If you’re a beginning French student, you might be surprised when you notice how many words and phrases you already sort of know in French. French tutor Lizzie S. shares 10 of the most common French words English speakers might already know…
Ever been surprised to find out you already know some words in a foreign language? Well, if you’re an English speaker, you’ll be shocked to discover how many French words you already use on a daily basis.
Here are 10 common French words and phrases that have made their way into the English language.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much you already know about these common words and phrases in French!
What Are Common Sayings in French?
Learning the most common sayings and expressions in French is an important step in becoming comfortable with the language and communicating effectively. Some of the most popular – and useful – phrases include:
- ‘Bonjour’ (Hello)
- ‘Merci’ (Thank you)
- ‘Au revoir’ (Good bye)
- ‘S’il vous plait’ (Please)
- ‘Oui’ (Yes)
These familiar expressions can help break the ice when talking to a native speaker, while others such as ‘Je ne comprends pas’ (I don’t understand) and ‘Je suis désolé(e)’ (I’m sorry) will prove invaluable in navigating unfamiliar conversations. Learning these key French sayings can be a great starting point for anyone looking to learn more about the language.
Ready to take your French learning to the next level – and learn even more commonly used French words and phrases? It’s time to sign up for French lessons! In addition to learning the most common French words and phrases, you’ll also cover the following:
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Common French Words and Phrases in English
Since arriving in the US, I have been surprised to find a little bits of French words and expressions everywhere. Why do so many words look like a mix of English and French and why are some phrases taken completely from the French?
First, it’s important to understand that French actually played a big role in the formation of the English language after the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century. The upper classes injected a lot of French vocabulary into an Anglo-Norman language which would become, several hundred years later, modern English. That’s why today 45% of English vocabulary comes from French. There are many examples of anglicized French words such as police, money, publicity, etc, that are pronounced according to English phonetic rules.
On the other hand, we find everyday in the English language French words and phrases pronounced the French way. These generally entered the lexicon later. They have been borrowed from fields where France set the standards such as in cooking, fashion, the arts, literature, and philosophy. Today, I’d like to share with you 10 of the most common French phrases you’ll find in America, plus a little more about what they mean.
1. RSVP: Répondez S’il Vous Plaît: You probably recognize this French expression from fancy invitations. It translates to, “Response Please”.
2. sans: Without. In French the last “s” is silent except if the next word starts with a vowel. In this case the final “s” sounds like a “z”.
3. à gogo: derived from the latin meaning “in abundance, galore”. At first, this expression was used in popular culture, especially in the fields of music and dance.
4. à la mode and à la carte : Something “à la mode” designates in French the way somebody or a city used to do something. For example, des habits à la mode meant fashionable clothes and tripes à la mode de Caen means tripe of Caen. When you order à la carte, you are asking for the item just as it appears on the menu.
5. amuse-bouche: This is a one or two bite-sized hors d’œuvre which literally translates to “mouth amuser”. It is usually smaller than an hors d’oeuvre and is pre-selected by the chef who offers them for free.
6. au contraire: The French for “on the contrary” is often used in English with the aim of giving a humorous, ironic, or dramatic effect.
7. au pair : This designates the person taking care of the children of the familly. Etymologically “au pair” means “at par” or “equal to” because the au pair becomes a part of the family rather remaining separate as a traditional domestic worker.
8. café : In French, this word designates the beverage (coffee) as well as the coffee shop. In 1802, the French café “coffee, coffeehouse,” came from Italian caffe “coffee”. The beverage was introduced in Venice by 1615 and in France from 1650s by merchants and travelers who had been to Turkey and Egypt. The first public café may have been the one opened in Marseilles in 1660.
9. cliché : In printing, the plate cast from movable type was thought to make the sound “cliché” (kli-shay) when it was used. This printing plate is also called a stereotype. In the machine, the letters were set one by one so when a phrase was used repeatedly it was cast as a single piece of metal. “Cliché” came to mean such a ready-made phrase.
10. Chef : In French “chef” means boss. When used in English, it refers to the “chef de cuisine“, the director or head of a kitchen. The haute cuisine of the 19th century introduced many French words such as this one into the English language, along with words like “entrée“, “crème“, and “amuse-bouche“.
More Common Conversational Words and Phrases in French
French words such as chic, bon appétit, a la mode, and bête noire are ubiquitous in the English language and are used daily by those speaking English.
Common conversational French words can add an air of sophistication and elegance to everyday interaction. Whether you’re expressing gratitude with ‘merci’ or catching up with someone using ‘tu vas bien?’, adding a few French phrases to your conversation will improve your communication skills immensely.
Plus, if you ever travel to France, you might already be conversant enough to jump right into conversations! With the right approach, learning more common conversational French words and phrases can open up countless opportunities.
What Are Some Cool French Phrases?
Learning French can be fun and exciting, especially when discovering some of the cooler phrases that native speakers use daily.
From profanities like “va te faire foutre” to the more everyday “je m’ennuie”, understanding French phrases helps bring you one step closer to being immersed in the culture itself. Franglais phrases such as “grossesse pandémique” and “un-dixième de seconde” are also great additions to your vocabulary arsenal, with the added bonus of making for a great conversation starter!
Learning some of the more unusual phrases may not make you sound like a native speaker overnight, but it will certainly give you a chance to draw attention whenever used on an unsuspecting audience!
Get more help studying French by working with a French tutor. Tutors are available to teach one-on-one private lessons in-person or online via Skype. Search for your French tutor today!
Lizzie S. is a French teacher in Orange, CA. A native speaker, she’s been teaching students of all ages for 2 years. Learn more about Lizzie here!
Photo by Matthew Mendoza
Suzy S.