The English language has been shaped by a number of other languages over the centuries, and many English speakers know that Latin and Germanic languages were two of the most important. What many people don't realize is how much the French language has influenced English.

History

Without going into too much detail, here is a little background about other languages that have also shaped English. The language grew out of the dialects of three German tribes (Angles, Jutes, and Saxons) who settled in Britain around 450 A.D. This group of dialects forms what we refer to as Anglo-Saxon, which gradually developed into Old English. The Germanic base was influenced in varying degrees by Celtic, Latin, and Old Norse.

Bill Bryson, a noted American linguist of the English language, calls the Norman conquest of 1066 the "final cataclysm [that] awaited the English language." When William the Conqueror became king of England, French took over as the language of the courts, administration, and literature—and stayed there for 300 years.

Anglo-Norman

Some say this eclipse of the English vernacular was "probably the most regrettable effect of the conquest. Superseded in official documents and other records by Latin and then increasingly in all areas by Anglo-Norman, written English hardly reappeared until the 13th century," according to britannica.com.

English was demoted to humble everyday uses, and it became the language of peasants and the uneducated. These two languages existed side by side in England with no noticeable difficulties. In fact, since English was essentially ignored by grammarians during this time, it evolved independently, becoming a simpler language grammatically.

After 80 years or so of coexisting with French, Old English segued into Middle English, which was the vernacular spoken and written in England from about 1100 to about 1500. This is when Early Modern English, the language of Shakespeare, emerged. This evolutionary version of English is nearly identical to the English we know today.

Vocabulary

During the Norman occupation, about 10,000 French words were incorporated into English, about three-fourths of which are still in use today. This French vocabulary is found in every domain, from government and law to art and literature. About one-third of all English words are derived directly or indirectly from French, and it's estimated that English speakers who have never studied French already know 15,000 French words. There are more than 1,700 true cognates, words that are identical in the two languages.

Pronunciation

English Pronunciation owes a lot to French as well. Whereas Old English had the unvoiced fricative sounds [f], [s], [θ] (as in thin), and [∫] (shin), French influence helped to distinguish their voiced counterparts [v], [z], [ð] (the), and [ʒ] (mirage), and also contributed the diphthong [ɔy] (boy).

Grammar

Another rare but interesting remnant of French influence is in the word order of expressions like secretary general and surgeon general, where English has retained the noun + adjective word order typical in French, rather than the usual adjective + noun sequence used in English.

French Words and Expressions in the English Language

These are some of the thousands of French words and expressions the English language has adopted. Some of them have been so completely absorbed into English the etymology is not evident. Other words and expressions have retained their written "Frenchness," a certain je ne sais quoi that does not extend to pronunciation, which has assumed English inflections. The following is a list of words and expressions of French origin that are commonly used in English. Each term is followed by the literal English translation in quotation marks and an explanation.

adieu "until God"

Used like "farewell": When you don't expect to see the person again until God (meaning when you die and go to Heaven)

agent provocateur "provocative agent"

A person who attempts to provoke suspected individuals or groups into committing unlawful acts

aide-de-camp "camp assistant"

A military officer who serves as a personal assistant to a higher-ranking officer

aide-mémoire "memory aid"

1. Position paper

2. Something that acts as an aid to memory, such as crib notes or mnemonic devices

à la française "in the French manner"

Describes anything done the French way

allée "alley, avenue"

A path or walkway lined with trees

amour-propre "self love"

Self-respect

après-ski "after skiing"

The French term actually refers to snow boots, but the literal translation of the term is what is meant in English, as in "après-ski" social events.

à propos (de) "on the subject of"

In French, à propos must be followed by the preposition de. In English, there are four ways to use apropos (note that in English, we've done away with the accent and the space):

Adjective: appropriate, to the point. "That's true, but it's not apropos." Adverb: at an appropriate time, opportunely. "Fortunately, he arrived apropos." Adverb/Interjection: by the way, incidentally. "Apropos, what happened yesterday?" Preposition (may or may not be followed by "of"): with regard to, speaking of. "Apropos our meeting, I'll be late.""He told a funny story apropos of the new president."

attaché "attached"

A person assigned to a diplomatic post

au contraire "on the contrary"

