French words in English/Catalogs: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 10:45, 20 August 2015
List of French words in English
This is a list of words that retain their French spelling in English. Some of them may also feature written French accents, or be written in italics, or have a strange or little-known pronunciation in English, in any combination.
The accents in the pronunciation column show stress and pronunciation (see English spellings for a table). The equals sign (=) introduces a word that has the same pronunciation (no other kind of connection is implied).
Click on any of the letters below to see the words beginning with that letter.
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
Spelling (All French accents placed over vowels are included here, though they are frequently omitted in English) |
Pronunciation[1] |
---|---|
à bas—down with (à bas the profiteers) | à-bà |
abatis, abattis—a defensive obstacle formed by felled trees with sharpened branches facing the enemy | ábatis, abáttis |
abattoir—a slaughterhouse | ábətwar |
abbé—a member of the French secular clergy | ábbay |
absinthe[2]—a green liqueur flavored with wormwood, anise, & other herbs | ábsínth, ábsànth; or -t |
accouchement—the time or act of giving birth | acoûshmàn |
accoucheur—one that assists at a birth, esp. an obstetrician | acoushër |
accoutre—to provide with equipment or furnishings | acoûtrə |
accoutrement—equipment, trappings; superficial characteristic or device | acoûtrəmón |
à deux—privately or intimately with only two present | à-dë |
acquis—the body of common rights and obligations that is binding on all European Union member states. | |
adieu—farewell | adyë |
administration—administration | administrâtion |
(agent) provocateur—one who incites others to some incriminating action | ázhonprovoca-tër |
aide(-de-camp)—a military aide or civilian aide to an executive | = âid help dəcàn |
aigrette—a spray of feathers for the head | aigrét |
aide-mémoire—a mnemonic or a written summary or outline of important items | = âid help mém-wàr |
aiguille—a sharp-pointed pinnacle of rock | aigwîl |
aiguillette—a shoulder cord worn by designated military aides | aigwilét |
aileron—a movable airfoil on the trailing edge of an airplane wing | âileron |
-aire—like its anglicised form '-ary', forms nouns and adjectives | = ãir breathe |
à la carte—a menu with each item's price shown separately | àlà càrt |
à la mode—fashionable, stylish; topped with ice cream | àlà môde |
alimentation—alimentation | alimentâtion |
amour propre—self-esteem | amorprópr |
amuse-bouche—a small complimentary appetizer offered at some restaurants | amûse boûsh |
amuse-gueule—a small complimentary appetizer offered at some restaurants[3] | amûse gïrl (BrE gïrl) |
ancien régime—a system or mode no longer prevailing | ánciàrè-zhêem |
aperçu—a brief survey or sketch; outline; immediate impression; insight | aperçu |
apéritif—an alcoholic drink taken before a meal as an appetizer | aperitêef |
appellation—a name for a geographical area where authorized wines or other culinary products are made | appellâtion |
appliqué—a cutout decoration fastened to a larger piece of material | áplì-kây |
après—after; usually used in combination, ie, après-theater | aprây |
après-ski—social activity after a day's skiing | apray-skì |
arabesque—a ballet posture, or elaborate or intricate pattern | arabésk |
arbitrage[4]—the nearly simultaneous purchase and sale of securities or foreign exchange in different markets to order to profit from price discrepancies | àrbitràzh |
argent—heraldic and poetic term for silver colour | *àrjənt |
argot—vocabulary and idiom peculiar to a certain group, slang | = Àrgo ship |
arras—a wall hanging or screen of tapestry | árras |
arrière-ban—proclamation of a French king calling his vassals to arms; the body of vassals summoned | áriér-bán |
arrière-pensée—a mental reservation | áriér-pànsây |
arrivé—one who has risen rapidly to success, power, or fame | arrêevây |
arriviste—a new and uncertain arrival as in social position or artistic endeavor | árì-vêest |
arrondissement—administrative district of some large French cities; the largest division of a French department | áron-dêesmon |
artiste—a skilled adept public performer; an artistic or creative person | artêest |
art moderne—art deco | armo-dérn |
art nouveau—a design style of the late 19th century characterized by sinuous lines and foliate forms | arnu-vô |
assurance—assurance | əshŏrənss, əshûrənss |
attaché—a technical expert on a country's diplomatic staff at a foreign capital | ətáshay |
atelier—an artist's or designer's studio or workroom; a workshop | ətéliây |
aubade—a song or poem greeting the dawn; morning music | ô-bàd |
auberge—inn | ô-bérzh |
aubergine—eggplant | ôberzhêen |
Aubusson—a figured scenic tapestry for wall hanging or upholstery | ôbə-són |
au courant—fashionable, stylish; fully familiar, conversant | ôcù-ràn |
au fait—to the point; fully competent; fully informed; socially correct | ôh Fây |
au fond—at bottom; fundamentally | ô-fón |
au gratin—covered with bread crumbs or grated cheese and browned (as under a broiler) | ôgra-tán |
au jus—served in the juice obtained from roasting (referring to meat) | ô-zhû |
au naturel—cooked or served plainly; nude | ônatu-rél |
au pair—a young foreign person who cares for children in return for room and board and the opportunity to learn the family's language | ô-pãir |
au poivre—prepared or served with a generous amount of coarsely ground black pepper, as "steak au poivre" | ô-pwàhvr |
au revoir—goodbye, see you again | ôrə-vwàr |
auteur—an artist (musician or writer) or film director whose style and practice are distinctive | ô-tër |
avalanche—a mass of snow, rock and ice descending a mountain rapidly | ávalanche |
avant—culturally or stylistically advanced, as "avant jazz" | á-vàn |
avant-garde—an intelligensia that develops new or experimental concepts, esp. in the arts | ávàn-gàrde |
avant la lettre—before a specified name for the category existed, e.g., "Douanier Rousseau was an avant la lettre surrealist painter", i.e., before that term was invented | avànlà-létrə |
avenue—avenue | ávenue |
avoirdupois, avoir-du-pois—weight; heaviness; personal weight; expressed in avoirdupois weight | avrdupŏiz |
badinage—playful repartee, banter | bádinàzh |
bagasse—plant residue, as of sugarcane or grapes, left after a product has been extracted | bagásse |
bagatelle—a trifle; various games involving rolling balls into scoring areas; a short literary or musical piece in a light style | bagatélle |
baguette—a small molding; a gem in the shape of a long narrow rectangle; a long thin loaf of French bread | bagét |
