French Language Phrases Used in the English Language
If you are planning on learning French but think you don't know the first thing about learning French language phrases, think again: if you are a native English speaker, did you know that you already use many French expressions in your everyday language? Although it would be a lie to say that you can master the French language from simply knowing these, the English language contains a multitude of French language phrases that can give you a head start in learning this language.
Deja vu literally means already seen.
This is an expression people use when they live a moment that seems like it has been already lived, maybe in a dream or in a previous life.
This French language phrase is also being used more widely to describe something that has already been done.
For example, if you often visit the same bar and meet some people that you saw there before but did not expect to meet for a second time, you can say that you are having a deja vu.
Some French language phrases are actually English words that the French have adopted in their everyday language: taxi, sandwich, snack, poster, sexy are all examples of English words that are commonly used in the French language.
Employees of insurance companies are familiar with the term force majeure, which means an event that is unavoidable and not caused by man, something like a snow storm or an earthquake.
It is sometimes defined as an act of God.
Some French language phrases use slang: if you drive a vehicle you have probably come across a cul-de-sac, which means bottom of bag.
In this instance, the word cul is the French slang for bottom, being used in the sense of derriere, which is another French word commonly used by English speakers.
Restaurants are places where you are the most likely to come across the use of many French language phrases: the name restaurant, although pronounced different ways, is the same in both languages.
Whether you order a la carte (where you choose separate items from the menu) or le menu du jour (today's special), you will be speaking French.
If you ask for an aperitif (before-meal drink), an entree (starter) followed by a canard a l'orange (duck with orange sauce) and a creme brulee as a dessert, finished off with a digestif (after-drink meal), you will feel like a real French person.
Don't forget to wish your co-diners bon appetit, if would be bad manners not to! Inappropriate use of French language phrases can get you slapped: if you have already approached a French woman (not your girlfriend or wife) and asked her: voulez-vous coucher avec moi (Do you want to sleep with me)? Then you know the feeling.
Yes, even in French, love hurts.
You may be conscious of this fact or not, but you use French language phrases all the time.
If you analyse the way you speak English you will find many more of these borrowed expressions.
It can be a fun part of learning French to try and identify all the French phrase languages you know.
Deja vu literally means already seen.
This is an expression people use when they live a moment that seems like it has been already lived, maybe in a dream or in a previous life.
This French language phrase is also being used more widely to describe something that has already been done.
For example, if you often visit the same bar and meet some people that you saw there before but did not expect to meet for a second time, you can say that you are having a deja vu.
Some French language phrases are actually English words that the French have adopted in their everyday language: taxi, sandwich, snack, poster, sexy are all examples of English words that are commonly used in the French language.
Employees of insurance companies are familiar with the term force majeure, which means an event that is unavoidable and not caused by man, something like a snow storm or an earthquake.
It is sometimes defined as an act of God.
Some French language phrases use slang: if you drive a vehicle you have probably come across a cul-de-sac, which means bottom of bag.
In this instance, the word cul is the French slang for bottom, being used in the sense of derriere, which is another French word commonly used by English speakers.
Restaurants are places where you are the most likely to come across the use of many French language phrases: the name restaurant, although pronounced different ways, is the same in both languages.
Whether you order a la carte (where you choose separate items from the menu) or le menu du jour (today's special), you will be speaking French.
If you ask for an aperitif (before-meal drink), an entree (starter) followed by a canard a l'orange (duck with orange sauce) and a creme brulee as a dessert, finished off with a digestif (after-drink meal), you will feel like a real French person.
Don't forget to wish your co-diners bon appetit, if would be bad manners not to! Inappropriate use of French language phrases can get you slapped: if you have already approached a French woman (not your girlfriend or wife) and asked her: voulez-vous coucher avec moi (Do you want to sleep with me)? Then you know the feeling.
Yes, even in French, love hurts.
You may be conscious of this fact or not, but you use French language phrases all the time.
If you analyse the way you speak English you will find many more of these borrowed expressions.
It can be a fun part of learning French to try and identify all the French phrase languages you know.
