French Words Used in English
A list of French words and phrases, as well as explanations, that are used in the English language.
hors-d’oeuvre
“Outside of the work.” A snack you eat before the meal.
je ne sais quoi
“I don’t know what.” If you like something, but don’t know why, you say that it has a je ne sais quoi.
joie de vivre
“Joy of life.” Some people are always happy. They have joie de vivre.
laissez-faire
“Let it be.” An adjective describing a policy of not interfering with something. Often used to describe government economic policies, for example. To quote a song by the Canadian group Moxie Früvous “It’s laissez-faire. I don’t even give a care.”
martinet
Someone who gives unreasonably strict orders. (Jean Martinet was a French military officer in the 17th century).
née
“Born.” You can say a woman’s married and maiden names together if you call her, for example “Mrs. Christine Lee, née Lu.”
noblesse oblige
“My nobility makes me.” Why did you give your sandwich to that poor person? “Noblesse oblige.”
nom de plume
“Pen name.” This is the name that a writer puts on his books, if he doesn’t want to use his real name.
nouveau riche
“Newly rich.” People who have earned a lot of money recently, and don’t have the taste or education to know the proper way to use it. For example, Elvis Presley’s house, Graceland, is famous for being very large, very expensive, and very, very ugly. He was obviously nouveau riche.
pièce de résistance
The best part of something. “The Science Fair was excellent, but Calvin’s project was the pièce de résistance.”
restaurant
Restaurant.
risqué
Risky. Sexy.
RSVP
“Répondez s’il vous plaît” means “Please respond.” If you get an invitation to a party, the letters RSVP at the bottom mean that you should let the host know if you will be coming.
tête-à-tête
“Head to head.” A quiet conversation by two people about serious or intimate things is a tête-à-tête.
touché
“Touched.” In fencing (sword fighting) you say this as the other person’s sword touches you. In conversation, you might say it if the other person pokes a hole in what you’ve said. “I hate to spend money.” “You spent $50 in the restaurant just last night!” “Touché.” The English equivalent is “You got me.”
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