bain-marie—a cooking utensil containing heated water in which food in smaller pots is cooked | bán-marìe |
ballade—a fixed verse form of three stanzas; a musical composition, usually for piano suggesting the epic ballad | ballàde |
ballet—dancing in which conventional poses and steps are combined with light, flowing figures, as leaps and turns; music composed for this | bálay |
banal—banal, ordinary | bənàl |
bandeau—a fillet or band for the hair; brassiere; a band-shaped covering for the breasts | bandô |
banderole—a long, narrow flag or streamer; a long scroll bearing an inscription or a device | banderôle |
banlieue—a French suburban housing block; suburbs containing these | bàn-lyë |
banquette—a built-in upholstered bench along a wall | bàn-két |
baroque—characterized by grotesqueness, extravagance, or flamboyance; an irregularly shaped pearl | barôk, barók |
barquette—a small boat-shaped pastry shell | barkét |
barrage—an artificial dam; artillery fire; a vigorous projection of many things at once, as "a barrage of protests" | bárràzh |
baton—music conductor's stick, policeman's hitting implement, army officer's ceremonial stick | BrE bátón, AmE bətón |
béarnaise—a sauce of egg yolks and butter flavored with shallots, wine, vinegar, and seasonings | béar-nâyz |
beau (singular), beaux (plural)[5]—a dandy; a boyfriend | bô singular, bôz plural[6] |
beaucoup (slang)—great in quantity or amount; many , much, e.g., "he spent beaucoup dollars" | bô-coô |
beau geste (singular), beaux gestes or beau gestes (plural)—a graceful or magnanimous gesture; an ingratiating conciliatory gesture | bô-zhést |
beau idéal (singular)[7], beaux idéals (plural)—the perfect type or model | bôwidây-ál, bôzidây-ál |
beau monde—the world of high society and fashion | bô-mónd |
beaux arts—the fine arts | bô-zàr |
beige—a cloth made of natural undyed wool; a variable color averaging light grayish-yellowish brown; a pale to grayish yellow | bâizh |
belle—a popular and attractive girl or woman; especially a girl or woman whose charm and beauty make her a favorite, ie, "the belle of the ball" | = béll ring |
belle époque—a period of high artistic or cultural development; especially such a period in fin de siècle France | bélây-pók |
belles lettres—literature that is an end in itself and not merely informative; specifically, light, entertaining, and often sophisticated literature | béll létra |
béret—a visorless, usually woolen cap with a tight headband and a soft full, flat top | béray |
bête noire—a person or thing strongly detested or avoided; bugbear | bét-nwàr |
beurre blanc—a seasoned butter sauce (as for fish) flavored with white wine, shallots, and vinegar or lemon juice | bër-blànc |
beurre manié—flour and butter kneaded together used as a thickener in sauces | bër-mániay |
beurre noir—butter heated until brown or black and often flavored with vinegar or lemon juice | bër-nwàr |
bézique—a card game similar to pinochle that is played with a pack of 64 cards | bəzêek |
bidet—a bathroom fixture used especially for bathing the external genitals and the anal region | BrE bêedây, AmE bidây, bidét |
bizarre—strikingly out of the ordinary: odd, extravagant, or eccentric in style or mode; involving sensational contrasts or incongruities | bí-zàr, cf. bazàar shop, bə- |
blancmange—a usually sweetened and flavored dessert made from gelatinous or starchy ingredients and milk | bləmànzh |
blasé—apathetic to pleasure or excitement as a result of excessive indulgence or enjoyment; world-weary; sophisticated, worldly-wise; unconcerned | blà-zây |
blouson—a garment (as a dress) having a close waistband with blousing of material over it | bloûzon |
boîte—a nightclub | bwút |
bon mot—a clever remark; witticism | bón-mô |
bon ton—a fashionable manner or style; the fashionable or proper thing; high society | bón-tón |
bon vivant—a person having cultivated, refined, and sociable tastes especially with respect to food and drink | bón-vìvàn |
bonhomie—good-natured easy friendliness | bónóm-êe |
bouclé—an uneven yarn of three plies, one of which forms loops at intervals; a fabric of bouclé yarn | boûclây |
boudin—a blood sausage, especially "boudin noir"; a spicy Cajun sausage containing rice and meat (as pork) or seafood | boûdán |
boudoir—a woman's dressing room, bedroom, or private sitting room | boûdwàr |
bouffant—puffed out, as bouffant hairdos or bouffant veils | boûffàn |
bougie—wax candle; a tapering cylindrical instrument for introduction into a tubular passage of the body; a suppository | boozhêe |
bouillabaisse—a highly seasoned fish stew made with at least two kinds of fish; a potpourri | bwêeabâisse |
bouillon—a clear seasoned soup made usually from lean beef; broadly, broth | bwêeon |
boule[8]—a synthethically formed mass (as of sapphire) with the atomic structure of a single crystal | boûle |
boulevard—a broad, often landscaped thoroughfare | boûlevard |
boulevardier—a frequenter of the Parisian boulevards; broadly, a man-about-town | boôlə-vàrdiay |
bouleversement—a reversal; a violent disturbance; disorder | boôlə-vérsmón |
bouquet—flowers picked and fastened together in a bunch, a nosegay; a medley, such a bouquet of songs, a compliment; a distinctive and characteristic fragrance, as of wine; a subtle aroma or quality, as of an artistic performance | boukây |
bouquet garni—an herb mixture that is either tied together or enclosed in a porous container and is cooked with a dish but removed before serving | boukâygar-nêe |
bourgeois—adjective: of, relating to, or characteristic of the townsman or of the social middle class; marked by a concern for material interests and respectability and a tendency toward mediocrity; dominated by commercial and industrial interests; capitalistic; noun: a burgher; a middle-class person; a person with social behavior and political views held to be influenced by private-property interest; a capitalist | bŏrzhwà |
bourgeoise—noun: a woman of the middle class | bŏrzhwàz |
bourgeoisie—the middle class; also plural in construction, as "members of the middle class"; a social order dominated by bourgeois | bŏrzhwà-zì |
bourguignonne, bourguignon—prepared or served in the manner of Burgundy (as with a sauce made with red wine), ie, "beef bourguignonne" | bŏrgin-yon |
bourrée—a 17th century French dance usually in quick duple time; a musical composition with the rhythm of this dance; a pas de bourrée | bŏrây |
bourride—a fish stew similar to bouillabaisse that is usually thickened with egg yolks and strongly flavored with garlic | bourrìde |
bourse—an exchange, specifically a European stock exchange; a sale of numismatic or philatelic items on tables (as at a convention) | bŏrse |