Usually used playfully in English.

au fait "conversant, informed"

"Au fait" is used in British English to mean "familiar" or "conversant": She's not really au fait with my ideas, but it has other meanings in French.

au naturel "in reality, unseasoned"

In this case naturel is a semi-false cognate. In French, au naturel can mean either "in reality" or the literal meaning of "unseasoned" (in cooking). In English, we picked up the latter, less common usage and use it figuratively, to mean natural, untouched, pure, real, naked.

au pair "at par"

A person who works for a family (cleaning and/or teaching the children) in exchange for room and board

avoirdupois "goods of weight"

Originally spelled averdepois

bête noire "black beast"

Similar to a pet peeve: something that is particularly distasteful or difficult and to be avoided.

billet-doux "sweet note"

Love letter

blond, blonde "fair-haired"

This is the only adjective in English that agrees in gender with the person it modifies: Blond is for a man and blonde for a woman. Note that these can also be nouns.

bon mot, bons mots "good word(s)"

Clever remark, witticism

bon ton "good tone"

Sophistication, etiquette, high society

bon vivant "good 'liver'"

Someone who lives well, who knows how to enjoy life.

bon voyage "good trip"

In English, it would be, "Have a good trip," but Bon voyage is considered more elegant.

bric-a-brac

The correct French spelling is bric-à-brac. Note that bric and brac don't actually mean anything in French; they are onomatopoetic.

brunette "small, dark-haired female"

The French word brun, dark-haired, is what English really means by "brunette." The suffix -ette indicates that the subject is small and female.

carte blanche "blank card"

Free hand, ability to do whatever you want/need

cause célèbre "famous cause"

A famous, controversial issue, trial, or case

cerise "cherry"

The French word for the fruit gives us the English word for the color.

c'est la vie "that's life"

Same meaning and usage in both languages

chacun à son goût "each one to his own taste"

This is the slightly twisted English version of the French expression à chacun son goût.

chaise longue "long chair"

In English, this is often mistakenly written as "chaise lounge," which actually makes perfect sense.

chargé d'affaires "charged with business"

A substitute or replacement diplomat

cherchez la femme "look for the woman"

Same problem as always

cheval-de-frise "Frisian horse"

Barbed wire, spikes, or broken glass attached to wood or masonry and used to block access

cheval glace "horse mirror"

A long mirror set into a moveable frame

comme il faut "as it must"

The proper way, as it should be

cordon sanitaire "sanitary line"

Quarantine, buffer zone for political or medical reasons.

coup de foudre "bolt of lightning"

Love at first sight

coup de grâce "mercy blow"

Deathblow, final blow, decisive stroke

coup de main "stroke of hand"

Somehow the English meaning (surprise attack) got completely separated from the French meaning, which is assistance, helping hand.

coup de maître "master stroke"

A stroke of genius

coup de théâtre "stroke of the theater"

Sudden, unexpected turn of events in a play

coup d'etat "state blow"

Overthrow of the government. Note that the last word is capitalized and accented in French: coup d'État.

coup d'œil "stroke of the eye"

A glance

cri de cœur "cry of heart"

The correct way to say "heartfelt cry" in French is cri du cœur (literally, "cry of the heart")

crime passionnel "passionate crime"

Crime of passion

critique "critical, judgment"

Critique is an adjective and noun in French, but a noun and verb in English; it refers to a critical review of something or the act of performing such a review.

cul-de-sac "bottom (butt) of the bag"

Dead-end street

debutante "beginner"

In French, débutante is the feminine form of débutant, beginner (noun) or beginning (adj). In both languages, it also refers to a young girl making her formal début into society. Interestingly, this usage is not original in French; it was adopted back from English.

déjà vu "already seen"

This is a grammatical structure in French, as in Je l'ai déjà vu > I've already seen it. In English, déjà vu refers to the phenomenon of feeling like you've already seen or done something when you're sure that you haven't.

demimonde "half world"

In French, it's hyphenated: demi-monde. In English, there are two meanings:

1. A marginal or disrespectful group

2. Prostitutes and/or kept women

de rigueur "of rigueur"

Socially or culturally obligatory

de trop "of too much"

Excessive, superfluous

Dieu et mon droit "God and my right"

