Foreign Words and Phrases Set 1
Discover commonly used foreign words and phrases that appear regularly in English writing and conversation. These expressions add sophistication and nuance
TL;DR: Discover commonly used foreign words and phrases that appear regularly in English writing and conversation. These expressions add sophistication and n…
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Discover commonly used foreign words and phrases that appear regularly in English writing and conversation. These expressions add sophistication and nuance
Foreign Words and Phrases Set 1
- Faux pas — An embarrassing mistake or breach of etiquette (from French) (e.g. Asking about her age was a social faux pas that he immediately regretted.)
- Vis-à-vis — In relation to or facing (from French, meaning face to face) (e.g. Vis-à-vis the new policy, the employees have strong opinions.)
- Naïve — Lacking experience or sophistication (from French) (e.g. She was naïve to believe that strangers on the internet were always truthful.)
- Deja vu — A feeling that you've experienced something before (from French, meaning already seen) (e.g. Walking into that building gave me deja vu from my childhood visits.)
- Café — A coffee shop or small restaurant (from French) (e.g. We met at the café for coffee and conversation.)
- Résumé — A document summarizing your work experience and qualifications (from French) (e.g. Make sure your résumé is well-formatted before submitting it.)
- Curriculum vitae (CV) — A detailed account of one's education and experience (from Latin) (e.g. In Europe, a CV is more detailed than a typical American résumé.)
- De facto — In reality or in practice, though not officially (from Latin, meaning in fact) (e.g. She was the de facto leader even though he held the official title.)
- Per se — In itself or intrinsically (from Latin) (e.g. Money per se doesn't guarantee happiness.)
- Bonsai — The Japanese art of growing miniature trees in pots (e.g. She spent years perfecting her bonsai collection.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we use foreign words in English?
English has absorbed words from many languages due to trade, conquest, and cultural exchange. Some foreign words have no perfect English equivalent, so we use them directly.
Do I need to pronounce foreign words correctly in English?
It's respectful to try, but English speakers often anglicize foreign words. Listeners will usually understand even if the pronunciation isn't perfect.
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