She should at least know these
1) A la carte
This means ordering individual dishes from a menu in a restaurant.
2) A propos
On the subject of, about something, or even by the way. Use in common conversation in English.
3) Au contraire
On the other hand. Now when I heard that one for the first time I just laugh.
4) Au pair
Foreign students staying in a local family to learn a foreign language. French term used in the US.
5) Bon appétit
This is what we say before starting a meal to the people sitting at the table. Literally “good appetite”. Since there is no such exact equivalent in English, you’ve just adopted the French term.
6) Bon voyage
Have a good trip. Now why this one? It beats me.
7) Bourgeois
Originally meant member of the bourgeoisie social class. Today tends to be derogatory, meaning people of conventional upper class attitude.
8) Bouquet
A flower bunch
9) Brunette
The slang word to describe a woman with brown hair. Now, did you notice, I said “slang”. That’s right, the real word for a brown hair woman is brune. So you English speaking people adopted the french slang term to describe a brown hair woman. How funny is that?
10) Café
Shops where you can drink at a table of at the counter with or without a small meal.
11) Carte blanche
Literally « white card » meaning to go ahead, permission given, authorization.
12) C’est la vie
Such as life. English speaking people love to use that one.
13) Chauffeur
The person driving you around. English term being “driver”, but you love to use chauffeur instead. Sounds more classy I guess.
14) Cinéma
The place where you can go watch movies, as well as the movie industry. Used on American TV a lot.
15) Cliché
Stereotype. Probably one of the French word most used in English.
16) Concierge
Receptionist in a hotel or residence.
17) Coup de grâce
The final blow to kill. You love that one to.
18) Croissant
French flacky pastry with a croissant shape.
19) Cul-de-sac
Literally, the bottom of a bad. A road or street with no way out. I love to see that sign on the American roads. In France we have the road sign “stop”.
20) Décor
The decoration, design.
21) Encore
More. There’s a TV channel called Encore.
22) En route
On the way. Another on that must sound better to you they just one the way.
23) Entrée
Entrance or/and the first course of a meal.
24) Entrepreneur
A person who starts and operate enterprises and businesses.
25) Escargots
Snails. American rather eat escargots than snails. Hilarious!
26) Excusez-moi
Excuse me. I have a friend who always says it in French.
27) Faux pas
Mistake, violation of the rules. Sand way better in French, right?
28) Femme fatale
Attractive woman who seduces.
29) Fiancé/ Fiancé
The man or woman you are engaged to
30) Je ne sais quoi
“I don’t know what” When you can’t discern the reason why something is different. “it has a taste of je ne sais quoi.”
31) Genre
The kind of…
32) Joie de vivre
The happiness of life or happiness of living.
33) Mardi Gras
Fat Tuesday. A French holiday of the beginning of the year.
34) Nouveau
New
35) Nouveau riches
New rich. People who have recently become rich.
36) Papier-mâché
Craft paper. Literally « chewed paper ».
37) Petit
Small and/or short.
38) Potpourri
Mixture of flower petals in a pot.
39) Rapport
To be in sync with someone. Getting along well with someone.
40) Renaissance
Cultural French movement between the 14th and 17th century.
41) Résumé
The sum up of something. However in French this is not the word used for your resume to find a job, which is call a Curriculum Vitae, or CV.
42) Rôle
The function of her person.
43) Sabotage
Came from a very old story of unhappy workers who destroyed machinery by tossing their sabots (wooden shoes) in it. The termed stuck when someone is trying to maliciously destroy or damage something. All the way to America.
44) Sans
Without. This was a surprise to me the first time I saw it written in the middle of and English article.
45) Savant
Genius, someone with supirior knowledge
46) Savoir-faire
Good manners
47) Soirée
Evening
48) Touché
To touch in both literal and figurative senses.
49) Vinaigrette
French salad dressing made with mustard and vinegar.
50) Voila
If you can’t make it with those......
Nice post! But you forgot an important one -
Merde!
As in, “You will not pin this Afghanistan Merde on me!”.
I referred to my ex-wife as “La belle dame sans-merci”.
CC
Interesting, I’m much more Frog than I thought.
It’s like those French have a different word for everything.
And don’t forget to throw in “merdre” every once in awhile to look cool.