{"id":117528,"date":"2024-02-16T02:20:25","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T07:20:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/french-words-phrases-used-in-english\/"},"modified":"2025-02-25T01:11:17","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T06:11:17","slug":"french-words-phrases-used-in-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/french\/french-words-phrases-used-in-english\/","title":{"rendered":"96 French Words That Are Also Used in English"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some sources claim that over half of the English language<\/a> derives from le fran\u00e7ais.<\/em> That gives French a massive influence over English.\u00a0While many English words that come from French<\/a> have since changed their spellings and pronunciation, there are also plenty of French words in English that haven’t changed between the two languages.<\/p>\n

Here are 96 entirely French words that we use in English.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Most Common French Words Used in English<\/h2>\n

\"photo-of-french-fries-on-brown-paper-with-ketchup-dip\"<\/p>\n

Let’s kick off the post with some of the most common French words in English that you likely didn’t know were, well, French!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French Word \/ Loanword<\/th>French Meaning<\/th>English Meaning<\/th>French Example Sentence<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u00c0 la Carte <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>According to a menu<\/td>Choosing individual items off a menu<\/td> Je voudrais des frites \u00e0 la carte. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(I would like an order of fries \u00e0 la carte.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Attach\u00e9 <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Attached<\/td>Someone who works for an ambassador<\/td> Elle est attach\u00e9e \u00e0 l'ambassadeur du Canada. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(She's an attach\u00e9 to the Canadian ambassador.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Avant-garde <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Before guard\/Advance guard<\/td>An innovative movement in the arts, usually pertaining to artists who are \"advanced\" in their fields<\/td> Andy Warhol \u00e9tait un artiste de l'avant-garde. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(Andy Warhol was an avant-garde artist.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bon Voyage <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Good trip<\/td>Good trip<\/td> Bon voyage ! Tu vas me manquer ! <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(Bon voyage! I will miss you!)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bureau <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Physical desk\/office<\/td>Political or government office<\/td> Le bureau des finances a refus\u00e9 mon pr\u00eat. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(The financial bureau denied my loan.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Carte Blanche <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>White card<\/td>To give someone the opportunity to do whatever they want to do, surrendering to their whim<\/td> Il avait carte blanche. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(He had carte blanche.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chic <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Well-dressed<\/td>Well-dressed<\/td> Elle est tr\u00e8s\u00a0chic. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(She is so chic.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clich\u00e9 <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Something so common, it's overrated<\/td>Something so common, it's overrated<\/td> Leur mariage \u00e9tait tellement clich\u00e9. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(Their wedding was so clich\u00e9.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Connoisseur <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Someone very knowledgeable about something<\/td>Someone very knowledgeable about something<\/td> Il est un connoisseur de vin. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(He is a wine connoisseur.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cordon-bleu <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Blue ribbon<\/td>A common dish where breaded chicken is cooked with ham and cheese<\/td> Je veux un plat cordon bleu. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(I want a cordon-bleu dish.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coup de gr\u00e2ce <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>A final straw<\/td>A final straw<\/td> Il n'y avait m\u00eame pas de moutarde dans mon sandwich, c'\u00e9tait le coup de gr\u00e2ce ! <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(There wasn't even mustard in my sandwich, it was the coup de gr\u00e2ce!)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cul-de-sac <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Bottom of the bag<\/td>Dead end of a road<\/td> Cette rue menait \u00e0 un cul-de-sac. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(This road has led to a cul-de-sac.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
