chèvre

American  

[shev-ruh, shev, she-vr^uh] / ˈʃɛv rə, ʃɛv, ˈʃɛ vrə /

Also chevret

noun

1. any cheese made from goat's milk.

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chèvre British  

/ ˈʃɛvrə /

noun

1. any cheese made from goats' milk

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Etymology

Origin of chèvre

< French chèvre goat. See chevon

Explanation

Chevre is a fancy way to say "goat cheese." There are many different varieties of chevre, but the most common type is soft enough to crumble on a salad or spread on a slice of baguette. In the U.S., fresh chevre usually comes in a small log and tastes mildly tangy. There are a lot of other kinds of chevre, including hard cheeses and aged versions with stronger flavors. What makes them all chevre is the fact that they're made using goat milk — in fact, in French chèvre means "goat," and the cheese itself is called fromage de chèvre.

Example Sentences

The instinct that pairs chèvre with strawberries is the same one that tells you to finish a bowl of lentils with lemon juice, or to scatter pickled shallots over roast chicken.

From Salon • Oct. 12, 2025

Dine-in: The Thanksgiving menu includes poached pear salad, smoked chèvre, apple-brined turkey breast, beef tenderloin, pumpkin pie and more.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 15, 2023

His chèvre cheesecake, tiled in sliced plums, and passion fruit pie, garnished with pepper-spiked meringue wands, are equal to the class acts that precede them.

From Washington Post • Nov. 21, 2022

But among the classics she revisits is an extremely compelling cheesecake — made from chèvre, it’s tart, a little salty and a wonderful backdrop for strawberries cloaked with balsamic syrup.

From New York Times • Jun. 14, 2021

La chèvre, se tordant le groin, Répond que c'est à Béthléem.

From Christmas in Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan by Miles, Clement A.