If you are Italian or Spanish, you probably recognise quite a lot of words when you read an English language text. And if you are French… well, if you are French, you could even be fooled into thinking that English was invented by your ancestors.
And you wouldn’t be totally wrong.
But you wouldn’t be totally right, either.
You'll soon see.
For linguists, English is a Western Germanic language, whose structure and grammar are reminiscent of other Germanic languages like (obviously) German, but also Dutch or even Norwegian and Danish.
However, after England was invaded by the Normans in 1066, Norman French became the language of the ruling classes.
As a result, many French words entered English, and while the overall structure of the language has stayed Germanic, you could say (especially if you were French), that English was creolized or at least semi-creolized by French.
QUEL HORREUR!
Today, French words make up about 29% of English vocabulary and with another 29% being of Latin (or Romance) origin, so maybe English is more of a crazy Romantic German-French hybrid.
For more on this, I recommend watching Paul from the Lang Focus channel on YouTube. His video “Is English Really a Germanic language?” explains it all better than I ever could.
Native speakers of English are not traditionally known for their skill at speaking other languages. A lot of us learned, or rather, tried to learn French at school.
And failed.
Miserably.
But what we don’t often realise is that we are actually speaking French every day when we use what we consider to be typically “English” expressions, but which really originated on the other side of the English Channel… in other words, in France.
And now, just so you never forget how important and how influential French really is,
here are some well-loved words and expressions from our Gallic neighbours.
I said Gallic... not garlic, okay?!?!
Ooh la la!
AVANT-GARDE
When something is avant-garde in English, it’s considered cutting edge or innovative. What connection the English translation of this term (advance guard) has with the idea of being ultra modern is anyone’s guess.
Example:
Painters of the Dada movement had avant-garde ideas.
The 1927 movie, The Love of Zero is considered an avant-garde movie.
CARTE BLANCHE
The translation is white letter, but let’s be honest, that could be any of the millions of letters sent every day in the world. The meaning of this expression is something akin to ‘absolute freedom’. In other words, if you have or are given carte blanche, you are free (pretty much) to do whatever you please.
Example:
We gave the kids carte blanche to choose the paint colour for their bedroom and they chose black.
Our 90-year old neighbour thinks she has carte blanche to complain just because she is old.
CUL-DE-SAC
In modern English, a cul-de-sac is a street which is closed at one end. It can also mean a course of action that is clearly not going to go anywhere. Fast. The literal translation from French means the “bottom of the bag”. How we got from the bottom of the bag to dead end streets, I don't know, but here are two examples to show you how it works. And a picture.
Example:
We live on a lovely cul-de-sac on the south side of the city.
We parked our car on a cul-de-sac near the stadium.
CREME DE LA CREME
This expression describes something which is exquisite, if not the best.
Tip-top.
The most select.
The elite.
In French, the crème was the cream or the most select part of anything, so the cream of the cream, would have to have been exceptionally exceptional.
As I mentioned before. The best.
Example:
Roland Red Caviar is considered to be the crème de la crème of caviars.
Only the crème de la crème of society were invited to the party.
DEJA-VU
This is the sensation of having seen or done something before. It comes from the French déjà which means already and vu which means seen… which is exactly what it is: that very bizarre feeling of having lived through or experienced something before.
Example:
When he first arrived in the city of Granada, he had a feeling of déjà vu, like he had already been there.
FAIT ACCOMPLI
An English equivalent of this would be a done deal, or if you translate directly it would be an accomplished fact. Whatever that is. Let's just stick with the done deal for convenience.
Example:
By the time we discovered what he was up to, it was too late. The sale of our company was a fait accompli.
FAUX-PAS
A faux-pas is a big mistake.
No, scratch that. A really, REALLY embarrassing mistake.
From the French faux (false) and pas (step).
Example:
Her Ugg boots and jeans were a terrible faux pas.
She wore white to her best friend's wedding, which really was a big faux pas.
FEMME FATALE
This describes a deadly and attractive woman who seduces and uses men and later discards them as she sees fit. Let's be honest, femme fatale sounds a lot more alluring and exciting than the more modern-day English equivalent bunny boiler. Who can guess the movie reference?
Example:
Mata Hari was considered a femme fatale and was tried as a spy.
In the movie, she played the femme fatale who killed her husband.
MARDI GRAS
The direct translation from French is, (I kid you not), Fat Tuesday.
It's not the day of the week when French people eat pizza and cake, but traditionally, rather, the last day French speakers could eat meat before Lent started. Nowadays, Mardi Gras is associated with Carnival Celebrations in the lead up to Lent. In English we call this day Shrove or Pancake Tuesday.
Example:
I’d love to spend Mardi Gras in Venice or New Orleans one year.
MANGE TOUT
The translation is mange (eat) tout (all). What might that be? What does "eat all" even mean? Well, as you may know, mange tout is a small green vegetable, also be known as snow peas or snap peas in English.
And surprise, surprise! Unlike most other peas which have to be shelled to be eated, with mange tout, we pop the whole thing in our mouths, et voila.
Example:
I served prawns on a bed of noodles, garnished with hard-boiled eggs and mange tout.
So, as you can see, all is not as it seems with English.
French has had quite a lot of influence over the centuries.
And you, dear reader, can spruce up your vocabulary by adding just a few French expressions!
What are you waiting for? Mailing list is NOT a French term, but who cares?
Why not sign-up today?
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