boutique—a small, fashionable shop; a small shop within a large department store; a small company that offers highly specialized services or products, such as "boutique wineries", "an independent investment boutique" | bootêek |
boutonnière—a flower or bouquet worn in a buttonhole | boôtoni-ére |
Bouvier des Flandres—any of a breed of large, powerfully built rough-coated dogs of Belgian origin used especially for herding and in guard work—called also a Bouvier | Boûviâydây-Flàndrə |
brasserie—an informal, usually French restaurant serving simple hearty food | brásserie |
brassière—a woman's undergarment to cover and support the breasts | bráziére |
bric-à-brac—a miscellaneous collection of small articles commonly of ornamental or sentimental value; curios; something suggesting bric-à-brac especially in extraneous decorative quality | brícabrac |
brie—a soft, surface-ripened cheese with a whitish rind and a pale yellow interior | brìe |
brioche—a light, slightly sweet bread made with a rich yeast dough | brêe-ósh |
bruit—to rumor or report; as a noun, the same, but also din or noise | brûêe, or = brûte force |
buffet—a sideboard; a counter for refreshments; chiefly British, a restaurant operating in a public space (as in a railway station); a meal set out on a buffet or table for ready access and informal service | bùffay, boôfay |
bureau—British: a writing desk, especially one having drawers and a slant top; a low chest of drawers for use in a bedroom; a specialized administrative unit, especially a subdivision of an executive department of a government; a branch of a newspaper, newsmagazine, or wire service in an important news center; a usually commercial agency that serves as an intermediary especially for exchanging information or coordinating activities, ie "credit bureau" | bûro |
bureau de change—an office at airports, railway terminals, etc., where one can buy foreign currency | bûrodə-shónzh |
burette or buret—a graduated glass tube with a small aperture and stopcock for delivering measured quantities of liquid or for measuring the liquid or gas received or discharged | burét |
burlesque—a literary or dramatic work that seeks to ridicule by means of grotesque exaggeration or comic imitation; mockery. usually by caricature; theatrical entertainment of a broadly humorous. often earthy character, consisting of short turns, comic skits, and sometimes striptease acts | burlésk |
cabaret—archaic: a shop selling wines and liquors; a restaurant serving liquor and providing entertainment, as by singers or dancers; a nightclub; the show provided at a cabaret | cábəray |
cabernet franc—a dry red wine often used in blends, as with merlot or cabernet sauvignon | cábernây-fràn, some AmE cábernây-fránk |
cabernet sauvignon—a dry red wine made from a single widely cultivated variety of black grape—called also cabernet | cábernâysovêen-yón |
cabotage—a trade or transport in coastal waters or airspace or between two points within a country; the right to engage in cabotage | cábotàzh |
cabotin—a second-rate actor, strolling player | cábotán |
cabriole—a ballet leap in which one leg is extended in midair and the other struck against it; a curved furniture leg ending in an ornamental foot | cábriôle |
cabriolet—a light, 2-wheeled one-horse carriage with a folding leather hood, a large apron, and upward-curving shafts; a convertible coupe | cabriolây |
CAC 40 (CAC quarante) | các-carànt |
cachalot—a sperm whale | cáshalót, cáshalô |
cache—a hiding place, especially for concealing and preserving provisions or implements; a secure place of storage; something hidden or stored in a cache; a computer memory with very short access time used for storage of frequently or recently used instructions or data—called also cache memory | = cásh money |
cachepot—an ornamental receptacle to hold and usually to conceal a flowerpot | cáshpo, cáshpót |
cachet—a seal used especially as a mark of official approval; an indication of approval carrying great prestige; a characteristic feature or quality conferring prestige; prestige; a medicinal preparation for swallowing consisting of a case usually of rice-flour paste enclosing a medicine; a design or inscription on an envelope to commemorate a postal or philatelic event; an advertisement forming part of a postage meter impression; a motto or slogan included in a postal cancellation | cáshây |
cachou—a pill or pastille used to sweeten the breath | = cáshew nut |
cadet—cadet (in particular, a younger child or branch of a family) | cadét |
café—a usually small and informal establishment serving various refreshments (as coffee); broadly, a restaurant, barroom, cabaret, or nightclub | cáfè |
café au lait—coffee with usually hot milk in about equal parts; the color of coffee with milk | cáfè ôh lây |
café noir—coffee without milk or cream; also a demitasse | cafè nwàr |
cahier—a report or memorial concerning policy especially of a parliamentary body | càyay |
camembert—a soft, surface-ripened cheese with a thin grayish-white rind and a yellow interior | cámembér |
camouflage—the disguising, especially of military equipment or installations with paint, nets, or foliage; also the disguise so applied; concealment by means of disguise; behavior or artifice designed to deceive or hide | cáməflàzh |
canapé—an appetizer consisting of a piece of bread or toast or a cracker topped with a savory spread such as caviar or cheese; a kind of hors d'oeuvre | cánapè |
canaille—the rabble; riffraff; proletarian | canàî, kənŷ |
canard—a false or unfounded report or story, especially a fabricated report; a groundless rumor or belief; an airplane with horizontal stabilizing and control surfaces in front of supporting surfaces; a small airfoil in front of the wing of an aircraft that can increase the aircraft's performance | cánàrd |
caprice—a sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action; a sudden, usually unpredictable condition, change, or series of changes (the caprices of the weather); a disposition to do things impulsively | caprìce |
caramel—an amorphous brittle brown and somewhat bitter substance obtained by heating sugar and used as a coloring and flavoring agent; a firm, chewy, usually caramel-flavored candy | cáramél |
carrousel[9]—a tournament or exhibition in which horsemen execute evolutions; a merry-go-round; a circular conveyor (the luggage carousel at the airport); a revolving case or tray used for storage or display | carəssél |
carte blanche—full discretionary power (was given carte blanche to furnish the house) | càrt-blànsh |
cause célèbre—a legal case that excites widespread interest; a notorious person, thing, incident, or episode | côze-celébrə; informally cåuse celéb |
