A.W.A.D. - French Words Commonly Used in English

with Anu Garg

In Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking Glass", the Red Queen tells Alice, "Speak in French when you can't remember the English for a thing." That's perhaps not bad advice considering that beaucoup words in the English language have arrived via French.

While French is a Romance language and English a Germanic one, the twists and turns of history have led to the two tongues having much in common. The English language borrowed from French, and vice versa. This borrowing often resulted in English having two near-synonyms to describe something (e.g. freedom/liberty, answer/respond). Sometimes the borrowed word is lent back. English budget came via French bougette (little bag), and was then exported back to French with its new sense.

This week we'll look at five French terms that are often used in English.

passe-partout
PRONUNCIATION: (pas-pahr-TOO)
MEANING: noun:
1. Something, for example a master key, that enables unrestricted access
2. An ornamental mat used to frame a picture
3. An adhesive tape used to attach a picture to a mat, glass, backing, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: From French, literally, passes everywhere, from passer (to pass) + partout (everywhere), from par (through) + tout (all).

tranche
PRONUNCIATION: (transh)
MEANING: noun: A portion, especially of money, investment, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: From French tranche (slice), from trancher (to cut).

beau monde
PRONUNCIATION: (BO mond)
MEANING: noun: The world of fashion; high society

ETYMOLOGY: From French, literally, fine world

bien-pensant
PRONUNCIATION: (bee-aN poN-saN [the last three syllables are nasal])
MEANING: adjective:
1. Right-thinking; conservative; conformist
2. Self-righteous

noun:
1. A right-thinking person
2. A self-righteous person

ETYMOLOGY: From French, literally well thinking, from bien (well), + penser (to think)

pas de deux
PRONUNCIATION: (pah duh DU)
MEANING: noun:
1. A dance for two people
2. A close relationship between two people or things involved in an activity

ETYMOLOGY: From French, literally step of two

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