The most common French words used in English include words such as café au lait, bon appétit, avant-garde, rendez-vous, cul-de-sac, eau de taoilette and déjà vu. This page contains a list of the sixty most common French borrow words in the English language.
French words used in English
- à la – To the/in the manner of
- à la carte – Restaurant menu items sold separately or individually usually in smaller portions.
- à la mode – Refers to serving a desert with ice cream, eg “apple pie à la mode.
- à propos – regarding/concerning
- adieu – good-bye or farewell
- amuse-bouche – Small bite-size hors d’œuvre
- apéritif – A drink taken before a meal, usually alcoholic.
- au jus – Culinary term referring to serving a dish with sauce
- blasé – Not being impressed with something due to over-familiarity
- bon appétit – “Enjoy your meal” – said before eating
- bon vivant – Somebody who enjoys their life
- boy voyage – Enjoy your trip!
- bourgeois – Preoccupied with material values and class rank or status
- brunette – Usually refers to a female with brown hair
- café – A coffee house
- café au lait – Coffee with milk
- chic – Stylish, in fashion
- cliché – A saying that is used to often
- clique – A tight or exclusive group – pronounced “Click” in English.
- crèche – Nativity scene for christmas
- crème brûlée – Desert with custard and caramelized sugar
- crème de la crème – Best of the best
- critique – An analysis of one’s work
- cul-de-sac – dead-end street
- décor – Referring to home decorating
- déjà vu – Literally “already seen” but refers to situations that seem like they’ve happened before.
- dossier – A file containing information about a person
- eau de toilette – Aromatic splashing water used after bathing; a mild perfume or cologne
- eau de vie – Whiskey, brandy or other strong alcoholic beverages.
- en garde – “Take your guard” – said in the sport of fencing.
- entre nous – Between us…
- entrée – The main dish of a meal (US) or the first course of a meal (UK)
- façade – A fake persona or false impressions
- faux – Adjective for fake, eg faux fur for fake fur
- faux pas – Something one must not do in order to remain polite
- femme fatale – A seductrice harboring bad intentions.
- fiancé/e – A woman or man who will be married.
- gaffe – Stupid mistake or blunder
- genre – Type or kind
- haute cuisine – High-end or gourmet cooking
- hors d’œuvre – Appetizer
- joie de vivre – Joy of living
- laissez-faire – Political philosophy referring to non-interference
- malaise – Sickness or not feeling comfortable
- Mardi Gras – Fat Tuesday, annual festival celebrated in New Orleans.
- milieu – Social environment
- né, née – Born, used in writing when referring to a woman’s maiden name.
- nouveau riche – Refers to people who have recently become wealthy but were previously poor.
- panache – Flamboyance
- par avion – Air mail
- prêt-à-porter – Ready to wear
- raison d’être – Reason or purpose for existing
- rapprochement – Diplomatic term for two states or bodies moving towards each other
- renaissance – Literally “rebirth” – Refers to 14-17th century Europe
- savant – Knowing or brilliant – often used in relation to those with Autism.
- soirée – Refers to an evening party
- soupe du jour – Soup of the day.
- tête-à-tête – Literally “head-to-head” – Refers to two people facing offer in a close debate.
- vinaigrette – Oil and vinegar salad dressing
- vis-à-vis – Comparing one thing in relation to another
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