It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into List of French phrases used by English speakers. (Discuss)

This page lists English translations of French phrases used in English texts and presumed to be understood by the English reader. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... It has been suggested that List of French phrases be merged into this article or section. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Look up translate in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

A

à propos

regarding (this particular subject)

j'accuse !

"I accuse!" — title of an open letter by Émile Zola exposing the Dreyfus affair

aide-de-camp

"camp assistant"; assistant to a senior military officer

aide-mémoire

"memory aid"; an object or memorandum to assist in remembrance, or a diplomatic paper proposing the major points of discussion

allez !

"go!", as in "go team!"

ancien régime

the previous administration/government/reign. Note that in English usage it is often used to mean in particular pre-Revolution France, or the past in general, but this is not the French usage, which has the particular meaning as given

appellation contrôlée

supervised use of a name. For the conventional use of the term, see Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée

après nous, le déluge

"after us, the flood"; that is, things will be disastrous after we have gone (or died). Attributed to Madame de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV of France

au contraire

on the contrary

avec plaisir

my pleasure (lit. "with pleasure")

Émile Zola Émile Zola (2 April 1840 – 29 September 1902) was an influential French novelist, the most important example of the literary school of naturalism, and a major figure in the political liberalization of France. ... The Dreyfus affair was a political scandal which divided France during the 1890s and early 1900s. ... Ancien Régime, a French term meaning Former Regime, but rendered in English as Old Rule, Old Order, or simply Old Regime, refers primarily to the aristocratic social and political system established in France under the Valois and Bourbon dynasties. ... The French Revolution (1789–1815) was a period of political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on... Appellation dOrigine Contrôlée (AOC), which roughly translates as term of origin is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, by the government bureau Institut National des Appellations dOrigine (INAO). ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Louis XV of France (February 15, 1710 – May 10, 1774), the Beloved (French: le Bien-Aimé), was King of France from 1715 until his death. ...

B

beau geste

literally "noble gesture"; gracious gesture; also, a gesture noble in form but meaningless in substance

beaucoup

plenty, lots of, much; merci beaucoup: thanks a lot

bel esprit (pl. beaux esprits)

literally "fine mind"; a cultivated, highly intelligent person

belles-lettres

literally "fine letters"; literature regarded for its aesthetic value rather than its didactic or informative content; also, light, stylish writings, usually on literary or intellectual subjects

bon appétit

literally "good appetite"; enjoy your meal

bon mot

well-chosen word(s), particularly a witty remark

bon vivant

one who enjoys the good life, an epicurean

bon voyage

"have a nice trip" (as in, 'I wish you a pleasant trip')

bonne chance

"good luck" (as in, 'I wish you good luck')

bric-à-brac

small ornamental objects, less valuable than antiques

Epicureanism is a system of philosophy based upon the teachings of Epicurus (c. ...

C

ça ne fait rien

"it doesn't matter"

cause célèbre

literally "famous case", but used to refer to any long-running social, legal and political situation involving public campaigning on one or both sides.

c'est bon

"that's good"

c'est la vie

"that's life"

c'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre

"it is magnificent, but it is not war" — quotation from Marshal Pierre Bosquet commenting on the charge of the Light Brigade

chacun a son goût / chacun à son goût / chacun ses goûts / à chacun son goût [all are used] Look up cause célèbre in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Pierre François Joseph Bosquet ( 1810- 1861) was a Marshal of France. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

"to each his (their) own"

Champs Elysées

literally "Elysian Fields"; actually the name of a major street radiating from the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

Châteaux en Espagne

literally "castles in Spain"; used to mean imaginary projects, often with little hope of realisation (means the same as "castles in the air" or "pie in the sky")

cherchez la femme

"look for the woman", in the sense that, when a man behaves out of character or in an otherwise apparently inexplicable manner, the reason may be found in his trying to cover up an illicit affair with a woman, or to impress or gain favour with a woman. First used by Alexandre Dumas (père) in the third chapter of his novel Les Mohicans de Paris (1854).

