French Words Used in English: Common Terms You Already Know

Many people speak English every day without realizing how much French is already part of their language. Hundreds of French words used in English appear in conversation, writing, business, food, and culture. Understanding where these words come from and what they really mean in French is often one of the first steps to learning French in a natural way.

At Institut de Français, we use this familiarity to help students connect English and French language learning through immersion and real-life examples.

Why So Many French Words Are Used in English

Historical Influence of French on the English Language

The reason French words are used so often in English is mainly historical. After the Norman Conquest in 1066, French became the language of power in England. For several centuries, government, law, education, and literature were conducted in French. During this period, thousands of French words entered the English language, especially in areas like law, administration, and social life. Many of these words are still used today, sometimes with a slightly different meaning.

French as a Language of Culture, Cuisine, and Diplomacy

French has also long been associated with culture, refinement, and diplomacy. It was the official diplomatic language in Europe for centuries and remains important in international relations. At the same time, French cuisine, fashion, and arts influenced the world. This is why English adopted many French words related to food, lifestyle, politics, and society, often keeping their original spelling and pronunciation.

Students learning French in Villefranche-sur-Mer

Common French Words Used in English Everyday Language

These French words used in English describe daily experiences, emotions, and ideas. Many have kept the same meaning in both languages.

French word	Meaning in French	Meaning in English
déjà vu	the feeling of having already experienced something	the feeling of having already experienced something
souvenir	a memory or object linked to a past experience	a keepsake or reminder
rendez-vous	a planned meeting	a meeting or appointment
cliché	an overused idea or expression	an overused idea
façade	the front of a building	an outward appearance
chic	elegant, stylish	stylish
à propos	appropriate or relevant	appropriate
naïve	innocent, lacking experience	innocent or inexperienced
bizarre	strange or unusual	strange
routine	habitual pattern	regular pattern
genre	type or category	type or style
elite	a privileged group	a select group
résumé	summary	summary
encore	again	again
déjà	already	already
voilà	here it is / there it is	here it is
coup	a blow or strike	sudden action
motif	reason or pattern	recurring theme
nuance	subtle difference	subtle difference
prestige	honor or reputation	high status
morale	state of mind	confidence or spirit
décor	setting or decoration	setting
amateur	non-professional	non-professional
bizarre	strange	strange

French Words Used in English for Food and Lifestyle

Food, restaurants, and lifestyle vocabulary are areas where French words are widely used in English, often without translation.

French word	Meaning in French	Meaning in English
bon appétit	wish before eating	enjoy your meal
cuisine	style of cooking	style of cooking
menu	list of dishes	list of dishes
hors d’œuvre	starter or appetizer	appetizer
à la carte	ordered individually	ordered individually
café	coffee or coffee shop	coffee shop
restaurant	place to eat	place to eat
chef	head cook	head cook
gourmet	food lover	food expert
cuisine	cooking tradition	cooking style
buffet	self-service meal	self-service meal
entrée	main dish (FR)	starter (EN)
dessert	sweet course	sweet course
pâté	meat spread	meat spread
crème	cream	cream
vinaigrette	oil and vinegar dressing	salad dressing
bistro	small restaurant	small restaurant
sommelier	wine specialist	wine specialist
à volonté	unlimited	all-you-can-eat
croissant	crescent-shaped pastry	croissant
cuisine maison	homemade cooking	home-style food
terroir	regional origin	local character
bon vivant	person who enjoys life	lover of good living
dégustation	tasting	tasting

French Words Used in English in Business and Society

Many French words in English are used in professional, political, and social contexts because they express precise ideas.

French word	Meaning in French	Meaning in English
entrepreneur	business creator	business founder
résumé	summary	professional summary
coup d’état	sudden seizure of power	overthrow of government
laissez-faire	non-intervention	hands-off policy
tête-à-tête	private conversation	private conversation
par excellence	perfect example	perfect example
nom de plume	pen name	pen name
faux pas	social mistake	social mistake
protocol	official rules	formal procedure
regime	system of rule	governing system
bureau	office or desk	office
dossier	file or report	file
liaison	connection	link
prestige	high status	high status
delegate	representative	representative
entourage	close associates	close group
agenda	list of topics	schedule
sabotage	deliberate damage	deliberate damage
elite	ruling group	privileged group
communiqué	official statement	official announcement
rapport	report	report
consortium	group of companies	group of companies
patron	boss	boss
franchise	freedom or license	business license
morale	confidence	team spirit

Learn the Original Meaning of French Words Used in English

Understanding the original meaning in French of words already used in English helps learners avoid false assumptions and develop real language awareness. At Institut de Français, immersion allows students to naturally move from familiar English terms to authentic spoken French, strengthening vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural understanding at the same time.

By exploring the true French meaning behind familiar English words, learners gain deeper insight and avoid common pitfalls. Immersion not only reinforces vocabulary and pronunciation but also connects students to the culture behind the language.

For teenagers, french summer programs for high school students provide an engaging way to practice these skills intensively, while enrolling in a dedicated french language school to learn french ensures structured guidance and continuous progress in all aspects of the language.