centre (French and British spelling) | = cénter (American spelling of same word) |
cerise—a moderate red | cerìse |
c'est la vie—that's life; that's how things happen | sâyla-vêe |
c'est la guerre—that's war; it cannot be helped | sâyla-gãir |
Chablis—a dry, sharp, white burgundy wine; a semidry, soft, white California wine | shábly |
chaconne—an old Spanish dance tune of Latin-American origin; a musical composition in moderate triple time typically consisting of variations on a repeated succession of chords | shacón |
chacun à son goût—everyone to his own taste | shákən-ason-goô |
chagrin—disquietude or distress of mind caused by humiliation, disappointment, or failure | shágrin |
chaise longue | shéz lóng |
chalet—a remote herdsman's hut in the Alps; a Swiss dwelling with unconcealed structural members and a wide overhang at the front and sides; a cottage or house in chalet style | shálay |
chamois—a small, goatlike bovid (Rupicapra rupicapra) of mountainous regions from southern Europe to the Caucasus; also chammy or shammy: a soft pliant leather prepared from the skin of the chamois or from sheepskin; a cotton fabric made in imitation of chamois leather | BrE shámwà, AmE shámmy |
Champagne, BrE champagne[10]—a white, sparkling wine made in the old province of Champagne, France; also, a similar wine made elsewhere; a pale orange yellow to light grayish-yellowish brown | shám pâin |
chanson—a song; specifically, a music-hall or cabaret song | shànson |
chanteuse—a songstress, especially a woman who is a concert or nightclub singer | BrE shàn-tëz, AmE shán-tûz |
chapeau (singular), chapeaux (plural)—hat | sháppo, sháppôz |
chaperon—a person (as a matron) who for propriety accompanies one or more young unmarried women in public or in mixed company; an older person who accompanies young people at a social gathering to ensure proper behavior; broadly, one delegated to ensure proper behavior; any of a class of proteins that facilitate the proper folding of proteins by binding to and stabilizing unfolded or partially folded proteins—called also molecular chaperone | sháperôn |
charabanc—British: a sight-seeing motor coach | shárabang |
charade—a word represented in riddling verse or by picture, tableau, or dramatic action; plural, a game in which some of the players try to guess a word or phrase from the actions of another player who may not speak; an empty or deceptive act or pretense ("his concern was a charade") | BrE shəràd, AmE shərâde |
charcuterie—a delicatessen specializing in dressed meats and meat dishes; also the products sold in such a shop | sharcûterie |
chargé d'affaires—a subordinate diplomat who substitutes for an absent ambassador or minister; a diplomat inferior in rank to an ambassador or minister who heads a mission when no ambassador or minister is assigned | shàrzhâydá-fãir |
charivari—a shivaree: a noisy mock serenade to a newly married couple | BrE sharivàri, AmE shivarêe |
charlotte—a dessert consisting of a filling (as of fruit, whipped cream, or custard) layered with or placed in a mold lined with strips of bread, ladyfingers, or biscuits | shàrlot |
charlotte russe—a charlotte made with sponge cake or ladyfingers and a whipped-cream or custard-gelatin filling | shàrlot rûss |
chartreuse—a variable color averaging a brilliant yellow green | BrE shartrëuz, AmE shartreûz |
chassé—a sliding dance step resembling the galop | shássay |
chasseur—a hunter, huntsman; one of a body of light cavalry or infantry trained for rapid maneuvering; a liveried attendant, a footman | shassur |
châssis[11]—the supporting frame of a structure, as an automobile or television; also, the frame and working parts, as of an automobile or electronic device, exclusive of the body or housing | shássy |
château (singular), châteaux (plural)—a feudal castle or fortress in France; a large country house or mansion; a French vineyard estate | shátto, sháttôz |
chateaubriand—a large tenderloin steak usually grilled or broiled and served with a sauce, as béarnaise | shatôbriand |
chatelain—a castellan | shátelán |
chatelaine—the wife of a castellan; the mistress of a château; the mistress of a household or of a large establishment; a clasp or hook for a watch, purse, or bunch of keys | shátelain, shátelén |
chaud-froid | shô-fwà |
chauffeur— a person employed to drive a motor vehicle | shô-fër |
chef—a skilled cook who manages the kitchen, as of a restaurant; a cook | shéf |
chef d'oeuvre—a masterpiece, especially in art or literature | shây-dëvr |
chemin de fer—a card game in which two hands are dealt, any number of players may bet against the dealer, and the winning hand is the one that comes closer to but does not exceed a count of nine on two or three cards | shəmánda-fãir |
chemise—a woman's one-piece undergarment; a loose, straight-hanging dress | shəmêez |
chemisette— a woman's garment, especially one as of lace to fill the open front of a dress | shəmeezét |
chenille—a wool, cotton, silk, or rayon yarn with protruding pile; a pile-face fabric with a filling of this yarn; an imitation of chenille yarn or fabric" | chənêe, chənìl |
chèque—in BrE, a written order to a bank to pay money, AmE check | = chéck investigate |
cherchez la femme, chercher la femme—look for the woman | shérchèla-fám |
cheval-de-frise (singular), chevaux-de-frise (plural)—a defense consisting typically of a timber or an iron barrel covered with projecting spikes and often strung with barbed wire; a protecting line, as of spikes, on top of a wall—usually used in the plural | shəváldə frêeze, shəvôdə frêeze |
chevalier—a cavalier; a member of any of various orders of knighthood or of merit, as the Legion of Honor; a member of the lowest rank of French nobility; a cadet of the French nobility; a chivalrous man | shəválêeây |
chevelure— a head of hair | shəvəlûre |
chèvre—goat cheese | shévra |
chez—at or in the home or business place of | = Shây |
chic—smart elegance and sophistication, especially of dress or manner; style (wears her clothes with superb chic); a distinctive mode of dress or manner associated with a fashionable lifestyle, ideology, or pursuit (wearing the latest in urban chic); a faddishly popular quality or appeal; something, as a practice or interest, having such appeal (the transient tides of academic chic — Irving Kristol) | shèek |
chichi—frilly or elaborate ornamentation; affectation , preciosity; chic | shêshê |
chiffon—an ornamental addition, as a knot of ribbons, to a woman's dress; a sheer fabric especially of silk | shíffon |
chiffonade—shredded or finely cut vegetables or herbs used especially as a garnish | shiffonàd |
chiffonier—a high narrow chest of drawers | shiffónìây |
chignon—a knot of hair that is worn at the back of the head and especially at the nape of the neck | shìnyon |
