Foreign Words and Phrases

French Words

a la carte

with a separate price for each item printed on the menu

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/a+la+carte?s=t

ambiance

(literally means surroundings): mood, character, atmosphere of a location

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ambiance?s=t

au naturel

(literally means in the natural state): served plainly; nude

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/au+naturel?s=t

avant-garde

(literally means “the front guard”): a progressive art movement

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/avant-garde?s=t

bon appetit

• (literally means a good appetite): interjection meaning “I wish you a hearty appetite.”

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bon+appetit?s=t

bon voyage

(literally means a good journey): farewell

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bon+voyage?s=t

bourgeois

townsman; member of the middle class

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bourgeois?s=t

carte blanche

• freedom to act: permission or authority given to somebody to act with freedom or discretion

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/carte+blanche

c’est la vie

that’s life; such is life

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/british/c-est-la-vie

cliché

an expression or idea which has become overused and lost its effectiveness

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/clich%C3%A9?&o=100074&s=t

déjà vu

(literally means “already seen”): sensation of having experienced something

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/d%C3%A9j%C3%A0+vu?s=t

double entendre

• (literally “double meaning”): an expression open to two interpretations, one of which is usually indecent

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/double+entendre?s=t

en route

on the way

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/en+route?s=t

faux pas

social blunder or mistake

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/faux+pas?s=t

femme fatale

(literally “fatal woman”): an irresistible woman, a woman-siren

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/femme+fatale?s=t

haute couture

high fashion

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/haute+couture?s=t

je ne sais quoi

(literally “I don’t know what”); describes an elusive quality or expression

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/je+ne+sais+quoi?s=t

laissez faire

• (literally “let the people do”): an individualistic approach to economic regulations; avoiding interference in the business of others

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/laissez+faire?s=t

nom de plume

a writer’s pseudonym, pen name

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nom+de+plume?s=t

par excellence

the best at something

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/par+excellence?s=t

rendezvous

a meeting at an appointed place and time

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rendezvous?s=t

résponde s’il vous plaît

(literally “reply, if you please”): used as RSVP

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/r%C3%A9pondez%20s'il%20vous%20pla%C3%AEt

tete-a-tete

a private conversation; face-to-face

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tete-a-tete?&o=100074&s=t

tour de force

a remarkable feat or accomplishment

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tour+de+force?s=t

vis-à-vis

face-to-face or in relation to

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vis-%C3%A0-vis?s=t