English is a melting pot language that borrows extensively from many languages. the following list is by no means exhaustive but includes only the most frequent ones:
Adieu: goodbye.
À la mode: in fashion; up to date. Aperitif: an alcoholic drink taken before a meal to stimulate the appetite. Au pair: a young foreign female who helps with housework or childcare in exchange for food, a room, and some pocket money. Aubergine: eggplant Avant-garde: new and experimental ideas and methods in art, music, or literature. Blond(e): having fair hair and a light complexion Bon appétit: used as a salutation to a person about to eat. Bon mot: a witty remark. Bon vivant: a person who devotes themselves to a sociable and luxurious lifestyle. Bon voyage: Safe trip! Bouquet: an attractively arranged bunch of flowers. Bourgeois: belonging to or characteristic of the middle class. Boutique: a small shop selling fashionable clothes or accessories. Brunette: a woman or girl with dark brown hair. café : a small restaurant selling light meals and drinks. Carte blanche: complete freedom to act as one wishes. Chauffeur: a person employed to drive a private or hired car. Chef : The main cook. Chic: elegantly and stylishly fashionable. Cliché: a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought. Cornichon: pickles Coup (d’état): a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government. Courgetti: Zucchini Critique: evaluation (a theory or practice) in a detailed and analytical way / evaluate. Cul-de-sac: a street or passage closed at one end. Course leading nowhere. De rigueur: required by etiquette or current fashion. Déjà vu: already seen. Depot: a place for the storage of large quantities of equipment, food, or goods. Du jour: made for a particular day / currently very fashionable or popular Eau de toilette: (eau de) cologne En route: during the course of a journey; on the way. Entrepreneur: a person who sets up a business for profit. Fait accompli: an action which has already been done and which cannot be changed. Faux: made in imitation; artificial, not genuine; fake or false. Faux pas: an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation. Femme fatal: an attractive and seductive woman, especially one who will ultimately cause distress to a man who becomes involved with her. |
Fiancé / fiancée: a man/woman to whom someone is engaged to be married.
Film noir: a style or genre of cinematographic film marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace. Gateau: a rich cake, typically one containing layers of cream or fruit. Genre: a style or category of art, music, or literature. Hors d’œuvre: a small savoury dish, typically one served as an appetizer. Je ne sais quoi: I don't know what: used to describe an attractive, distinctive, or special thing. Joie de vivre: is a feeling of happiness and enjoyment of life. Laissez-faire: unwillingness to get involved in or influence other people's activities Matinee: an afternoon performance in a theatre or cinema. Menu: a list of dishes available in a restaurant. Milieu: a person's social environment. Nouveau riche: people who have recently acquired wealth, typically those perceived as ostentatious or lacking in good taste. Omelette: a dish of beaten eggs cooked in a frying pan and served plain or with a savoury or sweet topping or filling. Par excellence: the best example of its type. Petite: (of a woman) attractively small and dainty. Picnic: an occasion when a packed meal is eaten outdoors, especially during an outing to the countryside. Potpourri: a mixture of dried petals and spices placed in a bowl to perfume a room / a mixture or medley of things. Prêt-à-porter: ready-to-wear clothes R.S.V.P : "Répondez s’il vous plait" please respond. Restaurant: produced in standard sizes and not made to fit a particular person. Salade: a mixture of uncooked vegetables, usually including lettuce , eaten either as a separate dish or with other food Sans fard: natural (beauté sans fard: perfect beauty with no trace of artifice) Savoir-faire: the ability to do and say the right thing in any social situation Silhouette: a dark shape seen against a light surface Souvenir: something you buy or keep to help you remember a holiday or special event Tête à tête: a private conversation between two people./ involving or happening between two people in private. Toilette: the process of washing oneself, dressing, and attending to one's appearance. Vinaigrette: a small ornamental bottle for holding smelling salts. Vis-à-vis: in relation to; with regard to. Voila: exclamation: there it is; there you are. |
A. Match the french words or expressions with their meanings:
KEY: 1. c, 2. b, 3. g, 4. i, 5. a, 6. d, 7. e, 8. f, 9. h, 10. c.
B. Fill in the gaps with the french words or expressions from the list: toilette , faux pas -carte blanche , laissez-faire , fait accompli , par excellence , potpourri , critique , brunette , en route.
1. The robust fragrance of _____________ filled the room.
2. The policy change was presented to us as a _________________, without consultation or discussion.
3. My sister usually takes too much time to do her ____________________.
4. They have a __________________ approach to bringing up their children .
5. We stopped in Taza _______________ to Oujda.
6. He married a gorgeous, green-eyed ________________ from Italy.
7. He was given _________________ to say what he liked in the report.
8. José Alberto Mujica is the honest politician ___________________.
9. I made some remark about his wife's family then realized I'd made a serious ____________________.
10. The book presents a ___________________ of the Government's policies.
2. The policy change was presented to us as a _________________, without consultation or discussion.
3. My sister usually takes too much time to do her ____________________.
4. They have a __________________ approach to bringing up their children .
5. We stopped in Taza _______________ to Oujda.
6. He married a gorgeous, green-eyed ________________ from Italy.
7. He was given _________________ to say what he liked in the report.
8. José Alberto Mujica is the honest politician ___________________.
9. I made some remark about his wife's family then realized I'd made a serious ____________________.
10. The book presents a ___________________ of the Government's policies.
KEY: 1. potpourri , 2. fait accompli, 3. toilette, 4. laissez-faire, 5. en route, 6. brunette , 7. carte blanche , 8. par excellence, 9. faux pas, 10. critique .
B. Fill in the gaps with the french words or expressions from the list. The letters will help you:
1. The tourist bought a Zemmouri carpet as a s_________________r of his trip to Morocco.
2. The m_____________u says 'Organic,' but not all the food was.
3. I think I'll skip h___________ d'______________ and have roast chicken.
4. My f________________ and I were childhood sweethearts.
5. It was a f___________________ gold ring with six artificial diamond studs.
6. A b_________ v__________ who piloted his own plane and hosted royalty aboard his yacht.
7. The hotel's lobby and restaurant are the height of designer c___________.
8. I'd like the soup d___ j____________ and the seafood pasta.
9. His c________________r always drives him to and back from work.
10. His wife was a p______________e dark-haired woman in her early thirties.
2. The m_____________u says 'Organic,' but not all the food was.
3. I think I'll skip h___________ d'______________ and have roast chicken.
4. My f________________ and I were childhood sweethearts.
5. It was a f___________________ gold ring with six artificial diamond studs.
6. A b_________ v__________ who piloted his own plane and hosted royalty aboard his yacht.
7. The hotel's lobby and restaurant are the height of designer c___________.
8. I'd like the soup d___ j____________ and the seafood pasta.
9. His c________________r always drives him to and back from work.
10. His wife was a p______________e dark-haired woman in her early thirties.
KEY: 1. souvenir , 2. menu, 3. hors d'oeuvre, 4. fiancée , 5. faux , 6. bon vivant, 7. chic , 8. du jour, 9. chauffeur , 10. petite.
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