D\u00e9bris <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Broken pieces of material<\/td>Broken pieces of material<\/td> La bombe a tout transform\u00e9 en d\u00e9bris. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(The bomb turned everything into debris.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
D\u00e9j\u00e0 Vu <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Already seen<\/td>Feeling that you've seen\/experienced something before<\/td> J'ai eu un sentiment d\u00e9j\u00e0-vu. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(I had [a feeling of] d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eau de Toilette <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Toilet water<\/td>A light perfume used for washing\/dressing<\/td> J\u2019ai achet\u00e9 une bonne eau de toilette. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(I bought a good eau de toilette.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
En Route <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>On the way<\/td>On the way<\/td> Votre paquet est en route. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(Your package is en route.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fa\u00e7ade <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Frontage\/Face<\/td>Fake\/Putting up a front\/Front of a building<\/td> La fa\u00e7ade de cette maison est ancienne. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(The fa\u00e7ade of this house is old.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Faux pas <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Misstep<\/td>Something that isn't generally acceptable in the social realm<\/td> Crier dans une biblioth\u00e8que est un faux pas. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(Screaming in the library is a faux pas.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Femme Fatale <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Deadly woman<\/td>A seductive woman with a dangerous streak<\/td> Regardez, c\u2019est une femme fatale ! <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(Look, she\u2019s a femme fatale!)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fianc\u00e9 \/ Fianc\u00e9e <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Someone who is engaged<\/td>Someone who is engaged<\/td> Je vous pr\u00e9sente mon\u00a0fianc\u00e9. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(I introduce you to my fianc\u00e9.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gauche <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Left<\/td>Social awkwardness\/Socially awkward<\/td> Il est un peu gauche. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(He is a little gauche.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hors-d'\u0153uvre <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Out of work<\/td>Small dishes that come before a main course such as deviled eggs, cheese and crackers, etc.<\/td> Les hors-d'\u0153uvre\u00a0\u00e9taient vraiment d\u00e9licieux. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(The hors d'oeuvres were very delicious.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Je Ne Sais Quoi <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>I don\u2019t know what<\/td>A quality that\u2019s hard to describe but very attractive<\/td> Elle avait un certain je ne sais quoi. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(She had a certain je ne sais quoi.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Laissez-faire <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Let it happen<\/td>Relaxed, hands-off attitude<\/td> Il pr\u00e9f\u00e8re laissez-faire ses employ\u00e9s. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(He prefers to be laissez-faire with his employees.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mirage <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Look at\/Wonder at<\/td>A visual wish or desire<\/td> J'ai cru voir une \u00eele; c'\u00e9tait un mirage. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(I thought I saw an island; it was a mirage.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Potpourri <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Rotten pot<\/td>Fragranced dried flower, fruits and herbs used to get rid of bad odors<\/td> J'ai achet\u00e9 ce potpourri pour la salle de bain. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(I bought this potpourri for the bathroom.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Souvenir <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Remember\/Recall<\/td>A tiny piece of memorabilia<\/td> Peux-tu acheter un souvenir pour moi ? <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(Can you buy a souvenir for me?)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

