continental breakfast

Meaning

A light morning meal typically served in hotels. It usually consists of baked goods (like croissants, toast, or muffins), fruit, juice, and coffee or tea, rather than hot, cooked items like eggs, bacon, or sausages.

Examples

• Our room rate includes a complimentary continental breakfast served in the lobby.

  Our room rate includes a complimentary continental breakfast served in the lobby.

• Don't expect hot food; it's just a simple continental breakfast with pastries and coffee.

  Don't expect hot food; it's just a simple continental breakfast with pastries and coffee.

• I usually prefer a continental breakfast because I don't like eating heavy meals in the morning.

  I usually prefer a continental breakfast because I don't like eating heavy meals in the morning.

• The continental breakfast at this boutique hotel features fresh local pastries and homemade jam.

  The continental breakfast at this boutique hotel features fresh local pastries and homemade jam.

• We grabbed some fruit and croissants from the continental breakfast before heading out.

  We grabbed some fruit and croissants from the continental breakfast before heading out.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I ate a continent breakfast.

  ✓ I ate a continental breakfast.

  The adjective form 'continental' (referring to mainland Europe) must be used, not the noun 'continent'.

• ✗ The hotel serves continental breakfast with fried eggs.

  ✓ The hotel serves a hot breakfast with fried eggs.

  A continental breakfast traditionally does not include warm, cooked-to-order dishes like fried eggs or bacon.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The room price comes with a basic ___ consisting of juice, coffee, and croissants.

  💡 A light, cold morning meal

  Show answer

  continental breakfast

• I was hoping for bacon and eggs, but they only offered a ___.

  💡 A simple breakfast of pastries and fruit

  Show answer

  continental breakfast