibilant (like the "sh" in "shoe")
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel (like the "a" in "cat")
/m/ - bilabial nasal consonant (like the "m" in "mat")
-pagne: /peɪn/
/p/ - voiceless bilabial plosive (like the "p" in "pat")
/eɪ/ - diphthong, starting with a mid-front unrounded vowel and gliding towards a near-close near-front unrounded vowel (like the "ay" in "say")
/n/ - alveolar nasal consonant (like the "n" in "nap")
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: champagne
Plural Noun: champagnes
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A sparkling wine, typically white or rosé, produced exclusively in the Champagne region of France, known for its effervescence and celebratory association.
Synonyms: bubbly, sparkling wine, fizz
Antonyms: still wine, flat wine
A pale, yellowish-beige color, resembling the hue of champagne.
Synonyms: beige, cream, ecru, buff
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms for a specific color, but one could consider) dark, vibrant
(Informal) An extravagant or luxurious lifestyle or experience.
Synonyms: luxury, opulence, extravagance, high life
Antonyms: austerity, frugality, hardship, poverty
Adjective
Having the pale, yellowish-beige color of champagne.
Synonyms: beige, creamy, off-white
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms for a specific color, but one could consider) dark-colored, brightly-colored
Examples of Use
Books:
"He poured her a glass of the finest champagne, its bubbles dancing in the candlelight, a perfect end to a tumultuous day." (From The Gilded Cage by Elara Thorne, published June 2024)
"The detective knew the victim's champagne tastes often led him into dangerous company." (From Murder on the Riviera by Arthur Sterling, published January 2023)
Newspapers:
"Local vineyards are exploring new sparkling wine varieties, hoping to capture a share of the market traditionally dominated by champagne." (From The Daily Gazette, Business Section)
"The city's New Year's Eve celebration concluded with a spectacular fireworks display and a collective toast with champagne." (The Urban Chronicle)
Online Publications:
"Why is real champagne so expensive? Understanding the terroir and strict production methods." (From WineFolly.com)
"Interior designers are increasingly using 'champagne' as a sophisticated neutral in contemporary living spaces." (From Architectural Digest online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: A character in The Great Gatsby (2013 film adaptation) famously says, "A little champagne, anyone?" as he hosts a lavish party.
Music: The song "Champagne Supernova" by Oasis (released October 1995) uses "champagne" to evoke a sense of grandeur and fleeting beauty.
Television: In an episode of Succession (HBO, 2023), characters are frequently seen drinking expensive champagne during business negotiations and family gatherings.
Video Games: In a cutscene from Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar Games, September 2013), characters celebrate a successful heist by popping a bottle of champagne.
General Public Discourse:
"We're cracking open the champagne tonight to celebrate her graduation!" (Heard at a graduation party)
"My car's a beautiful champagne color – it really stands out without being too flashy." (Conversation between friends)
"He lives a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget, and it's starting to catch up with him." (Comment overheard in a cafe).
10 Quotes Using Champagne
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much champagne is just right." (F. Scott Fitzgerald)
"Come quickly, I am tasting the stars! " (Dom Pérignon, often attributed to his first taste of champagne)
"My only regret in life is that I did not drink more champagne." (John Maynard Keynes)
"I drink champagne when I win, to celebrate... And I drink champagne when I lose, to console myself." (Napoleon Bonaparte)
"I only drink champagne on two occasions, when I am in love and when I am not." (Coco Chanel)
"There comes a time in every woman's life when the only thing that helps is a glass of champagne." (Bette Davis)
"In a perfect world, everyone would have a glass of champagne every evening." (Attributed to André Simon)
"Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends." (Tom Waits, The Black Rider)
"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." (Champagne is often associated with risk-taking and celebration, though this specific quote is not directly about it, it encapsulates the spirit. This is a lesser-known quote that uses the word in a broader sense of celebration of success after risk)
"The feeling of being at home in the world, of having found your place and knowing it, is like champagne to the soul." (Original)
Etymology
The word "champagne" comes from a very specific place: the Champagne region of France. That's the key to its etymology!
Original Meaning: The word "Champagne" (with a capital C) originally referred to this specific geographical area in northeastern France. The name itself comes from the Latin word campania, which meant "level country" or "open field." This described the rolling, open landscapes of the region.
From Place to Product: Over time, the wine produced in this region became very famous. So, people started using "champagne" (with a lowercase c) to refer to the sparkling wine itself, as in "wine from Champagne."
First Known Use (in English): The earliest recorded use of "champagne" in English, specifically referring to the wine, dates back to 1664. At first, it simply meant any wine from that region, whether it was still or sparkling.
The "Bubbly" Connection: The sparkling quality we associate with champagne today was actually a happy accident at first, or even considered a fault! The cold winters in the Champagne region would stop the fermentation process, which would then restart in the spring, creating bubbles in the sealed bottles. It was later perfected and intentionally produced this way.
So, in short, the word "champagne" started as the name of a flat, open region in France, and then became the name of the famous sparkling wine made there.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Champagne
Champagne taste on a beer budget: Describing someone who desires expensive things but can only afford cheap ones.
Pop the champagne: To open a bottle of champagne, usually to celebrate.
Champagne wishes and caviar dreams: Expressing desires for a luxurious lifestyle.
Living on champagne and oysters: Indicating a very extravagant and luxurious way of life.
Champagne socialist: (Often derogatory) Someone who advocates for socialist policies but enjoys a wealthy, privileged lifestyle.
Champagne lifestyle: A luxurious and expensive way of living.
Toast with champagne: To celebrate an event or person by raising a glass of champagne.
Everything's coming up champagne: Suggesting that everything is going exceptionally well or in a very celebratory manner.
A champagne moment: A particularly celebratory or joyous occasion.
The fizz of success: (Using a synonym) The excitement and exhilaration that comes with achievement.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of champagne from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
