With the Norman occupation of England in the 1100s, French had a profound impact on the English language. French and English also share many Latin influences, and as a result, the two languages overlap in many interesting ways. So, with that said, here are our 25 favorite French words used in English!
25 French Words Used in English
1. Déjà-vu
Déjà = already
Vu (passé composé form of voir = to see) = seen
Already seen (before).
2. à la mode (not used as such in French)
à (preposition) = in(to), at
La mode = way, style
In the way (style) of.
3. Cul-de-sac
cul (coll./vulgar) = bottom, ass
de (preposition) = from, of
sac = bag
Bottom (ass) of the bag.
4. RSVP = répondez s’il vous plaît
Répondez, 2nd person plural of répondre = to reply, to answer
S’il vous plaît = please
[However, it is a compound of
s’ (abbrev. of si) = if
il = he/it
vous = you (formal)
plaît (3rd pers. sing. of plaire) = to care for, to please]
Reply, if it pleases you.
5. Chaise longue
Chaise = chair
Longue = long
Long chair.
6. Crème brûlée
Crème = cream
Brûlée (participe passé of brûler = to burn) = burnt
Burnt cream.
7. Du jour
Du (de = from, of + le = the) = of the
Jour = day
Of the day.
8. Café au lait
Café = coffee
au (à = in; with + le = the) = in/with the
Lait = milk
Coffee with milk.
9. Carte blanche
Carte = card
Blanche (feminine form of blanc) = white
White card (i.e. blank canvas = complete freedom to act as one wishes)
10. Comme ci, comme ça
Comme = like
ci = this
ça = that
Like this, like that.
11. Eau de toilette
Eau = water
de = from, of
toilette = toilette, wash [toiletter = to groom]
Grooming water.
12. Fait accompli (not used as a stand-alone)
Fait = act, fact
Accompli = accomplished
Accomplished fact.
13. Femme fatale
Femme = woman
Fatale = fatal, deadly
Deadly woman.
14. Film noir
Film = movie
Noir = black
Black (dark) movie.
15. Foie gras
Foie = liver
Gras = fatty
Fatty liver.
16. Grand Prix
Grand = great, large
Prix = prize
Great prize.
17. Hors d’œuvre
Hors = outside
d’ (de) = from, of
œuvre = work
Outside (of) the work, i.e. not part of the ordinary set of courses in a meal.
18. Joie de vivre
Joie = joy
de = of
vivre = to live
Joy of living.
19. Laissez-faire
Laissez, 2nd pers. plural of laisser = to let, to leave
Faire = to do
Let do, i.e. to leave as it; to let be.
20. Ménage à trois
Ménage = household
Trois = three
Household of three (Ha! You were thinking something else?)
21. Objet d’art
Objet = object
Art = art
Object of art.
22. Raison d’être
Raison = reason
être = to be
Reason for being.
23. Vis-à-vis
vis = face
Face to face.
24. Avant-garde
Avant = before, (in) advance (of)
Garde = guard
Advance guard.
25. Faux pas
Faux = false, wrong
Pas = step; move
False/wrong step.
Learn French More Efficiently
Understanding French empowers you to order off the menu with greater confidence; sound très attractive to your desired gender; opens up incredible opportunities for travel in 29 countries; and helps you to understand your own language, English, better.
If you want to make steady progress, consistent practice matters more than perfection. Digital flashcard apps such as Quizlet or Brainscape are the most efficient way to build vocabulary and reinforce grammar in short, manageable study sessions that fit into daily life.
With the right approach and a bit of patience, French will be less intimidating and far more enjoyable to use. Keep learning, keep practicing, and look for real moments to put the language to work.
Bonne chance!