Is Gourmand a Bad Word?

These two words from French—"gourmet" and "gourmand"—sound so alike that you think they must have common roots, but they don't. They both relate to loving food, but one is positive and one is more negative.

Is gourmand an insult?

Make sure you're not insulting someone by calling them a “gourmand” when you mean “gourmet.” A gourmand is someone who is excessively fond of eating and drinking, almost to the point of gluttony. A gourmet is a connoisseur of food and drink without the negative implications.

What does gourmand mean?

Noun. epicure, gourmet, gourmand, gastronome mean one who takes pleasure in eating and drinking. epicure implies fastidiousness and voluptuousness of taste. gourmet implies being a connoisseur in food and drink and the discriminating enjoyment of them.