99 French phrases we use in English on a regular basis
You’re in all probability conscious that we usually use loads of French phrases in English.
However do you know that English is so near the French language, that round 30% of English phrases come from the language of affection?
A few of these French phrases in English (in any other case often called cognates!) are borrowed straight from the French language, whereas others have advanced from French origins.
We’ve put collectively some responses to a number of the commonest questions in regards to the French presence within the English language for you, plus 99 examples of how English phrases didn’t fall too removed from the French tree.
Every little thing you’ve ever needed, proper?
Why are there French phrases within the English language?
The origin of the English language is a subject linguists like to debate.
Though English is a Germanic language, it shares loads of vocabulary with French – a Romance language.
However why?
The Norman Conquest of 1066 was a key occasion that led to French phrases being utilized in England.
Following the conquest, England was dominated by the Normans who spoke a northern type of Outdated French known as Anglo-Norman French.
Beneath Norman rule, Anglo-Norman French started to affect the language of administration, legislation and tradition in England, and therefore making its mark on the English language.
Since then, French phrases and phrases – humorous quirks and all – continued to make their means into the English language.
And French isn’t the one language that has made its mark on the English language. There are many Spanish phrases in English, and an excellent handful of Japanese phrases in English, too.
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What number of French phrases are there in English?
There exists round 7,000 French phrases within the English language at current.
Imagine it or not, although, there have been loads extra English phrases that got here from French (and usually Latin) roots initially – round 10,000, to be actual.
Do any examples come to thoughts? At this level, I’m certain you’re determined to see some examples of English phrases with French origins…
Let’s begin with 99 (we thought any extra is likely to be a bit a lot!).
Listed below are 99 widespread French phrases utilized in English, and their that means
1. Allowance – from the Outdated French phrase alouance (cost)
2. Apostrophe – from the French phrase apostrophe
3. Attaché – from the French phrase attaché (hooked up)
4. Apéritif – from the French phrase apéritif
5. Avant-garde – from the French phrase avant-garde
6. Aviation – from the French phrase aviation
7. Bachelor – from the Anglo-Norman phrase bacheler (bachelier in trendy French)
8. Baguette – from the French phrase baguette (stick)
9. Ballet – from the French phrase ballet
10. Beret – from the French phrase béret
11. Bon voyage – from the French phrase bon voyage (have an excellent journey)
12. Brunette – from the French phrase brunette
13. Bureau – from the French phrase bureau (desk, workplace)
14. Cabaret – from the French phrase cabaret
15. Cadet – from the French phrase cadet
16. Champagne – from the French phrase champagne
17. Chauffeur – from the French phrase chauffeur
18. Stylish – from the French phrase stylish (elegant)
19. Cliché – from the French phrase cliché
20. Connoisseur – from the French phrase connoisseur
21. Cul-de-sac – from the French phrase cul-de-sac (backside of the bag/sack)
22. Particles – from the French phrase débris (damaged, crumbled)
23. Déjà vu – from the French phrases déjà (already) and vu (seen – previous participle of ‘voir’)
24. Delegate – from the Outdated French phrase delegat
25. Detour – from the French phrase détour (from détourner)
26. File – from the French phrase file
27. Eau de toilette – from the French phrase eau de toilette
28. Elite – from the Outdated French phrase elit (chosen)
29. Vitality – from the Center French phrase énergie
30. En route – from the French en route
31. Envisage – from the French phrase envisager
32. Expatriate – from the French phrase expatrier
33. Facade – from the French phrase façade
34. Fake, as in fake fur – from the French phrase fake (false)
35. Fake-pas – from the French phrase fake pas
36. Fiancé – from the French phrase fiancé
37. Movie noir – from the French phrase movie noir (a movie style)
38. Gallery – from the Outdated French phrase galerie
39. Gastronomy – from the French phrase gastronomie
40. Gateau – from the French phrase gâteau
41. Gazette – from the French phrase gazette
42. Heritage – from the Outdated French phrase eritage (héritage in trendy French)
43. Homage – from the Outdated French phrase homage
44. Resort – from the French phrase hôtel
45. Id – from the Center French phrase identité
46. Phantasm – from the Outdated French phrase phantasm
47. Insult – from the Center French phrases insult (noun) and insulter (verb)
48. Irony – from the Center French phrase ironie
49. Jubilee – from the Center French phrase jubile (trendy French jubilé)
50. Kilogram – from the French phrase kilogramme
51. Lacrosse – from the Canadian French phrase la crosse (the stick)
52. Laissez-faire – from the French phrase laissez-faire (depart issues to take their course)
53. Liaison – from the French phrase liaison
54. Literature – from the Outdated French phrase littérature
55. Machine – from the Center French phrase machine
56. Magnificent – from the Center French phrase magnificent
57. Maisonette – from the French phrase maisonette
58. Therapeutic massage – from the French phrase therapeutic massage
59. Menu – from the French phrase menu
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60. Metabolism – from the French phrase métabolisme
61. Metro – from the French phrase métro
62. Musketeer – from the French phrase mousquetaire
63. Navy – from the Outdated French phrase navie
64. Impartial – from the Center French phrase impartial
65. Nocturnal – from the Center French phrase nocturnal
66. Novel – from the Outdated French phrase novel
67. Event – from the Center French phrase event
68. Omelette – from the French phrase omelette
69. Optimism – from the French phrase optimisme
70. Papier-mâché – from the French phrase papier-mâché
71. Parasol – from the French phrase parasol
72. Poetic – from the Center French phrase poétique
73. Premiere – from the French phrase première
74. Purify – from the Outdated French phrase air purifier
75. Recipient – from the Center French phrase récipient
76. Rendez-vous – from the French phrase rendez-vous (appointment)
77. Reservoir – from the French phrase ‘réservoir’ (assortment place)
78. Restaurant – from the French phrase restaurant
79. Ricochet – from the French phrase ricochet
80. Wealthy – from the French phrase riche
81. Ridicule – from the French phrase ridicule
82. Risqué – from the French phrase risqué
83. Sabotage – from the French phrase sabotage
84. Salad – from the French phrase salade
85. Sentiment – from the Outdated French phrase sentement
86. Silhouette – from the French phrase silhouette
87. Solicitor – from the Center French phrase soliciteur
88. Memento – from the French phrase memento (reminiscence)
89. Soufflé – from the French phrase soufflé
90. Soup – from the French phrase soupe
91. Approach – from the French phrase approach
92. Tv – from the French phrase télévision
93. Event – from the Outdated French phrase tornoiement (tournoiement in trendy French)
94. Uniform – from the Center French phrase uniforme
95. Utensil – from the Outdated French phrase utensile
96. Legitimate – from the Center French phrase valide
97. Selection – from the Center French phrase varieté
98. French dressing – from the French phrase French dressing
99. Zest – from the French phrase zeste
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If you happen to’re an English speaker and also you ever thought French was tough (or a French speaker and ever thought English was tough!) hopefully, that is one thing to reassure you: regardless of whether or not you’ve obtained your French pronunciation accent down or not, the training course of could also be simpler than you suppose!
You have already got an excellent understanding of so many French phrases – why not be taught much more right this moment?
There’s a lot extra to French than these 99 phrases
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