French Definitions of Some Popular English Expressions

French is quite a wonderful language, and there are hundreds of French words that have become staples of American vernacular. We will look at some of these phrases and compare the English definition with the actual, literal meaning. A better command of these phrases will strengthen your vocabulary for business and social purposes.
Adroit. In English, this word means skillful and adept. The original French meaning is “to right.”
Bon appétit. In French, the phrase means “good appetite.” We English speakers use the phrase to tell someone to enjoy his meal.
Faux pas. The literal meaning is “false not.” English speakers use the phrase to refer to making a mistake in social etiquette.

A la mode. This is a phrase that has diverged considerably in general use from its original meaning. In French, the expression is used to describe something that is fashionable. However, in English, the phrase is used almost exclusively to refer to an item of food served with ice cream on top.
Fiance. The literal meaning is “engaged.” However, in French, fiancé (with one “e”) refers to a man, while a version ending in two “e”s refers to a woman.
Protégé. In English, this means someone whose training is sponsored or administered by an important individual. In French, it simply means “protected.”
In lieu of. In French, this means “instead”; thus, the American meaning is “in place of.”
Je ne sais quoi. The literal meaning in French is “I don’t know what.” In English, this term refers to a quality or attribute that is difficult to describe. This word is often used in a melodramatic sense to describe something of a very desirable yet mysterious nature. Use this one the next time you are at a party.

Eau de toilette. The literal meaning in French is “grooming water,” so it has essentially the same meaning, although it often is used to refer to a kind of perfume that is less heavy on aromatic compounds.
Risque. The English use of the word is to describe something that is very provocative or suggestive. It literally means “risked.”
As you can see from this small sampling, many of the phrases that English speakers incorporate into their speech all the time are actually French phrases which sometimes have similar meanings, but often mean something completely differently. However, it is less important to know the true meaning than it is to know how to use (and pronounce) these expressions in your business vocabulary. In the business world, it is often important to portray an image of intelligence and class, so learning expressions like those above can help you accomplish that.

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