Thursday, May 05, 2022

English for Trippers: Enter the French language

The longer I learn English, the more I discover how many French words or phrases have entered the English language.

This gives a whole new perspective on savoir vivre! Merriam Webster: "ability to live elegantly : observance of the usages of fashionable society"😄 Or how about A votre santé (a toast to your health)!

I always liked the American expression: Pardon my French! 😄
More nuance please!

What is the expression du jour?

Here is a buffet (old French origin) of some common expressions and words:

  1. au contraire
  2. beau
  3. brunette
  4. buffet
  5. cachet
  6. carte blanche
  7. chic
  8. cliche
  9. connoisseur
  10. cul de sac
  11. creme de la creme
  12. decadence
  13. delegate
  14. deja vue
  15. detour
  16. dossier
  17. du jour
  18. elite
  19. energy
  20. en route
  21. en vogue
  22. fait accompli
  23. farce
  24. faux
  25. fiance
  26. film noir
  27. homage
  28. liaison
  29. literature
  30. menu
  31. nonchalant
  32. nuance
  33. occasion
  34. passé
  35. porte-cochere
  36. quotidian
  37. rapprochement
  38. restaurant
  39. rich
  40. risque
  41. rubric
  42. sabotage
  43. sans
  44. silhouette
  45. solicitor
  46. soup
  47. souvenir
  48. technique
  49. touche
  50. uniform
  51. variety

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