Chevalier d'Industrie

one who lives by his wits, specially by swindling

comme ci, comme ça

"like this, like that"; or some people might say "so and so"

comme il faut

Being in accord with conventions or accepted standards; proper.

contretemps

1. hitch, delay
2. argument, disagreement

coup de foudre

a sudden unexpected event, such as: a thunderbolt; a "bolt from the blue"; love at first sight

coup de grâce

a killing blow (literally "blow of mercy")

coup d'état

a sudden blow to a state (normally a sudden, often violent, regime change)

crème de la crème

best of the best (or "cream of the crop")

cri du cœur

an impassioned outcry, as of entreaty or protest

cul-de-sac

literally "bottom-of-the-bag" or "arse-of-the-bag"; refers to a dead-end street (or no through road)

Ceux-qui rient le vendredi, pleureront le dimanche

Those who laugh on Friday will cry on Sunday

The Champs-Élysées (pronounced  , literally the Elysian Fields) is a broad avenue in Paris. ... In Greek mythology, Elysium (Greek: ) was a section of the Underworld (the spelling Elysium is a Latinization of the Greek word Elysion). ... Arc de Triomphe The Arc de Triomphe is a monument in Paris that stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly the Place de lÉtoile, at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ... In music, an invention is a short composition with two or three part counterpoint. ... Pie in the sky could refer to : A fanciful notion or ludicrous concept. ... Alexandre Dumas, père, born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie (July 24, 1802 – December 5, 1870) was a French writer, best known for his numerous historical novels of high adventure which have made him one of the most widely read French authors in the world. ... 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Look up coup de grâce in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... // A coup dÉtat (pronounced ), or simply coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, often through illegal means by a part of the state establishment — mostly replacing just the high-level figures. ...

D

déjà entendu

a recent addition to English language meaning "already heard"

déjà lu

literally "already read"; meaning already reading a piece of music or text

déjà vu

"already seen"; seeing something you have seen again, probably in similar settings

le droit du seigneur

literally "the right of the lord"; the purported right of a lord in feudal times to take the virginity of one of his vassals' brides on her wedding night (in precedence to her new husband)

de rigueur

necessary according to etiquette, protocol or fashion

The term déjà vu (IPA:) (French for already seen, also called paramnesia) describes the experience of feeling that one has witnessed or experienced a new situation previously. ... The jus primae noctis meaning law (or right) of the first night, and droit du seigneur meaning the lords right, is the purported right of the lord of an estate to deflower its virgins. ... Look up vassal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

E

élan vital

literally "vital ardor"; the vital force hypothesized by Henri Bergson as a source of efficient causation and evolution in nature; also called "life-force"

éminence grise

literally "grey eminence"; refers to a publicity-shy person with little formal power but great influence over those in authority

encore

more, still, yet; encore une fois: once more, again

en masse

in a mass or group, all together

en principe, 'oui'

literally "in principle, 'yes'". Actually a bureaucratic and circumlocutional way of saying 'no'

esprit de corps

team spirit

esprit de l'escalier

from "wit" and "stairs"; thinking of a witty remark too late; hindsight or afterwit

être plus royaliste que le roi

lit. "to be more royalist than the king", i.e. to be hyperbolically so

l'État, c'est moi !

"I am the state!" — attributed to the archetypal absolute monarch, Louis XIV of France

excusez-moi !

excuse me!; often used sarcastically

An idea created by French philosopher Henri Bergson in the late 19th century, élan vital is usually translated as vital force. It is a hypothetical aetiological force thought to cause the evolution and development of organisms. ... An éminence grise (French for grey eminence), is a powerful advisor or decision-maker who operates secretly or otherwise unofficially. ... Encore may be referring to one of the following: Adobe Encore, a software program by Adobe Systems intended for authoring DVDs. ... Esprit dEscalier; The Way Of All Flesh, 2005 Debut release from gothic rock band The Way Of All Flesh. ... “Sun King” redirects here. ...

F

fait accompli

the thing is done, it is too late discuss whether to do it

faux

false, ersatz, fake.

faux pas

literally "false step"; a violation of accepted, although unwritten, social rules

femme fatale

literally "fatal/deadly woman"; an attractive woman who seduces and takes advantage of men in order to achieve personal goals after which she discards of or abandons the victim. Used to describe an attractive woman with whom a relationship is likely to result, or has already resulted, in pain and sorrow

fin de saison

literally "end of season"; marks the end of an extended (annual) period during which business increases significantly, most commonly used for the end of summer tourism

fin de siècle

"end of the century"; relating to the culture pertaining at the end of the 19th century

flâneur

an aimless idler

foie gras

fatty liver; usually the liver of overfed geese, hence: pâté de foie gras, pâté made from goose liver

Look up faux in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Ersatz is a German name (literal meaning: substitute) for products, especially chemical compounds and provisions developed in wartimes when shortage of certain goods was imminent. ... For the Australian musician, see Faux Pas (musician). ... Convicted spy Mata Hari made her name synonymous with femme fatale during WWI. A femme fatale (plural: femmes fatales) is an alluring and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous and deadly situations. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pâté de foie gras (right) with pickled pear. ...