French Culinary Terms in English<\/h2>\n

\"man<\/p>\n

French food<\/a> is delicious, so it’s no wonder that English borrowed a few words (and cooking ideas<\/a>) from the language!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French Word \/ Loanword<\/th>French Meaning<\/th>English Meaning<\/th>French Example Sentence<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Amuse-bouche <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Mouth amuser<\/td>Bite-sized appetizer or palate cleanser<\/td> Le chef a pr\u00e9par\u00e9 un amuse-bouche exquis pour ouvrir le repas. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The chef prepared an exquisite amuse-bouche to start the meal.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Au gratin <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>With gratings<\/td>Dish with a golden-brown crust on top<\/td> Les pommes de terre \u00e9taient au gratin, avec une d\u00e9licieuse cro\u00fbte au fromage. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The potatoes were au gratin, with a delicious cheesy crust.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
B\u00e9chamel <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>B\u00e9chamel<\/td>Creamy white sauce made with butter, flour and milk<\/td> Les lasagnes \u00e9taient superpos\u00e9es avec de la sauce b\u00e9chamel pour une texture riche et onctueuse. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The lasagna was layered with b\u00e9chamel sauce for a rich and smooth texture.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bistro <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Bistro<\/td>Small, casual restaurant serving simple, home-style dishes<\/td> Allons d\u00eener dans ce charmant bistro au coin de la rue. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(Let's have dinner at that charming bistro around the corner.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bouquet garni <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Garnished bouquet<\/td>Bundle of herbs tied together and used for flavoring in cooking<\/td> Le rago\u00fbt mijotait avec un bouquet garni pour infuser les saveurs des herbes. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The stew simmered with a bouquet garni to infuse the flavors of the herbs.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brasserie <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Brewery<\/td>French-style restaurant serving beer and hearty food<\/td> Nous avons savour\u00e9 un d\u00e9licieux d\u00eener \u00e0 la brasserie, en appr\u00e9ciant l'ambiance et les plats traditionnels. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(We enjoyed a delicious dinner at the brasserie, savoring the ambiance and traditional dishes.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Caf\u00e9 au lait <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Coffee with milk<\/td>Coffee with hot milk<\/td> Je pr\u00e9f\u00e8re commencer ma journ\u00e9e avec un caf\u00e9 au lait, c'est une fa\u00e7on r\u00e9confortante de se r\u00e9veiller. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(I prefer starting my day with a caf\u00e9 au lait, it's a comforting way to wake up.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Canap\u00e9 <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Sofa<\/td>Small, bite-sized appetizer or hors d'oeuvre<\/td> Les invit\u00e9s de la f\u00eate se sont r\u00e9gal\u00e9s des d\u00e9licieux canap\u00e9s circulant gr\u00e2ce au personnel de service. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The party guests delighted in the delicious canap\u00e9s passed around by the waitstaff.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Casserole <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Saucepan<\/td>Ovenproof dish used for cooking and serving food<\/td> Elle a pr\u00e9par\u00e9 une savoureuse casserole de poulet pour le d\u00eener. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She prepared a savory chicken casserole for dinner.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Charcuterie <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Pork butcher's shop<\/td>Assortment of cured meats, p\u00e2t\u00e9s and sausages<\/td> La planche de charcuterie mettait en vedette une s\u00e9lection de produits\u2026 <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The charcuterie board showcased a selection of products...)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chef <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Chief<\/td>Head cook or professional chef<\/td> Le chef a cr\u00e9\u00e9 un chef-d'\u0153uvre avec ses comp\u00e9tences culinaires innovantes. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The chef created a masterpiece with his innovative culinary skills.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cr\u00e8me br\u00fbl\u00e9e <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Burnt cream<\/td>Creamy custard dessert with a caramelized sugar topping<\/td> La cr\u00e8me br\u00fbl\u00e9e avait une cro\u00fbte de sucre parfaitement caram\u00e9lis\u00e9e. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The cr\u00e8me br\u00fbl\u00e9e had a perfectly caramelized sugar crust.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cr\u00eape <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Pancake<\/td>Thin, pancake-like pastry<\/td> Ils ont appr\u00e9ci\u00e9 des cr\u00eapes sucr\u00e9es garnies de Nutella et de fraises au petit-d\u00e9jeuner. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(They enjoyed sweet cr\u00eapes filled with Nutella and strawberries for breakfast.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cuisine <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Cooking<\/td>Style of cooking or cuisine<\/td> La cuisine fran\u00e7aise est r\u00e9put\u00e9e pour son utilisation d'ingr\u00e9dients frais. <\/a>\n <\/em>