chinoiserie—a style in art, as in decoration, reflecting Chinese qualities or motifs; an object or decoration in this style | shinwazerìe |
choucroute—sauerkraut; sauerkraut cooked and served with meat—also called choucroute garnie | = shoô away croût |
chûte—a quick descent, as in a river; a rapid; an inclined plane, sloping channel, or passage down or through which things may pass; a slide; a parachute; a spinnaker | = shoôt shot |
cigarette—a slender roll of cut tobacco enclosed in paper and meant to be smoked; also, a similar roll of another substance, as marijuana | cigərét |
cinéma—a motion picture—usually used attributively; a motion-picture theater; movies; especially, the film industry or the art or technique of making motion pictures | cínemà, cínemə |
cinéma vérité—art or technique of filming a motion picture so as to convey candid realism | cínema véritè |
cinémathèque—a small movie house specializing in avant-garde films | cínematek |
clairvoyant—one who claims to see into the future | clãir-vŏyant |
claque—a group hired to applaud at a performance; a group of sycophants | cláck |
claqueur—a member of a claque | clackër |
cliché—a trite phrase or expression; also, the idea expressed by it; a hackneyed theme, characterization, or situation; something, as a menu item, that has become overly familiar or commonplace | clêeshây (AmE stresses 2nd syllable) |
clientèle—a body of clients (a shop that caters to an exclusive clientele) | cleeontél |
clique—a narrow, exclusive circle or group of persons; especially one held together by common interests, views, or purposes | clêek |
cloche—a transparent plant cover used outdoors especially for protection against cold; a woman's close-fitting hat usually with deep rounded crown and narrow brim | clósh |
cloisonné—of, relating to, or being a style of enamel decoration in which the enamel is applied and fired in raised cells (as of soldered wires) on a usually metal background | cloizənây |
cocotte—a prostitute; a shallow individual baking dish usually with one or two handles | cocót |
collage—an artistic composition made of various materials (as paper, cloth, or wood) glued on a surface; a creative work that resembles such a composition in incorporating various materials or elements <the album is a collage of several musical styles>; the art of making collages; a hodgepodge <a collage of ideas>; a work (as a film) having disparate scenes in rapid succession without transitions | cóllàzh (cf. anglicised cóllege *cóllij) |
colporteur—a peddler of religious books | cólporter |
comédienne—a woman who is a comedian | comediénne |
comme ci, comme ça—so-so | comsêe-comsà |
comme il faut—conforming to accepted standards; proper | comêel-fô |
commode—a woman's ornate cap popular in the late 17th and early 18th centuries; a low chest of drawers; a movable washstand with a cupboard underneath; a boxlike structure holding a chamber pot under an open seat; also chamber pot; toilet | commôde |
commune—the smallest administrative district of many countries, especially in Europe; commonalty; community, as a medieval usually municipal corporation; mir; an often rural community organized on a communal basis | cómmune |
communiqué—official communication or report | commûnikay |
compère—chiefly British: the master of ceremonies of an entertainment (as a television program) | cómpére host, cf. compãre contrast |
compote | compóte |
concierge | cóncìërzh |
confit | cónfì |
confrère | cónfrére |
concours d'élégance | concordéle-gànce |
conduit | cóndwít |
consommé | consómmè |
contretemps | cóntratóm |
coq au vin | cóck ôh ván |
coquette | cô-két |
cordon sanitaire | cŏrdon sanitãire |
corniche | cor-nêesh |
cornichon | cornishón |
corps army | = cŏre apple |
corps de ballet | cŏrda-bálay |
corps d'élite | cŏrdây-lêet |
corsage | corsàzh |
corsetière | corsetiére |
cortège—a funeral procession | cortézh |
coryphé(e) | coryfây |
Côte d'Ivoire—country formerly known as Ivory Coast | Côat divwàr |
coterie—an intimate and often exclusive group of persons with a unifying common interest or purpose | côterie |
coulis, coulisse | coulìsse |
coup d'état | coôdây-tà |
coup de grâce | coôdəgràss |
coup de théâtre[12] | coôdətay-átrə |
coupé | coûpè |
courage—courage | cúrij BrE, cürij AmE |
courante—a dance of Italian origin; music in quick triple time | courànte |
coureur de bois—a French or métis trapper of N. America, esp. Canada | courëur de *bwà |
courgette[13] | cŏr-zhét |
couscousière | cusscussiér |
couture | coutûre |
cortège | cŏr-tézh |
crayon | crâyón |
crèche | crésh |
Crédit—credit | |
crème | créme |
crème anglaise | cremongléz |
crème brulé | crembrulây |
crème caramel | cremcaramél |
crème de cacao | cremdəcacòw |
crème de cassis | cremdəcassìs |
crème de la crème | cremdəlacrém |
crème de menthe | cremdmónt |
crème fraîche, crème fraiche | cremfrâysh, cremfrésh |
crèpe | crèpe |
crepe de chine | crèpe de shêen |
crèpe suzette | crèpe suzét |
crepon | crépon |
crevasse | crəváss |
cri de coeur | crìdə-kër |
crime passionnel—crime of passion | crêam pasionél |
critique | critêek, cf. crític |
crochet | crôshây |
croissant | quàson |
Cro-Magnon | Cro-Mágnon, Cro-Mányon |
crôquet | crôcây |
croquette | crockét |
croquignole | cróckêen-yôle |
croquis | cróck-êe |
croupier | croôpêeây |
croustade | crùs-tàd |
crouton | croôton |
crudités | cruditây |
cuirassier | quêer-ássiây |
cuisine | quêe-zêen |
cul-de-sac | cúll de sáck |
culotte | culót |
curé | cyûrây |
curetage | cyùretàzh |
curette, curet | cyurét |
cuvée— | cûvay |
dauphin—the eldest son of the king of France | dô-fán |
dauphine—the wife of a dauphin | dô-fêen |
débâcle | debàcle |
débris | BrE débrêe or dèbrêe, AmE dəbrêe |
début | dèbyû or débyû |
débutant male | dèbyûtàn or débyûtàn |
débutante female | dèbyûtànt or débyûtànt |
déclassé | declássè |
décolletage noun, décolleté male, décolletée female | daycoletàzh, daycoletây |
décor | dâycor |
débit—debit | |
dégringolade | dây-gráng-go-làd |
degustation—a tasting of foods or wines in a series of small portions | dây-gù-stá-ssión |
de haut en bas | də-ôwàn-bà |
déjà vu | dâyzhà-vû |
deluxe, de luxe | də-lúxe, də-lûxe |
demi-glace | démi-gláce |
demimondaine | démimon-dâne |
demimonde | démimonde |
demi-sec | démi-séc |
demoiselle | dəmwazél |
dénouement | dây-noûmon |
dépôt | BrE déppo, AmE dêpo |
dérailleur | dayrî-yër |
déraciné, déracinée | dayrácinay |
de règle | də-réglə |
de rigueur | dərigër - hard g |
dernier cri | dãirny-ãir-crêe |
derrière | Dérry ãir |
déstruction—destruction | destrúction |
détente | daytànt |
de trop | dətrô |
digestif | deezhestêef |
discothèque | díscoték |