G

Gautier et Garguille

all the world and his wife (possibly derived from a 17th century French comic Hugues Guérin, who performed under the stage name Gautier-Garguille, though it is likely that he in turn may have taken this pseudonym from earlier 16th century recorded sayings: prendre Gautier pour Garguille: "to take Gautier for Garguille", that is to mistake one person for another; il n'y a ni Gautier, ni Garguille: "he is neither Gaultier nor Garguille", that is, 'he is no-one')

les goûts et les couleurs ne se discutent pas

"tastes and colours are not argued over"; one does not argue over differences in taste, to each his own

grand projet

literally "large project"; usually a government funded large scale civil engineering or technology project executed for prestige or general social benefit, and not immediately (if ever) profitable

(16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ...

H

haute couture

Paris-based custom-fitted clothing; literally "high sewing"

honi soit qui mal y pense

The motto of the British Order of the Garter, literally: "shamed be the person who thinks evil of it". Note that modern French writes honni whereas the motto still uses the Old French honi.

hors concours

"out of the running"; used to describe someone who is a non-competitor, especially in love

hors de combat

prevented from fighting, usually by injury; literally "out of combat"

hors d'œuvre

appetizer (starter) ; literally "outside of the work" (of the main meal)

huis-clos

the huis clos is a term which indicates an enclosed space such as a room or cell.

Haute couture (French for high sewing or high dressmaking; IPA: ) refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted fashions. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The insignia of a knight of the Order of the Garter. ... Crudités variés, a typical hors dœuvre in French cuisine Hors dœuvre, (IPA: French but often in English as ; French plural: hors dœuvre, without an extra s; English plural often hors dœuvres), also known as appetizer(s), refer to the food served before or outside... For the album by Blondie, see No Exit (album) No Exit is an existentialist play by Jean-Paul Sartre, originally published in French in 1944 as Huis Clos. ...

I

idée fixe

an obsession or fixed attitude. In the Asterix books by Goscinny & Uderzo, Asterix's dog is named Idéfix in French and Dogmatix in English. The 19th century French composer Hector Berlioz used the term to denote a musical idea (normally a short melodic phrase), representing something or someone extra-musical, that was subject to limited development during the course of the work; very similar to Richard Wagner's use of so-called leitmotifs

For other uses, see Asterix (disambiguation). ... René Goscinny (August 14, 1926 – November 5, 1977) Polish- French author, editor and humorist, who is best known for the comic strip Astérix, which he created with illustrator Albert Uderzo, and the comic strip Lucky Luke. // Early life René was born in Paris in 1926, to Stanislaw Simkha Goscinny... Albert Uderzo Albert Uderzo (born April 25, 1927 in France) is a French comic book artist, and scriptwriter. ... Hector Louis Berlioz (December 11, 1803 – March 8, 1869) was a French Romantic composer best known for the Symphonie fantastique, first performed in 1830, and for his Grande Messe des Morts (Requiem) of 1837, with its tremendous resources that include four antiphonal brass choirs. ... Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 – February 13, 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as he later came to call them). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

J

Jacques Bonhomme

a name given to a French peasant as tamely submissive to taxation. Also the pseudonym of the 14th century peasant leader Guillaume Caillet

J'sais pas (pronounced 'SCH — EH' pas)

"I don't know"; modern, colloquial form of "Je ne sais pas"

Je m'en fous

"I don't care" (somewhat rude, on the language level of "I don't give a damn")

je ne regrette rien

"I regret nothing" (from the title of a popular song sung by Édith Piaf: "Non, je ne regrette rien"). Also the phrase the UK's then Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont chose to use to describe his feelings over the events of September 16, 1992 ('Black Wednesday')

je ne sais quoi

"I don't know what"; used to mean a certain, indefinable 'something' which distinguishes the object in question from others which are superficially similar

je ne sais pas

"I don't know"

Jeunesse Dorée (Jeunesse Doree)

literally "gilded youth"; name given to a body of young dandies who, after the fall of Robespierre, strove to bring about a counter-revolution. Today used for any offspring living an affluent lifestyle

joie de vivre

"joy of life", "joy of living"

Je suis

I am...