\n(French cuisine is renowned for its use of fresh ingredients.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00c9clair <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Lightning<\/td>Long, cream-filled pastry topped with icing<\/td> Elle n'a pas pu r\u00e9sister \u00e0 l'\u00e9clair de la boulangerie. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She couldn't resist the \u00e9clair from the bakery.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Entr\u00e9e <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Entry<\/td>Main course or appetizer in a formal meal<\/td> En France, l'entr\u00e9e d\u00e9signe g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement l'entr\u00e9e principale. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(In France, the term \"entr\u00e9e\" typically refers to the main course.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filet mignon <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Cute fillet<\/td>Tender, boneless cut of beef or pork tenderloin<\/td> Il a command\u00e9 le filet mignon cuit \u00e0 point. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(He ordered the filet mignon cooked medium-rare.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Flamb\u00e9 <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Flamed<\/td>Food cooked with alcohol and set on fire briefly<\/td> Le serveur a pr\u00e9par\u00e9 un dessert flamb\u00e9 \u00e0 table. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The waiter prepared a flamb\u00e9ed dessert at the table.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fondant <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Melting<\/td>Soft and smooth dessert, often chocolate-based<\/td> Le fondant au chocolat d\u00e9gageait du chocolat chaud et fondant lorsqu'on le coupait. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The chocolate fondant oozed warm, molten chocolate when it was cut into.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gourmet <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Fine food<\/td>Culinary expert or food connoisseur<\/td> Il se consid\u00e8re comme un gourmet et adore essayer de nouveaux plats. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(He considers himself a gourmet and loves trying new dishes.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Macaron <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Macaroon<\/td>Sweet, meringue-based cookie with a creamy filling<\/td> Elle a achet\u00e9 une bo\u00eete de macarons color\u00e9s \u00e0 la p\u00e2tisserie. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She bought a box of colorful macarons from the patisserie.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mousse <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Foam<\/td>Light and frothy dessert or hair product<\/td> La mousse au chocolat \u00e9tait riche et d\u00e9licieuse. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The chocolate mousse was rich and delicious.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P\u00e2tisserie <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Pastry shop<\/td>Bakery specializing in pastries and sweets<\/td> La p\u00e2tisserie exposait une tentante s\u00e9lection de croissants, g\u00e2teaux et tartes. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The patisserie displayed a tempting selection of croissants, cakes and tarts.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Quiche <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Cake<\/td>Savory, open-faced pastry filled with eggs, cream and various ingredients<\/td> Nous avons d\u00e9gust\u00e9 une d\u00e9licieuse quiche aux \u00e9pinards et au fromage pour le brunch. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(We savored a delicious spinach and cheese quiche for brunch.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ratatouille <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Ratatouille<\/td>Vegetable stew made with eggplant, zucchini, peppers and tomatoes<\/td> Elle a cuisin\u00e9 une ratatouille savoureuse avec des l\u00e9gumes d'\u00e9t\u00e9 frais. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She cooked a flavorful ratatouille with fresh summer vegetables.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Saut\u00e9 <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Jumped<\/td>Cooking technique of quickly frying food in a small amount of fat<\/td> Il a saut\u00e9 les champignons jusqu'\u00e0 ce qu'ils soient dor\u00e9s. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(He saut\u00e9ed the mushrooms until they were golden brown.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Souffl\u00e9 <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Puffed up<\/td>Light and airy baked dish made with egg yolks and beaten egg whites<\/td> Le souffl\u00e9 au fromage a magnifiquement gonfl\u00e9 au four. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The cheese souffl\u00e9 rose beautifully in the oven.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tartare <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Tartar<\/td>Raw or lightly cooked minced meat or fish mixed with seasonings<\/td> Il a command\u00e9 le tartare de b\u0153uf avec une portion de frites croustillantes. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(He ordered the beef tartare with a side of crispy fries.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vinaigrette <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Little vinegar<\/td>Emulsified dressing made with vinegar, oil and seasonings<\/td> Elle a arros\u00e9 la salade d'une vinaigrette acidul\u00e9e avant de la servir. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She drizzled the salad with a tangy vinaigrette before serving it.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