divorcé man, divorcée woman; divorcee either—divorced person | divorsây; divorcêe |
donnée, donné—a given, basic fact or assumption, subject or theme of story, etc | dónnây |
double entendre[14]—a word or expression capable of two interpretations, with one usually being risqué | doôblon-tóndrə |
douche | doôsh |
doyen man, doyenne woman | doyén (man can be dǒyen) |
droit | dwà |
droit du seigneur | dwàdusen-yer |
du jour [15] | dû-zhûr |
duvet | dûvay |
eau de Cologne | ôdaco-lône |
eau de parfum | ôdapar-füm |
eau de toilette | ôda-twà-lét |
eau-de-vie | ôda-vêe |
échelon— | éshelón, échelón |
éclair | eclãir |
éclaircissement | eclaircìsmàn |
éclat | è-clà |
édification—edification | edificâtion |
éducation—education | educâtion |
élan | è-làn |
embonpoint—plumpness (of person) | ómbonpwàn |
embouchure | emboû-shûre or óm- |
embourgeoisement | ombŏurzhwazmón |
émigré | émigrè |
éminence grise | éminonce-grêez |
en attendant | ón ətóndón |
en banc | ón bónk |
en bloc, bloc | ón blóck, blóc |
en brochette | ón broshét |
enceinte | ón sánt |
en clair | ón Clãir |
encore | óncore |
en face | ón fáss |
en famille | ón famì |
enfant terrible | ón fànté-rìbl |
en fête | ón fét |
engagé | ón gázhây |
en masse | ón máss |
en passant—in passing: in chess, of a pawn taking a pawn that has reached the same rank as one's own only by virtue of the fact that on its first move a pawn has the option of moving two squares | ón pásson |
en plein | ón plán |
en poste | ón póst |
en prise—in a position to be captured (in chess, etc.) | ón prêez |
en rapport | ón rá-pŏr |
en route | ón roûte |
ensemble | ón sómbl |
ensilage | ón silàzh |
en suite | ón swêet |
entente | ón tónt |
entente cordiale | óntónt cordiàl |
entourage | ónturàzh |
entrechat | óntrəshà |
entrecôte | óntrecote |
entrée | ón trây |
entremets | óntrəmây |
entrepôt | óntrəpô |
entrepreneur | óntrəprənër |
entresol | óntrəsól |
equipage | ekípàzh |
escarole | éscarôle |
espionage | espìonàzh |
esprit de corps | espreedəcŏr |
esprit d'escalier or esprit de l'escalier—literally, staircase wit: thinking of a witty retort when it is too late | espreedescáliay |
estaminet | éstáminay |
etiquette | étikét |
étouffée | ây-toûfay |
étude | âytûde |
etui | ây-twì |
euclase | ëugh-clàz |
exposé | expôzây, cf. expôse |
façade | fəssàd |
fait accompli | fétəcóm-plêe |
farouche | fəroûsh |
falsification—falsification | falsificâtion |
fatigue | fətêeg |
faute de mieux | fôte de-myə |
fauteuil | foe toô ê |
fauve | fôv |
faut-naïf | fôe nîgh êef |
faux pas | fô-pâ |
femme fatale—woman with whom it may be dangerous to have a liaison | fám-fatàl |
fête festival | = fâte destiny |
fiancé man, fiancée woman | fì-ànsây |
figurine | figurìne |
filet— | = fíllet; or fêelây |
filet mignon— or mignon | fêelây-mêenyón |
fils | fêece |
fin de siècle—"end of the century", in particular the 'naughty nineties' of the nineteenth | fándəsì-éclə |
finesse | finésse |
flan—flan | flán |
flânerie | flánə-rìe |
flâneur | flanëur |
flèche arrow | flésh meat |
fléchette | flésh-ét |
foie gras | fwà-grà |
folie à deux | folìà-dë |
fondant | fóndàn |
forté | fŏrtè |
foyer—entrance hall in hotel, theatre or cinema | fŏyèh |
franc | = Frank person |
franc-tireur | fràncti-rer |
frappé, frappe | fráppây, fráp |
frisée, frisé | frìzây |
frisson | frìsson |
froideur | fwàh-dër |
frottage | frótàzh |
frou-frou | froû-frou |
fuselage | fûsilàzh |
fusil | fûzil |
fusilier, fusileer | fusilêer |
fusillade | fuzilàd |
gaffe mistake | = gáff blow, fishing |
galantine | galantìne |
galère | galére |
galette | galét |
galop— | = gállop horse |
garage | AmE gəràzh, gəràj, BrE gáràj, gáràzh or the despised gáríj |
garçon | gàr-són |
garde-manger | gàrdmàn-zhây |
gastronome | gástronôme |
gâteau, gâteaux | gáttô, gáttôz |
gauche | gôsh |
gaucherie | gôshery |
gavotte | gavótte |
gelée—a cosmetic gel | zhelây |
genre | zhónrə |
gigot | zhêego |
glacé | glássây |
gouache | gouásh |
grain—grain | grâin |
grand—big, great | gránd |
grandeur—great power, rank or eminence; nobility, splendour | grándure |
grand mal—the worst kind of epilepsy | grà-mál |
Grand Prix—international motor-racing championship | Gràm Prêe |
grande dame—dignified lady | gràn-dám |
grange—a country house with farm buildings attached | grânge |
gratin—a brown crust formed on cooked food, or the crusted food itself | gratán |
grave—grave, serious | grâyv |
gratiné or gratinée —to cook au gratin; a dish cooked in that manner | gratinây |
grillage | grêeàzh |
grille lattice | = gríll cook |
grotesque | grotésk |
grotesquerie | grotéskery |
guide—(a) guide, as a culinary or the Michelin | gîd |
gruyère | gruyére |
guillotine | gilətêen |
hautbois | ôboy |
habitué | habítyoo-ây |
haute, also haut | = ôat meal, ôh surprise |
haute couture | ôat-coô-tûre |
haute cuisine | ôat-kwì-zêen |
haute école | otay-cól |
hauteur | otër |
haut monde, also haute monde | ôh-mónd, ôat-mónd |
honi soit qui mal y pense | ónny-swà-kêe-málly-pànss |
hors commerce | orcommérce |
hors de combat | ordəcom-bà |
hors d'œuvre | ŏr-dëvr |
hotelier | hotélier |
idée fixe | êedây fêex |
impasse | ímpasse, ámpasse |
imperméable—impenetrable, as to a liquid, say | |
infusion | ánfûzi-ón |
ingénue | ánzhé-nû |
injure—an insult | ínjə(r) |
insouciance | ánsoossi-àhnss |
insouciant | ánsoossi-àhn |
instruction—inquiry, as with an examining majestrate; instruction | instrúction |
intelligence—intelligence | intélligence |
-ique—forming nouns | êek |
jabot | zhàbo |
j'ádoube—"I adjust", said when centring a chessman on its square | zhadoûb |
je ne sais quoi | zhənəsâi-kwà |
jeté | zhətay |
jeu d'esprit | zhëdé-sprêe |
jeunesse dorée | zhənéss-dórây |
joie de vivre | zhwàd-vìvrə |
julienne | juliénne, zhulién |
justification—action of showing something to be right or reasonable | justificâshn |
képi | = KP kây-pêe |
Khmer Rouge | Kəmãir Roûzh |
laïcité | là-ìcì-tây |
laissez-faire | = lây sây fãir |
largesse | larzhéss |
latrine | latrìne |
lavabo | lavàbo |
lavage | lavàzh |
lavaliere or lavalliere pendant | lavalìer |
lavalier or lavaliere microphone | ləválier |
layette | layét |
lèse-majesté | lâys mázhestay |
levee—a natural or artificial slope or wall to regulate water levels | lévêe |
liaison—love affair, probably temporary | liâizon |
lieu | lyë |
lieutenant | AmE lieuténant, BrE lefténant |
littérateur | literatër |
longue durée—study of history giving priority to long-term structures | lóng durây |
lorgnette, lorgnon | lornyét, lornyón |
louche - disreputable | loôsh |
lunes | = loôn crazy |
luthier—a maker of stringed instruments such as violins or guitars | lûtiər |
luxe | lúx, lûx |
macabre | macàbre |
macédoine—mixed fruit or vegetables, especially cut up small or in jelly | masidwàn |
mâche | màsh |
