« Back

There are expressions you sometimes use that have their origin in the French language. We will look at some of these phrases and compare the English definition with the actual, literal meaning. You would be well-served to make a study of some of these expressions and begin incorporating them into your vocabulary.

Coup. This is an English-shortened version of the French phrase "coup d'etat". However, the meaning is the same, in that it refers to a brilliantly executed stratagem or a takeover of a government or other entity.

Concierge. This word has essentially the same meaning in both English and French, but the English definition is a little more narrow because in French it can refer to any building caretaker who lives near the entrance.

Au contraire. In both English and French, this common expression means "to the contrary".

Au naturel. This expression has retained its original French meaning, which means nude or in a natural state.

Fiance. In French, this means "engaged". However, in French, fiancé (with one "é") refers to a man, while a version ending in two "éé" refers to a woman.

Protégées. The literal meaning of this French word is "protected". In English, we mean it to mean someone who is learning from an influential individual.

Double entendre. In English, this refers to a word or phrase that can have two different meanings, especially when one meaning can be taken as something rude or impolite. The French word "entendre" means "to understand", so the phrase literally stands for "double understanding".

Carte blanche. In French, this expression literally refers to a blank card or letter. Somehow, this came to be a phrase used in English to mean having unlimited power to act at one's own discretion, or unconditional authority.

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.

Rouge. This word is usually used in connection with reddish-colored cosmetics, which makes sense since the literal meaning is "red".

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 phrases in your business vocabulary. Learning and using expressions such as these will make you sound more intelligent.

Reference: www.articlecafe.com