Motto of the British monarch

divorcé, divorcée "divorced man, divorced woman"

In English, the feminine, divorcée, is far more common, and is often written without the accent: divorcee

double entendre "double hearing"

A word play or pun. For example, you're looking at a field of sheep and you say "How are you (ewe)?"

droit du seigneur "right of the lord of the manor"

The feudal lord's right to deflower his vassal's bride

du jour "of the day"

"Soup du jour" is nothing more than an elegant-sounding version of "soup of the day."

embarras de richesse, richesses "embarrassement of wealth/richness"

Such an overwhelming amount of good fortune that it's embarrassing or confusing

emigré "expatriate, migrant"

In English, this tends to indicate exile for political reasons

en banc "on the bench"

Legal term: indicates that the entire membership of a court is in session.

en bloc "in a block"

In a group, all together

encore "again"

A simple adverb in French, "encore" in English refers to an additional performance, usually requested with audience applause.

enfant terrible "terrible child"

Refers to a troublesome or embarrassing person within a group (of artists, thinkers, and the like).

en garde "on guard"

Warning that one should be on his/her guard, ready for an attack (originally in fencing).

en masse "in mass"

In a group, all together

en passant "in passing"

in passing, by the way; (chess) the capturing of a pawn after a specific move

en prise "in grasp"

(chess) exposed to capture

en rapport "in agreement"

agreeable, harmonious

en route "on route"

On the way

en suite "in sequence"

Part of a set, together

entente cordiale "cordial agreement"

Friendly agreements between countries, especially those signed in 1904 between France and the UK

entrez vous "come in"

English speakers often say this, but it's wrong. The correct way to say "come in" in French is simply entrez.

esprit de corps "group spirit"

Similar to team spirit or morale

esprit d'escalier "stairway wit"

Thinking of an answer or comeback too late

fait accompli "done deed"

"Fait accompli" is probably a bit more fatalistic than merely "done deed."

faux pas "false step, trip"

Something that should not be done, a foolish mistake.

femme fatale "deadly woman"

An alluring, mysterious woman who seduces men into compromising situations

fiancé, fiancée "engaged person, betrothed"

Note that fiancé refers to a man and fiancée to a woman.

fin de siècle "end of the century"

Refers to the end of the 19th century

folie à deux "craziness for two"

Mental disorder that occurs simultaneously in two people with a close relationship or association.

force majeure "great force"

An unexpected or uncontrollable event, like a tornado or war, that prevents a contract from being fulfilled.

gamine "playful, little girl"

Refers to an impish or playful girl/woman.

garçon "boy"

Once upon a time, it was acceptable to call a French waiter garçon, but those days are long gone.

gauche "left, awkward"

Tactless, lacking social grace

genre "type"

Used mostly in art and film. as in, "I really like this genre."

giclée "squirt, spray"

In French, giclée is a general term for a small amount of liquid; in English, it refers to a particular type of inkjet print using a fine spray, and the accent is usually dropped: giclee

grand mal "great illness"

Severe epilepsy. Also see petit mal

haute cuisine "high cuisine"

High-class, fancy and expensive cooking or food

honi soit qui mal y pense

Shame on anyone who thinks evil of it

hors de combat "out of combat"

Out of action

idée fixe "set idea"

Fixation, obsession

je ne sais quoi "I don't know what"

Used to indicate a "certain something," as in "I really like Ann. She has a certain je ne sais quoi that I find very appealing."

joie de vivre "joy of living"

The quality in people who live life to the fullest

laissez-faire "let it be"

A policy of non-interference. Note the expression in French is laisser-faire.

ma foi "my faith"

Indeed

maître d', maître d'hôtel "master of, master of hotel"

The former is more common in English, which is strange since it is incomplete. Literally, it is: "The 'master of' will show you to your table."

mal de mer "sickness of sea"

Seasickness

mardi gras "fat Tuesday"

Celebration before Lent

ménage à trois "household of three"

Three people in a relationship together; a threesome

mise en abyme "putting into (an) abyss"

An image repeated within its own image, as with two facing mirrors.

mot juste "right word"

Exactly the right word or expression.

née "born"

Used in genealogy to refer to a woman's maiden name: Anne Miller née (or nee) Smith.