French Fashion Words in English<\/h2>\n

\"woman-walking-down-runway\"<\/a><\/p>\n

French fashion<\/a> is definitely chic (that’s a French loanword too, as mentioned above). Here are a few more loanwords that have made their way down the French runway and straight into the English lexicon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French Word \/ Loanword<\/th>French Meaning<\/th>English Meaning<\/th>French Example Sentence<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Avant-gardiste <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Avant-gardist<\/td>Person who embraces innovative and experimental fashion<\/td> Elle est connue comme une avant-gardiste dans l'industrie de la mode. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She is known as an avant-gardist in the fashion industry.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
B\u00e9ret <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Beret<\/td>Round, flat-crowned hat, typically made of wool<\/td> Il portait un \u00e9l\u00e9gant b\u00e9ret pour compl\u00e9ter son look d'inspiration fran\u00e7aise. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(He wore a stylish beret to complete his French-inspired look.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boutique <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Shop<\/td>Small specialized shop or store<\/td> Elle a trouv\u00e9 une belle robe dans une boutique locale. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She found a beautiful dress at a local boutique.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chapeau <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Hat<\/td>Hat, typically a formal or fashionable one<\/td> Elle portait un \u00e9l\u00e9gant chapeau pour le mariage royal. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She wore an elegant chapeau to the royal wedding.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chignon <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Bun<\/td>Hairstyle in which the hair is twisted or bun at the back of the head<\/td> Elle a coiff\u00e9 ses cheveux en un chignon chic pour l'\u00e9v\u00e9nement formel. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She styled her hair in a chic chignon for the formal event.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coiffure <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Hairdressing<\/td>Hairstyle or a hairdressing salon<\/td> Elle a rendu visite au coiffeur pour se faire une nouvelle coiffure. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She visited the coiffure to get a new haircut.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Corset <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Corset<\/td>Undergarment worn to shape and support the waist and bust<\/td> Le corset vintage mettait en valeur sa silhouette en sablier. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The vintage corset accentuated her hourglass figure.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Couture <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Sewing<\/td>High-quality, custom-made clothing and craftsmanship<\/td> La robe de couture \u00e9tait minutieusement confectionn\u00e9e \u00e0 la main avec des d\u00e9tails complexes. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The couture gown was meticulously handcrafted with intricate details.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Couturier <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Dressmaker<\/td>Fashion designer, especially for women's clothing<\/td> Le c\u00e9l\u00e8bre couturier a pr\u00e9sent\u00e9 sa derni\u00e8re collection \u00e0 la semaine de la mode. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The famous couturier showcased his latest collection at the fashion week.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
D\u00e9colletage <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Neckline<\/td>Low neckline or the exposed area of a woman's chest and neckline<\/td> La robe avait un beau d\u00e9colletage qui ajoutait un \u00e9l\u00e9ment d'allure. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The dress had a beautiful d\u00e9colletage that added an element of allure.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
D\u00e9collet\u00e9 <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Uncovered<\/td>Low neckline or a dress with a low neckline<\/td> Elle portait une superbe robe de soir\u00e9e avec un d\u00e9collet\u00e9 audacieux. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She wore a stunning evening gown with a daring d\u00e9collet\u00e9.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00c9clat <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Shine<\/td>Brilliance or radiance, often used to describe a person's style<\/td> Son sens de la mode avait un \u00e9clat sans effort qui attirait tous les regards. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(Her fashion sense had an effortless \u00e9clat that turned heads.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ensemble <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Together<\/td>Coordinated outfit or a group of garments<\/td> Elle a assembl\u00e9 un ensemble \u00e9l\u00e9gant pour le d\u00e9fil\u00e9 de mode. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She put together a stylish ensemble for the fashion show.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Foulard <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Scarf<\/td>Lightweight scarf, typically made of silk<\/td> Elle a nou\u00e9 un foulard color\u00e9 autour de son cou en tant qu'affirmation de style. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She draped a colorful foulard around her neck as a fashion statement.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Haute couture <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>High sewing<\/td>High fashion, custom-made clothing<\/td> Elle aspire \u00e0 travailler dans le monde de la haute couture. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She aspires to work in the world of haute couture.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lingerie <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Undergarments<\/td>Women's underwear or sleepwear<\/td> Elle a achet\u00e9 de la lingerie neuve pour sa lune de miel. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She bought some new lingerie for her honeymoon.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Modiste <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Hatmaker<\/td>Milliner or a person who designs and makes hats<\/td> La modiste a cr\u00e9\u00e9 des chapeaux uniques et artistiques pour le d\u00e9fil\u00e9 de mode. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The modiste created unique and artistic hats for the fashion show.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parfumerie <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Perfumery<\/td>Perfume shop or a store that specializes in fragrances<\/td> Elle a explor\u00e9 la parfumerie \u00e0 la recherche de son parfum signature. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She explored the parfumerie in search of her signature scent.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Robe <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Dress<\/td>Dress, especially a formal or elegant one<\/td> Elle portait une superbe robe rouge pour l'\u00e9v\u00e9nement de gala. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She wore a stunning red robe to the gala event.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Silhouette <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Shadow<\/td>Outline or shape of a person's body or a garment<\/td> La robe flattait sa silhouette et mettait en valeur ses courbes. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The dress flattered her silhouette and accentuated her curves.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Soir\u00e9e <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Evening<\/td>Elegant evening social gathering or party<\/td> Ils ont particip\u00e9 \u00e0 une soir\u00e9e glamour dans l'h\u00f4tel de luxe. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(They attended a glamorous soir\u00e9e at the luxurious hotel.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

