Since I became the in-charge of my school’s annual Spelling Bee, I developed a keen interest about the origin of words. So, when my friend let me know about the Spelling Bee event held at the Champs-Élysées, I was motivated to tidy up my notes about French words. Maybe you will find this useful.
- The French use a local slang called Verlan. They invert syllables of words so that the je ne said pas (I don’t know) you memorised becomes schez-pas instead. Heading to a cafe? The French might call it feca. And when they say jourbon, they really mean bonjour (hello).
- Mise en Place is a French term meaning, “Everything ready and in its place”.
- You know déjà vu. But do you know that vieux jeu means something that has been experienced so often that it has become boring?
- In addition, English uses many French words and phrases with little attempt at integrating them into English speech patterns: a la carte, bete noire, coup d’etat, cul de sac, fait accompli, hors d’oeuvre, nouveau riche
- France has passed laws banning English words. French people talk of fast food and jumbo jet but in official documents these are replaced by pret-a-manger and grosporteur.
- Modern French: ballet, brochure, camouflage, chic, cliche, elite, etiquette, garage, gourmet, liaison, menu, naive, pate, police, prestige, rendezvous, ricochet, sobriquet, suede, verve
- Political and legal terms that have passed into the general vocabulary from French include government, parliament, crown, state, oppress, court, council, justice, crime, judge, seize, arson, heir and innocent.
- The military has inherited some terminology from French: war, peace, enemy, arms, battle, defend, attack, campaign and spy
- Some words for the aristocracy and their way of life are of French origin: baron, marquis, duke, noble, servant, feast and minstrel. The manners and customs introduced by the French-speaking court have been given fashion, dress, robe, collar, glove, fur and even colours like blue, brown & purple. Also French terms are curtains, chairs, cushions, blankets and towels.