machine | məshêen |
madame brothel, Madame title | madáme, cf. mádam shopping |
madeleine | mádeleíne |
mademoiselle | madame wàzél |
maisonette | maizonét |
maître d'hôtel | métradô-tél, mâitradô-tél |
majuscule | májuscule |
mal de mer | máldə-mér |
malines | malêen |
mandoline (also 'mandolin' in English) | mándə-lín |
manqué—short of, or failing to, reach one's aspirations or talents | mànkay |
margarine | marjərìne |
marionette | marionét |
marque type | = màrk write = Màrk person |
marquee | = màr kêy |
marquis | màrquís |
marquise | markêez |
marron | márron |
martinet | mà(r)ti-nét |
māsque drama | = māsk face |
masquerade | maskerâde |
massage | mássàzh (cf. anglicised méssage *méssij) |
masseur | BrE massër, AmE massûr |
masseuse | BrE massëz, AmE massûze |
matériel— matériel or materiel: equipment, apparatus, and supplies used by an organization or institution | |
matinée | mátinèe |
mauve | môve, cf. move, pronounced moôve |
mayonnaise | mayonnâise |
Médecins sans Frontières | Mâydsán són Frontiãir |
mélange | mây-lànzh |
mêlée | méllay |
ménage à trois | ménàzhà-twà |
menagerie | menádgery |
merlon | mérlon |
merlot | merlô |
Messrs. (abbreviation of Messieurs) | méssers |
métier | mâytiây |
métis | maytêess |
mignonette— | minyonét |
milieu— | miliëü |
minaudière— | minodiér |
mirage—an optical effect; something illusory or unobtainable | míràzh |
mirepoix—a sautéed mixture of diced vegetables used as a base for sauces | mêerpwà |
mise en abyme—placement at the center of an escutcheon of a smaller copy of the same escutcheon; containment of an entity within another identical entity; image of an image | |
mise-en-page—placement on a page; design of a printed or manuscript page | |
mise-en-scène—arrangement of actors and scenery on a stage for a theatrical production; stage setting | |
moi—me, I (first person pronoun) | mwà |
Monsieur—Sir, Mister | Məs-yər |
montage— | móntàzh |
montagnard | móntanyar |
moquette | mokét |
moresque | morésque |
mot juste, le mot juste | mô-zhûst, ləmô-zhûst |
motif | motìf repeated pattern |
Moulin Rouge | Moûlán Roûzh[16] |
Mousquetaire | Mousketãire |
mousse | moûsse |
mousseline | mousselìne |
mousselìne de soie | mousselìne de swà |
moustache | AmE mústásh, BrE mə-stàsh |
moyen-âge | mwayenàzh |
musique concrète | muzêek concrét |
mystìque | mistêek |
nacelle—streamlined enclosure for an engine on an aircraft | nacélle |
naïve | nî-yêeve |
naïveté[17] | nî-yeevì-tây |
née—before a woman's maiden name[18] | = nây no |
négligee, négligé | néglizhây |
négritude—a consciousness of and pride in the cultural and physical aspects of the African heritage; the state or condition of being black | négritude |
Nez Percé | Naypãir sây, Néz-Pérss, Nézperz |
niche | nêesh |
noblesse oblige | nô bléss oblêezh |
noir | nwàr |
nom de guerre | nóm-de-gãir |
nom de plume | nóm de plûme |
nougat | nougat |
nouveau | nû-vô |
nouveau riche | noôvô-rêesh |
nouvelle | nuvél |
nouvelle cuisine | nuvél-quizêen |
nouvelle vague | nuvél-vàg |
nuance | nûànce |
objet d'art | óbzhâi-dàr |
objet trouvé | óbzhâi-troûvây |
odalisque | ôdalísk |
oeil de boeuf | oidə-bəf |
oenophile | ênofîle |
œuvre | ëvr |
omelette | ómlət/ómlit |
on dit—literally: they say (introducing a piece of gossip, vague rumor) | ondêe |
opéra bouffe— | ópera boûf |
opéra comique— | ópera comêek |
or–heraldic term for gold colour | = ŏr either |
oubliette–a dungeon where people can be forgotten about ("oubliés") | oûbli-ét |
outré | oûtrè |
paillard | pîàr |
paillette | pà yét |
pain-au-chocolat | pánnoshoko-là |
palette | pálit |
panache | pənásh |
papier-mâché | BrE pápiay-máshay, AmE pâper-məshây |
papillon | pápêeon |
papillote | pápêeot |
parachute | párashoot |
parfait | parfây |
par excellence | parexelónss |
parole | parôle |
parquet | pàrkây |
parterre | partér |
parvenu | pàrvən(y)û |
pas de bourrée | pàdə-boùray |
pas de chat | pàdə-shà |
pas de deux | pàdə-dë |
pas de quatre | pàdə-kátr |
pas de trois | pàdə-twà |
passé | pássè |
passe-partout | pàss pâr toô |
pastille | pastìlle |
pâté | pátè |
pâté de foie gras— | pátèdəfwà-grà |
Pathéthique[19] | patetêek |
pâtisserie—pastry; a pastry shop | patìsserie |
patois - colloquial language | pátwà, rhyming with fátwà |
peignoir—woman's loose dressing gown | pâynwàr |
penchant | AmE pénchant, BrE pànshàn |
pensée - thought, witty saying | pànsây |
perdu or perdue | perdû |
père - father | pére |
petit | pətêe |
petit bourgeois | pətêe-bŏrzhwa |
petite - small, cute | pətêet |
petite bourgeoisie | pətêet-bŏrzhwa zêe |
petite sirah, petite syrah | pətêet-sírə |
petit four[20]— | pətêe fŏur |
petit-maître | pətêe-métr |
petit mal | pətêe-mál |
petit point | pətêe-pwàn |
pièce de résistance | pì-éss də râyzêe-stànss |
pied-à-terre | pyédà-téər |
pince-nez | pánss-nây |
pinot noir | pêeno-nwàr |
piolet—alpinist's two-headed ice-axe | piolây |
pipette | pipét |
pique | = pêak mountain |
piqué | = PK, K stressed |
piquet | = PK, P stressed |
pirogue | pirôg |
pirouette | pirouét |
pis aller | pêace állây |
pissoir—men's public urinal | pêeswahr |
piste—safe skiing areas | pêast |
plage—beach | plàzh |
plantation—plantation | |
pláteau, pláteaux (plural)— | pláttô, plátôz; in both, the second syllable is stressed in AmE |
plus ça change—the more it changes (the more it remains the same) | ploôssà-shànzh |
politesse—politeness | politésse |
pommée | pómmây |
portmanteau | portmántô |
poseur | pô-zër |
pot-pourri | pôpu-rêe |
pouf, pouffe, pouffet | poùf, poùf, poùffay |
poularde | poûlarde |
pour encourager les autres—literally, to encourage others; in fact, to deter others when making an example of someone | poûroncoûràzhâylâyz-ôtr |
pourboire | porbwàr |
pourparler | porpàrlây |
pourpoint | porpwàn |
pousse-café | poosscaffây |
poussette | poôssét |
précis | prâysêe |
première | prémiãir |
préparation | |
prestige | prést-êezh |
prie-dieu | prêe-dyü |
procédure—series of actions done in a certain way or order: established or accepted way of doing something; medical treatment or operation | prəsêejə(r) |
profiterole—eclair as a sweet | profiterôle |
promenade | prómenàde |
proneur | prón-ër |
protégé | prôtezhây |
Provençal | Provonssàl |
provocation—provocation | provocâtion |
puce | pûce |
puisne judge | = pûny small |
purée | pûrây |
putative—putative | putâtive |
question—question | |
queue—noun and verb, British English for 'line' as in 'to stand in line', 'to queue up' | = cûe signal, billiards |
quiche | kêesh |
raclette | rác-lét |
raconteur | rácon-tër |
ragout | ragoû |
raison d’être | râizon-détrə |
rapport | rá-pŏr |
rapporteur | rapportëur |
rapprochement | rappróchement |
ratafia | ratafìa |
ratatouille | ratatoôêe, ratatwêe |
recherché | rəshãirshây |
