Filet is spelled f-i-l-e-t, and it’s correct — but so is fillet (f-i-l-l-e-t). Both spell the same word, meaning a boneless piece of meat or fish. Which one you reach for depends on where you live and what you’re describing.
The Short Answer
Filet is the American English spelling, especially common on menus and in butcher shops (think filet mignon). Fillet is the standard spelling everywhere else, including the UK, Canada, and Australia, and it’s also the more common spelling in general American usage outside of restaurant contexts. Neither is a typo. They’re regional variants of the same French-derived word.
Quick Reference
| Spelling | Where It’s Used | Common Example |
|---|---|---|
| Filet | American English, culinary terms | filet mignon, filet of sole |
| Fillet | British, Canadian, Australian English; general American usage | fish fillet, fillet steak |
Why Two Spellings Exist
The word comes from the French filet, meaning “little thread” or “strip.” English borrowed it centuries ago and, as often happens, the spelling drifted in different directions. British English kept closer to a Latinate double-L pattern with fillet. American English, especially in cooking and dining, kept the French spelling filet intact — likely because so many of the phrases (filet mignon, filet de boeuf) came straight from French menus and stayed that way.
That’s why you’ll see filet mignon spelled with one L almost everywhere in the U.S., even though a plain “fish fillet” at the same American grocery store is often spelled with two.
Filet vs. Fillet: When to Use Each
- Use “filet” for French-origin culinary terms: filet mignon, filet of sole, filet au poivre.
- Use “fillet” for general references to boneless cuts of meat or fish, especially in British English: a fillet of salmon, a chicken fillet.
- Both work as a verb meaning “to remove the bones from”: “Filet the fish” and “fillet the fish” are equally valid, though “fillet” is more common as a verb worldwide.
Examples in a Sentence
- “I’ll have the filet mignon, medium rare.” (American menu spelling)
- “The fishmonger will fillet the trout for you.” (British/general spelling)
- “She filleted the salmon in under two minutes.” (verb form, common everywhere)
- “This restaurant’s filet of sole is the best in town.” (culinary term, American spelling)
A Non-Food Sense: Filet Lace
There’s also filet used outside the kitchen — as in filet lace or filet crochet, a style of open, netted needlework. Here too, “filet” is the standard spelling, pulled directly from the same French root meaning “net” or “mesh.” You won’t typically see “fillet lace” as an alternative; in this craft context, filet is the accepted form.
Key Takeaways
- Filet (one L) is standard American English, especially in culinary phrases like filet mignon.
- Fillet (two Ls) is standard in British, Canadian, and Australian English, and common in general American use.
- Both spell the same underlying word and both are correct — pick based on your audience or region.
- The verb form (“to fillet a fish”) is more commonly spelled with two Ls worldwide.
- Filet lace and filet crochet always use the single-L spelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “filet” or “fillet” correct?
Both are correct spellings of the same word. “Filet” is standard in American culinary terms like filet mignon, while “fillet” is standard in British English and in most other contexts, including as a verb.
Why is filet mignon spelled with one L?
Filet mignon keeps its original French spelling because the phrase was borrowed directly from French cuisine and never anglicized the way other words were.
Do Americans say fillet or filet?
Americans use “filet” mainly for French-derived menu terms like filet mignon, but often use “fillet” for everyday references to fish or chicken cuts, such as a chicken fillet sandwich.
How do the British spell filet?
British English almost always uses “fillet,” with two Ls, for both the noun and the verb, and rarely uses the single-L “filet” spelling.
Is filet a French word?
Yes. Filet comes from French, meaning “little thread” or “net,” and English adopted it centuries ago, which is why the French spelling survives in specific culinary and craft terms today.
Spelling questions like this one come up more often than people expect, especially with words borrowed from other languages. If a menu term or word choice has ever tripped you up, there’s a good chance we’ve already sorted it out somewhere else on the site.