French Art and Culture Terms in English<\/h2>\n

\"colorful<\/p>\n

From painting to music and beyond, these French words regularly show up in English if you’re in the art scene:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French Word \/ Loanword<\/th>French Meaning<\/th>English Meaning<\/th>French Example Sentence<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
A cappella <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>In the chapel<\/td>Singing without instrumental accompaniment<\/td> La chorale a interpr\u00e9t\u00e9 une belle version a cappella de l'hymne. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The choir performed a beautiful a cappella rendition of the hymn.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Art Nouveau <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>New Art<\/td>Decorative style characterized by flowing lines and organic motifs<\/td> Le b\u00e2timent pr\u00e9sentait une architecture magnifique de style art nouveau. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The building featured stunning Art Nouveau architecture.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pastiche <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Imitation<\/td>Work of art that imitates the style of another artist or period<\/td> La peinture \u00e9tait un pastiche astucieux des chefs-d'\u0153uvre de la Renaissance. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The painting was a clever pastiche of Renaissance masterpieces.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Atelier <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Workshop<\/td>Artist's workshop or studio<\/td> La peintre passait des heures dans son atelier, cr\u00e9ant des chefs-d'\u0153uvre. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The painter spent hours in her atelier, creating masterpieces.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ballet <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Dance<\/td>Classical dance form<\/td> Elle s'entra\u00eene pour devenir une danseuse de ballet professionnelle. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She is training to become a professional ballet dancer.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chef-d'\u0153uvre <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Masterpiece<\/td>Masterpiece, a work of outstanding skill and artistry<\/td> La Joconde est consid\u00e9r\u00e9e comme un chef-d'\u0153uvre de l'art de la Renaissance. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The Mona Lisa is considered a chef-d'oeuvre of Renaissance art.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
En plein air <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>In the open air<\/td>Outdoors, in the open air<\/td> Les artistes ont install\u00e9 leurs chevalets en plein air pour peindre le paysage pittoresque. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The artists set up their easels en plein air to paint the scenic landscape.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Joie de vivre <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Joy of living<\/td>Joy of living, zest for life<\/td> Les tableaux de l'artiste ont captur\u00e9 l'essence de la joie de vivre. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The artist's paintings captured the essence of joie de vivre.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Muse <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Muse<\/td>Source of inspiration for an artist or creative individual<\/td> Elle \u00e9tait sa muse, l'inspirant \u00e0 cr\u00e9er de beaux po\u00e8mes. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(She was his muse, inspiring him to create beautiful poetry.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pi\u00e8ce de r\u00e9sistance <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Masterpiece<\/td>Main attraction or showpiece<\/td> La pi\u00e8ce de r\u00e9sistance de l'exposition d'art \u00e9tait une sculpture \u00e9poustouflante. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The pi\u00e8ce de r\u00e9sistance of the art exhibition was a stunning sculpture.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rendez-vous <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Meeting<\/td>Planned meeting or appointment<\/td> Ils avaient un rendez-vous romantique au caf\u00e9. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(They had a romantic rendezvous at the caf\u00e9.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tableau <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Picture<\/td>Visual representation, especially a scene or group of figures<\/td> Le tableau repr\u00e9sentait un paysage serein aux couleurs vibrantes. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The tableau depicted a serene landscape with vibrant colors.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Trompe-l'\u0153il <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Deceives the eye<\/td>Visual illusion, often used in painting to create a realistic effect<\/td> La fresque pr\u00e9sentait une impressionnante technique de trompe-l'\u0153il. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The mural featured an impressive trompe-l'\u0153il technique.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

