Ten Familiar French Words and Phrases

Those claiming an inability to speak French should reconsider. France and England have intertwined histories, with much borrowing and lexical exchange. Today the issue of French speakers adopting English words is controversial, and attempts to ban faire de jogging and le fast-food are underway.

In the UK, French words and phrases have infiltrated our everyday speech. Particularly in the fields of cuisine and the arts, where France has a strong reputation, Anglophones have taken more than a fair share of linguistic oddities. Some French expressions are so commonly used we don't even consider them part of a foreign language.

Students who learn French in Leeds, London and elsewhere in the UK soon find that many words in basic French vocabulary are either similar to their English equivalents, or else have been borrowed directly from French. This can give learners confidence when faced with the daunting task of learning a new language (more information on language learning can be found at www.uiclanguages.com).

Cafe

From the French word café (coffee), English speakers have the coffee serving establishment cafe. Cafe culture spread throughout the UK during the Twentieth Century and is now a prominent feature of any high street. Ordering a coffee in French is relatively easy for non-French speakers, whether café au lait (with milk) or café noir (black).

À la Carte

This loan phrase literally means 'according to the menu', and now has connotations of high quality products in English. Usefully for monolinguals, the term 'menu' is often used for the same purpose in both France and England.

Rendezvous

From the French imperative rendez-vous, this expression refers to a meeting or appointment. French beginners can use the phrase as a memory aid; the ez inflection on the verb rendez agrees with the plural or formal second person pronoun vous (you).

Faux Pas

A faux pas indicates a breach of etiquette or convention causing social embarrassment, from the French 'false step'.

Chic

The adjectival chic equates roughly to the English 'stylish'. Chic clothing is said to be à la mode (fashionable). The innovation of French fashion has led to many loan words within this field.

Vin

France is internationally famed for its wine exports. The French term for wine, vin, is familiar with most people. Likewise, associated words such as blanc (white) and rouge (red) are commonly found in British advertising.

Croissant

French food features heavily in English dictionaries. From croissant, baguette and pan au chocolat, to foie gras and cassoulet, English speakers should have little difficulty comprehending at least some items on a French menu.

Critique

Both noun and verb in English, a critique is a critical view of an act or item. In French, the word also serves as an adjective, equating to critical. The verb critiquer means to criticise, whereas the adjective critiquable is used to denote something open to criticism.

Genre

From the French word for type, English has adopted genre. Often synonymous with type genre is more restricted in use, being mainly applied to artistic works.

RSVP

Condensed in English to mean 'please reply', RSVP originates from the French répondez, s'il vous plait. S'il vous plait is, of course, invariably useful for polite travellers.

From: www.frenchwords.org.uk