French Words

A LA CARTE - According to a menu that prices each item separate , ordered separately from the menu

A LA MODE - According to the fashion; topped with ice cream

AMOUR - A usually illicit love affair

AMOUR PROPER - self-respect

AU COURANT - well-informed

AU FAIT - Familiar with latest developments or facts

AU FOND - At bottom; fundamentally, basically, essentially

AU NATUREL _{- raw}, cooked in the simplest way

AVANT-GARDE - Radically new or original; a creative group active in innovation and application of new concepts and techniques, innovators , especially in art or literature

BEAUX-ARTS -  The fine arts

BEAU GESTE - a noble gesture

BEAU IDEAL - the highest type of excellence or beauty, paragon

BETE NOIRE – one’s particular aversion, a bugbear, nemesis

BELLES-LETTRES - Literary work valued for aesthetic content rather than information

BILLET-DOUX - A love letter

BIJOU – jewel , trinket.

BONA FIDE - genuine, sincere

BON MOT - A clever saying; witticism, witty saying

BON VIVANT – a person who enjoys good food and has luxurious social tastes, someone indulging in good living

BON VOYAGE - Expression of goodwill at the start of a new journey or venture.

CARTE BLANCHE - Complete freedom or authority to act

CAFE AU LAIT - white coffee i.e. coffee with cream

CAFE NOIR - black coffee

CAUSE CELEBRE - An incident or event that attracts great public attention; a notorious person, thing, incident or episode

CHERCHEZ LA FEMME - there is a woman at the bottom of it

COUP - A brilliant and notable success; a sudden, illegal change of government by force

COUP DE GRACE -a finishing stroke, to kill a wounded creature 

COUP D'ETAT - violent seizure of power

COUP DE GRACE - The mortal or finishing stroke delivered to someone mortally wounded; a decisive finishing blow, act or event

COUP DE MAIN – a sudden action undertaken to surprise an enemy

COUP D'ETAT- a sudden overthrowing of government and

seizure of power by others

CRIME PASSION EL - A crime provoked by passion, usually sexual jealousy

DEJA VU - The feeling of having already experienced something actually being experienced first time

DEMODE - Outmoded; no longer in fashion, out of fashion

DEMOISELLE - A young unmarried woman

DE RIGUEUR - Required by the current fashion or social custom; socially obligatory

EN BLOC - as a group, wholesale

ENFANT TERRIBLE - unruly person

EN MASSE -- all together

TETE-A-TETE - An private conversation between two people, an intimate, one-on-one conversation

TOUR DE FORCE - A feat of strength or virtuosity; masterly or brilliant feat, a feat of strength or skill

TROUVAILLE - a lucky find, windfall

VIEUX JEU - old fashioned, hackneyed

VIS-A-VIS - In relation to, compared with; face-to-face with

VOLTE-FACE - A sudden policy reversal

ENTENTE CORDIALE - a friendly understanding between states                                                                                     

ENTRE NOUS - between you and me

EMINENCE GRISE - A person who exercises his power or influence without holding an official position

ENFANT TERRIBLE - A person whose shocking remarks or
outrageous behaviour causes embarrassment to others

ESPRIT DE CORPS - A spirit of devotion among members of a group for one another and the group as a whole, devotion to one's group

FAIT ACCOMPLI - An accomplished, and presumably irreversible fact, something that has been done and is beyond alteration

FAUX PAS - A disastrous mistake; a socially awkward or tactless blunder; a breach of etiquette, indiscretion

GARCON - a waiter in a French restaurant

HAUTE COUTURE - High-class dressmaking; trendsetting fashions, high fashion

HAUTE CUISINE - Artful and elaborate cuisine

HORS DE COMBAT - out of the action, disabled                                                               

IDEE FIXE - A fixed idea; an obsession

JOIE DE VIVRE - The energy and love of life; keen enjoyment of living

JE NE SAIS QUOI - an undefinable something, some emotion that can't be defined

LAISSEZ-FAIRE - The doctrine of abstaining from direction of or interference with individual freedom of choice and action

MAL DE MER - seasickness

MOT - a witty saying

MOT JUSTE - The most appropriate word or expression                                                          

NOBLESSE - Noble birth or condition; the aristrocracy

NOBLESSE OBLIGE - Benevolent behaviour considered to be responsibility of persons of high birth or rank

NOM DE PLUME - an assumed name under which someone writes

NOUVEAU RICHE - A derogatory term meaning one who has lately become ostentatiously rich

PAR EXCELLENCE -- To the highest degree; the best of a kind

PASSE - Outdated

PAR AVION - by airmail

PAS DE DEUX - a dance for two people

PAS SEUL - a solo dance

RAISON D'ETRE - the purpose that justifies a things existence, The reason or justification for existence

RISQUE - Suggestive or bordering on indecency or impropriety

SANG-FROID - composure in agitating circumstances

SOIGNE - well-groomed

TANT PIS - so much the worse