French Words Used in English

Many common greetings and goodbyes used in English are French words. Adieu is sometimes used in the United States as a friendly farewell, but in France, it carries more meaning. Adieu in French is a more permanent parting, where someone might never be seen again or even used as an insult implying you never want to see the departing person again. Bon voyage, which means have a good voyage, is used in English and French the same to say “have a good trip.”

Some food sounds better in French, such as escargot (snails). Even parts of the meal, such as the entrée or main dish, come from French. Bite-sized pre-meal foods are called hors d’oeuvres. Maybe your roast beef sandwich comes with a dish of broth for dipping, served "a jus," meaning "with juice." After you’ve eaten, a delectable cream-filled, chocolate-topped desert, éclair, may be served. Or perhaps, your pie might be "a la mode" with vanilla ice cream. In French, a la mode translates to mean fashionable, so you’re eating pie with style.

In France as well as in the United States, when something is boring or bland we call it blasé. That eerie feeling that you are repeating an experience is called deja vu. The Grand Prix is famous worldwide, but literally means grand prize and could apply to any race.

You can put your clothing in an armoire or bureau, but in France, the bureau is more likely to be in an office because it means desk. Chaise lounges have gone in and out of fashion in the United States, but is often considered a chic piece of furniture used inside as a plush furnishing or outside as a pool side seat. Or it can be on your patio, which is another French word.

Many commonly used words are French. Sometimes the French word is considered more appropriate or less offensive than the English alternative, such as derriere, which means behind in French. A man might admit to wearing a toupee, but will never call it a wig. The driver of a limo is called a chauffeur. In English, we often describe people as petite, as a kinder alternative to short. Even brassiere sounds fancier than saying bra, but in French, a brassiere is a sports bra, not the lacy item envisioned in English.