French Architectural Terms in English<\/h2>\n

\"modern<\/p>\n

Architecture hasn’t escaped French vocabulary influence, either! Here are some loanwords related to buildings, structures and all that’s related to them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French Word \/ Loanword<\/th>French Meaning<\/th>English Meaning<\/th>French Example Sentence<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Arcade <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Arcade<\/td>Series of arches supported by columns or pillars<\/td> La rue commer\u00e7ante \u00e9tait bord\u00e9e de belles arcades, cr\u00e9ant une atmosph\u00e8re charmante. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The shopping street was lined with beautiful arcades, creating a charming atmosphere.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Balustrade <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Balustrade<\/td>Railing or barrier with decorative posts<\/td> L'escalier \u00e9tait orn\u00e9 d'une balustrade \u00e9l\u00e9gante. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The staircase was adorned with an elegant balustrade.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ch\u00e2teau <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Castle<\/td>French castle or mansion<\/td> Ils ont visit\u00e9 un ch\u00e2teau majestueux dans la vall\u00e9e de la Loire. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(They visited a majestic ch\u00e2teau in the Loire Valley.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parapet <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Parapet<\/td>Low protective wall or barrier along the edge of a roof or balcony<\/td> Le parapet assurait la s\u00e9curit\u00e9 et servait d'\u00e9l\u00e9ment d\u00e9coratif sur la terrasse du toit. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The parapet provided safety and served as a decorative element on the rooftop terrace.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Porte coch\u00e8re <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Carriage door<\/td>Covered entrance or gateway for vehicles<\/td> La grande propri\u00e9t\u00e9 pr\u00e9sentait une belle porte coch\u00e8re pour les invit\u00e9s arrivants. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(The grand estate featured a beautiful porte coch\u00e8re for arriving guests.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
V\u00e9randa <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Porch<\/td>Covered outdoor area, often with a roof and open sides<\/td> Ils ont appr\u00e9ci\u00e9 un th\u00e9 l'apr\u00e8s-midi sur la v\u00e9randa donnant sur le jardin. <\/a>\n <\/i>
\n(They enjoyed afternoon tea on the veranda overlooking the garden.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Why We Use French Words in English<\/h2>\n

As French evolved from old Gaulish and Latin into what it is today, it became ever more universal. Even before modern borders were established, the French language was very dominant in modern-day England.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And while English evolved and became more of its own language, it also took on quite a bit of French<\/strong> during its formation at the same time.<\/p>\n

Because the world is becoming more and more globalized, meaning different languages and cultures are interacting with each other as they never could before, this has led to an inevitable exchange of words and phrases between many languages.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And there you have it, a few French phrases that are officially part of the English language.<\/p>\n

Can you think of any more?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

And one more thing...<\/h2>\r\n

\r\nIf you like learning French vocabulary on your own time and from the comfort of your smart device, then I'd be remiss to not tell you about FluentU<\/a>.<\/strong>\r\n

\r\n

\r\nFluentU takes real-world videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons<\/a>.<\/strong>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nOther sites use scripted content. FluentU uses a natural approach<\/strong> that helps you ease into the French language and culture over time. You\u2019ll learn French as it\u2019s actually spoken by real people.\r\n

\r\nFluentU has a wide variety of great content, like interviews and web series, as you can see here:\r\n<\/p>\r\n\"learn-french-with-videos\"<\/a>\r\n

\r\nFluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive subtitles.<\/strong> \r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nYou can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. \r\n<\/p>\r\n\"learn-french-with-movies\"<\/a>\r\n

\r\nFor example, if you tap on the word \"crois,\"<\/em> you'll see this:\r\n<\/p>\r\n\"learn-french-with-movie-trailers\"<\/a>\r\n

\r\nPractice and reinforce all the vocabulary you've learned in a given video with FluentU's adaptive quizzes.<\/strong> Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you\u2019re learning and play the mini-games found in the dynamic flashcards, like \"fill in the blank.\"\r\n<\/p>\r\n\"practice-french-with-adaptive-quizzes\"<\/a>\r\n

\r\nAs you study, FluentU tracks the vocabulary that you\u2019re learning and uses this information to give you a 100% personalized experience.<\/strong> \r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nIt gives you extra practice with difficult words\u2014and reminds you when it\u2019s time to review what you\u2019ve learned. \r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nStart using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some sources claim that over half of the English language derives from le fran\u00e7ais. That gives French a massive influence over English.\u00a0While many English words that come from French have…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":191,"featured_media":252175,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"96 French Words That Are Also Used in English | FluentU French Blog","description":"French words in English are those that have remained relatively unchanged between the two languages. From faux pas to souvenir, this post will give you 96 words we use all the time that are actually French. Read on and get a deeper understanding of both languages!"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[570,571],"tags":[],"coauthors":[684],"class_list":["post-117528","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-french","category-french-vocabulary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117528","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/191"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117528"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117528\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":238834,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117528\/revisions\/238834"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/252175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117528"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=117528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}