reculer pour mieux sauter—retreat in order to jump further | rəculây pŏr myə sôtay |
rédaction—redaction | redáction |
réduction—reduction | redúction |
régie—state monopoly of tobacco, salt, etc. | rây-zhêe |
régime—present system of government, etc., often derogatory, see also ancien régime | rây-zhêem |
rendezvous | róndâyvoô, róndivoô |
renifleur | rəníflër, rənì-flër, réniflër |
renaissance | renâisàhnss |
rentier | ràntêeây |
repertoire | répertwàr |
reservoir—lake, usually artificial, for preservation of water | réservwar |
restaurant | réstərànt |
restaurateur | restratëur |
réstriction—restriction | restríction |
résumé [21] | rézyumây, râyzyumây, cf. resûme (rizyûme) |
retroussé | retroûsay |
revanche | revànsh |
reverie | réverie |
ricochet | BrE ríkəshay, AmE rikəshây |
riposte | ripóste |
risqué | rískây, rêeskây |
rôle part | = rôll over, eat |
rondeau | = róndo |
rondel | rondél |
rondelle | rondél |
rondelet | róndelay |
rondure | rondûre |
roquefort | BrE róck fŏr, AmE rôkefərt, rôkefŏrt |
rosé wine | rôzay |
rosette | rozét |
rotisserie | rotíssery |
roué | roôwây |
rouge—red powder for facial colouring | roûzh |
roulette | roulét |
route | BrE = roôt, AmE = ròut |
roux | roû |
sabotage | sábotàzh |
salon | sálon |
sang-froid | song-fwà |
sans | sáns |
sans culotte | sàncû-lót |
sardine | sardìne |
sauce-sauce | |
sauté | sôtây |
sauterne, sauternes plural | sô-térn |
sauvignon blanc | sôvêenyàn-blàn |
savant(e)—learned person | sávant |
savate | savàte |
savoir-faire | sávwà-fãir |
savoir-vivre | sávwà-vìvrə |
séance | sâyónce |
sec | séc |
secateur | secatërr |
serviette | serviét |
silence—silence | |
silhouette | siluwét |
simplification—simplification | simplificâtion |
sobriquet | sóbrikây |
soi-disant | swà-dêezon |
soigné, soignée | swàn-yây |
soirée | swàray |
soixante-neuf | swàsont-nëf |
solfège | solfézh |
solitaire | solitãire |
son et lumière | sonaylumiére |
sorbet | sŏrbay |
sortie | sŏrtie |
sou coin | = sûe legal, Sûe Susan |
soubise | soû bêes |
soubrette | soûbrét |
soufflé | soûflây |
soupçon | soûpsón |
sous vide, sous-vide | soô-vêed |
souvenir | souvenìr |
stage—part of a bicycle race; intermediary step | stâge |
standard—standard | stándɘ(r)d |
steak tartare, steack tartare | steâk tartàre |
sublime—sublime | |
suede (from 'Suède', Sweden)—fabric | = swâyed sway |
suite | = swêet sour |
suture | sûture |
table d’hôte | tàbla-dôte |
tábleau, tábleaux plural | táblô, táblôz |
tartar(e) (sauce) | tartàr |
tarte tatin | tàrt tà-tán |
terrine | terrìne |
terroir—combination of local factors including soil, climate, and sunlight that gives wine grapes their distinctive character | té-hwà(r) |
tête-à-tête | tétà-tét |
-tion—forming nouns | shən |
toque, toque blanche | tóc, tóc blànsh |
torque | tŏrk |
torsades de pointes—a medical condition involving rapid heartbeat | torsád-də-pwànt |
tort–in English[22] law, anything other than breach of contract you can sue someone for | tǒrt |
touché | tooshây |
toupée | toô-pây |
tour de force | toûr de fŏrce |
Tour de France | Toûr de Frànce |
tourniquet | BrE toûrnikây, AmE türnikit |
trâit characteristic | = trây carry |
travail | travâil |
triage | trîage |
tripe—tripe | |
triste | trêest |
trompe l'œil | trómp-lŏy |
troûsseau | trûsô (either stressed) |
trouvaille | trouvaî |
trouvère | trouvére |
unique | yunêek |
urine | yùrín |
valise | vəlêez |
vase | BrE vàz, AmE vâce, vâze |
velocipede | velócipede |
vermouth | BrE vërməth, AmE vr-moôth |
venue | vényû |
Vichyssoise—a cold soup[23] | vishyswàz |
vigneron | vìnyeron |
vignette | veenyét |
vinaigrette—small ornamental bottle for holding aromatic salts; vinaigrette sauce: salad dressing of oil and wine-vinegar | vinaigrét |
vingt-et-un—card game, also known as blackjack or pontoon | vántayán |
violation—violation | vî-əlâtion |
vis-à-vis—with regard to | víza-vêe, vêezà-vêe |
vitrine—glass-panelled cabinet | vitrìne |
vive...[24]—long live... | vêev |
voilà—there you are, here it is, etc. | vwà-là |
vol-au-vent—small case of puff pastry with a savoury filling | vóllow-vón |
volte-face—about-face: a reversal in policy | = vôlt electric fáss |
voyageur | vŏyázh-ër, vwŷázh-ër |
voyeur | vŏy-ër, vwŷ-ër |
Notes
- ↑ Ideally, final -n nasalises the preceding vowel, but some just pronounce the n.
- ↑ An English variant is absinth.
- ↑ "Amuse-bouche" is more commonly used in English-language restaurants than in France, where "amuse-gueule" is frequently used.
- ↑ Arbitrageur (arbitrazhër) does not exist in French.
- ↑ The spelling beaus is not correct in French but is frequent in English.
- ↑ In French, the singular and plural are pronounced the same (bô).
- ↑ Correct French for this would be bel idéal; the phrase "Beau Ideal" was popularized in English after being the title of a 1931 film, itself the sequel to another popular film called "Beau Geste"
- ↑ "Boule" derived from the French should not be confused with the very different "boule" derived from the Greek, defined as "a legislative council of ancient Greece consisting first of an aristocratic advisory body and later of a representative senate"
- ↑ Carousel, with a single r, is more frequent in English.
- ↑ Also BrE champâign with the meaning "open country".
- ↑ Generally spelled chassis.
- ↑ 'Theatre' outside this phrase has no accents and is pronounced thêeətər.
- ↑ British English; zucchini in American.
- ↑ Correct French for this is sous-entendre, an "under-understanding" rather than "double understanding"
- ↑ Used only in expressions with a preceding noun: soupe du jour, buzzword du jour, starlet du jour, etc.
- ↑ Though some Americans incorrectly say Moulàn/Moulón.
- ↑ There is also the anglicisation naìvity, nà-ìvity.
- ↑ There is also a masculine form né.
- ↑ Used as a title for musical works including, most famously, Tchaikovsky's sixth symphony and Beethoven's eighth piano sonata, retaining the original meaning of pathos, in contrast to 'pathetic'.
- ↑ Does not exist in French; they are called 'mignardises'.
- ↑ The second accent (not usually both) is often used to avoid confusion with resûme.
- ↑ In Scottish law the term "delict" is used instead.
- ↑ Although commonly thought of as being a French soup, it was apparently invented in New York City around 1917 by a French chef named Louis Diat at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. He took a traditional French soup of leeks and potatoes, refined it somewhat, and served it cold instead of hot. After becoming well-known in the States, it made its way to France. Diat named it after the French spa of Vichy, which was near his childhood home.
- ↑ Used only in expressions with a following noun: vive le roi, vive la France, vive la différence, etc.