noblesse oblige "obligated nobility"

The idea that those who are noble are obliged to act noble.

nom de guerre "war name"

Pseudonym

nom de plume "pen name"

This French phrase was coined by English speakers in imitation of nom de guerre.

nouveau riche "new rich"

Disparaging term for someone who has recently come into money.

oh là là "oh dear"

Usually misspelled and mispronounced "ooh la la" in English.

oh ma foi "oh my faith"

Indeed, certainly, I agree

par excellence "by excellence"

Quintessential, preeminent, the best of the best

pas de deux "step of two"

Dance with two people

passe-partout "pass everywhere"

1. Master key

2. (Art) mat, paper, or tape used to frame a picture

petit "small"

(law) lesser, minor

petit mal "small illness"

Relatively mild epilepsy. Also see grand mal

petit point "little stitch"

Small stitch used in needlepoint.

pièce de résistance "piece of stamina"

In French, this originally referred to the main course, or the test of your stomach's stamina. In both languages, it now refers to an outstanding accomplishment or the final part of something, as a project, a meal, or the like.

pied-à-terre "foot on ground"

A temporary or secondary place of residence.

Plus ça change "More it changes"

The more things change (the more they stay the same)

porte cochère "coach gate"

Covered gate through which cars drive and then stop temporarily to allow passengers to enter a building without getting rained upon.

potpourri "rotten pot"

A scented mixture of dried flowers and spices; a miscellaneous group or collection

prix fixe "fixed price"

Two or more courses at a set price, with or without options for each course. Though the term is French, in France, a "prix fixe menu" is simply called le menu.

protégé "protected"

Someone whose training is sponsored by an influential person.

raison d'être "reason for being"

Purpose, justification for existing

rendez-vous "go to"

In French, this refers to a date or an appointment (literally, it is the verb se rendre [to go] in the imperative); in English we can use it as a noun or a verb (let's rendez-vous at 8 p.m.).

repartee "quick, accurate response"

The French repartie gives us the English "repartee," with the same meaning of a swift, witty, and "right on" retort.

risqué "risked"

Suggestive, overly provocative

roche moutonnée "rolled rock"

Mound of bedrock smoothed and rounded by erosion. Mouton by itself means "sheep."

rouge "red"

The English refers to a reddish cosmetic or metal/glass-polishing powder and can be a noun or a verb.

RSVP "respond please"

This abbreviation stands for Répondez, s'il vous plaît, which means that "Please RSVP" is redundant.

sang-froid "cold blood"

The ability to maintain one's composure.

sans "without"

Used mainly in academia, although it's also seen in the font style "sans serif," which means "without decorative flourishes."

savoir-faire "knowing how to do"

Synonymous with tact or social grace.

soi-disant "self saying"

What one claims about oneself; so-called, alleged

soirée "evening"

In English, refers to an elegant party.

soupçon "suspicion"

Used figuratively like hint: There's just a soupçon of garlic in the soup.

souvenir "memory, keepsake"

A memento

succès d'estime "success of estime"

Important but unpopular success or achievement

succès fou "crazy success"

Wild success

tableau vivant "living picture"

A scene composed of silent, motionless actors

table d'hôte "host table"

1. A table for all guests to sit together

2. A fixed-price meal with multiple courses

tête-à-tête "head to head"

A private talk or visit with another person

touché "touched"

Originally used in fencing, now equivalent to "you got me."

tour de force "turn of strength"

Something that takes a great deal of strength or skill to accomplish.

tout de suite "right away"

Due to the silent e in de, this is often misspelled "toot sweet" in English.

vieux jeu "old game"

Old-fashioned

vis-à-vis (de) "face to face"

In English vis-à-vis or vis-a-vis means "compared to" or "in relation with": vis-a-vis this decision means vis-à-vis de cette décision. Note than in French, it must be followed by the preposition de.

Vive la France ! "(Long) live France" Essentially the French equivalent of saying "God bless America."

Voilà ! "There it is!"

Take care to spell this correctly. It is not "voilá" or "violà."

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir ? "Do you want to sleep with me tonight?"

An unusual phrase in that English speakers use it far more than French speakers.

French Words and Phrases Related to the Arts