There are hundreds of words borrowed from French into English - only a selection is given here. They can be grouped into several classes:
Food and eating ("biscuit", "menu"), military terms ("camouflage", "coup d'etat"), diplomatic words ("diplomat", "regime"), entertainment ("ballet", "sport") and many others.
| Word | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| a la carte | from the card | One of many food, restaurant and cookery terms from French. |
| abattoir | Place where animals are slaughtered. | |
| ambulance | walking hospital | Used to treat wounded soldiers - one of many military terms from French. |
| arson | burn | Crime of deliberate burning. One of many legal and political words from French. |
| attaché | attached (to Embassy) | One of many diplomatic terms from French. |
| ballet | little dance | One of many entertainment terms from French. |
| bayonet | Named after its place of origin. | |
| biscuit | twice cooked | Has different meanings in USA and UK. |
| bon vivant | good liver | Someone who enjoys life. |
| bribe | beg | |
| cabaret | tavern | Entertainment provided while guests are at the table. |
| cache | hidden | |
| camouflage | disguise | |
| carte blanche | blank cheque | |
| chauffeur | stoker | Professional driver. |
| corduroy | king's clothes | A type of cloth. |
| coup d'etat | The taking of power by force, as in 'military coup'. | |
| coupon | piece cut off | Detachable ticket. |
| courier | run | A messenger. |
| crayon | big chalk | |
| crochet | little hook | |
| croquet | A game played on grass. The same root as 'crochet'. | |
| debris | break down | |
| denim | from Nimes | A type of cloth. |
| dentist | tooth person | |
| detour | turn away | |
| diplomat | back form | |
| dossier | bundle of papers | |
| en masse | All together. | |
| en route | On the way. | |
| entrepreneur | Business person. | |
| envoy | send | |
| espionage | spying | |
| etiquette | ticket | Rules of social behaviour. |
| fait accompli | thing done | What would be called a 'done deal' in the USA. |
| faux pas | false step | A blunder. |
| gaffe | A blunder. | |
| gourmet | wine taster | Judge of good eating. |
| grape | A berry used in wine making. | |
| hors d'oeuvre | outside the work | Extra dish served as a starter for a meal. |
| laissez faire | let act | As in 'anything goes'. Lack of government intervention. |
| lieutenant | place holder | Military rank. Pronounced LEFT-tenant in UK and LOOT-tenant in USA. |
| macabre | from 'Maccabee' | |
| margarine | Butter substitute. | |
| marinade | pickle in brine | From the same root as 'marine', of the sea. |
| maroon | To leave someone on a desert island. | |
| mauve | mallow | A purple colour. |
| mayonnaise | Named after its place of origin. Shortened to 'mayo' in the USA. | |
| memoir | memory | |
| menu | list | Originally a restaurant term, now used in computing. |
| mortgage | dead pledge | Payment and security on a property. |
| mutiny | move | |
| nasal | Of the nose. | |
| niece | ||
| nomad | pasture | Tribe roaming for pasture. |
| nouveau riche | new rich | The recently wealthy. |
| omelette | Beaten and fried eggs. | |
| panache | feather | Display of swagger. |
| par excellence | Of special excellence. | |
| parachute | Silken cloth used for descending slowly. | |
| picnic | An outdoor meal. | |
| pioneer | ||
| plaice | A flat fish. | |
| plaque | tablet | |
| portrait | depict | |
| promenade | take a walk | |
| publicity | ||
| queue | tail | To wait in line. Used more in UK than USA. |
| rôle | From the roll of paper containing an actor's part. | |
| raffle | ||
| raison d'Etre | reason for being | Purpose. |
| rapport | carry again | Harmonious relationship. |
| ratchet | lance head | |
| rectangle | straight angle | Four sided figure. |
| regal | From a word for 'king'. | |
| regime | System of government. | |
| relay | Originally a set of fresh horses for a journey. | |
| renaissance | rebirth | |
| rendezvous | present yourselves | Place appointed for a meeting. |
| reprimand | repress | An official rebuke. |
| reservoir | reserve supply | |
| resign | surrender | |
| restaurant | Public eating place. | |
| revenue | return | |
| ricochet | ||
| rifle | groove | |
| roast | gridiron | Cook meat in oven. |
| roulette | little wheel | |
| rout | disorderly retreat | |
| route | marching orders | Pronounced RA-OOT in parts of USA and ROOT in UK. |
| routine | The same root as 'route'. | |
| séance | a sitting | |
| sabotage | clatter with wooden shoes | Wooden shoes used to be thrown into machinery to stop it. |
| sachet | little sack | |
| salvage | to save | |
| satchel | little bag | |
| sauce | to salt | |
| saucer | From the same root as 'sauce'. | |
| sauté | tossed | |
| saveloy | from brains | Sausage made from brains. |
| savoir faire | how to do | Knowing how to do the right thing. |
| sirloin | above the loin | Choice cut of meat. |
| somersault | leap above | |
| soufflé | blown | Made light and frothy. |
| soup | broth | |
| souvenir | memory | |
| spiral | like a coil | |
| splendid | with shine | |
| sport | An amusement or game. | |
| suède | from Sweden | |
| syndicate | ||
| tampon | wad for packing gun | |
| tangerine | Named after its city of origin in Morocco. | |
| tapestry | to carpet | |
| torture | twisting | |
| traffic | trade | |
| tranquil | ||
| trophy | Originally the arms of a vanquished enemy put on display. | |
| umpire | from 'non per', not equal | The term 'a nonper' lost its letter N to become 'an umpire'. |
| unique | of one | |
| velocity | swiftness | |
| version | turn | |
| visa | things seen | |
| wardrobe | look after garment | |
| zest | orange peel | |
| zigzag |