The Jacquerie in Froissarts chronicles The Jacquerie was a popular revolt in late medieval Europe that took place in northern France in 1358, during the Hundred Years War. ... Édith Piaf (December 19, 1915 – October 11, 1963)[1] was one of Frances most loved singers, who became a national icon. ... Non, je ne regrette rien   is a French song written in 1956 which is best known through the recording made by French singer Édith Piaf in 10 November 1960. ... The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British cabinet minister responsible for all financial matters. ... Norman Stewart Hughson Lamont, Baron Lamont of Lerwick, PC (born 8 May 1942) was Conservative Member of Parliament for Kingston-upon-Thames, England from 1972 until 1997. ... // 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr declared Prince of Wales by his followers. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... In British politics and economics, Black Wednesday refers to September 16, 1992 when the government was forced to withdraw the Pound from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) by currency speculators—most notably George Soros who earned over US$1 billion in doing so. ... Sporty Parisian dandies of the 1830s: a girdle helped one achieve this silhouette. ... Anonymous Portrait of Maximilien Robespierre c. ...

K

L

laissez-faire

"let do"; often used within the context of economic policy or political philosophy, meaning leaving alone, or non-interference

legerdemain

from Old French leger de main, "light of hand"; used to mean sleight of hand usually in the context of deception or the art of stage magic tricks

lèse majesté

an offense against a sovereign power; or, an attack against someone's dignity or against a custom or institution held sacred (from the Latin "crimen laesae maiestatis": the crime of injured majesty)

lieu

"instead", originally derived from Latin locus ("place"); in lieu of: "instead of", "in the place of". For example, "In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the deceased's charity of choice." This is illustrated for instance in the English word "lieutenant", which literally means "place-holder"

Louis Quinze

specifically "Louis XV" (of France); or, more generally, relating to the rococo style of furniture, architecture and interior decoration popular during his reign (which lasted almost 60 years from 1715 to 1774)

Laissez-faire is short for laissez faire, laissez passer, a French phrase meaning to let things alone, let them pass. First used by the eighteenth century Physiocrats as an injunction against government interference with trade, it is now used as a synonym for strict free market economics. ... Economic policy refers to the actions that governments take in the economic field. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Political philosophy is the study of fundamental questions about the state, government, politics, liberty, justice, property, rights, law and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why (or even if) they are needed, what makes a government legitimate, what... Sleight-of-hand, also known as legerdemain, is a technique of close-up magic in which small items are concealed in and around the performers hands, sometimes by the use of misdirection, to enhance the illusion being performed. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... The word locus (plural loci) is Latin for place: In biology and evolutionary computation, a locus is the position of a gene (or other significant sequence) on a chromosome. ... Louis XV of France (February 15, 1710 – May 10, 1774), the Beloved (French: le Bien-Aimé), was King of France from 1715 until his death. ... North side of the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo - carriage courtyard: all the stucco details sparkled with gold until 1773, when Catherine II had gilding replaced with olive drab paint. ... // Events July 24 - Spanish treasure fleet of ten ships under admiral Ubilla leave Havana, Cuba for Spain. ... Chesma Column in Tsarskoe Selo, commemorating the end of the Russo-Turkish War. ...

M

maître d'

a shortening of maître d'hôtel, meaning "master of the hall"; used to refer to a head waiter

mauvais quart d'heure

literally a 'bad quarter of an hour'. A short unpleasant or uncomfortable moment

ménage à trois

"household of three"; a romantic and/or sexual relationship consisting of three individuals in a single household, an arrangement of three individuals engaging in simultaneous sexual activity with one another

mise en scène

the process of setting a stage with regard to placement of actors, scenery, properties, etc.; the stage setting or scenery of a play; surroundings, environment

le moment suprême

"the supreme moment"; the climax in a series of events (for example at the unveiling of an art exhibition)

moue

a pursing together of the lips to indicate dissatisfaction, a pout

The maître d (short for maître dhôtel, literally master of the hall) in a suitably staffed restaurant, is the person in charge of assigning customers to tables in the establishment, and dividing the dining area into areas of responsibility for the various servers on duty. ... Look up ménage à trois in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

N

n'est-ce pas?

"isn't it?"

noblesse oblige

"nobility obliges"; those granted a higher station in life are obliged to extend (possibly token) favours/courtesies to those in lower stations

O

œuvre

"work", in the sense of an artist's work (as in, for instance, "I am studying Molière's great œuvre, Le Misanthrope"), and often, by extension, an artist's lifetime's achievements (for example "I am studying Molière's complete œuvre, including his great comedy of manners Le Misanthrope")

oh mon Dieu !

oh my God!

oui

yes

Molière, engraved on the frontispiece to his Works. ... Le Misanthrope is a 17th century comedy of manners written by French playwright Molière. ... The comedy of manners satirizes the manners and affectations of a social class, often represented by stock characters, such as the miles gloriosus in ancient times, the fop and the rake during the Restoration, or an old person pretending to be young. ...

P

passe-partout

a document or key that allows the holder to travel without hindrance from the authorities and enter any location

peut-être

perhaps, possibly, maybe

pièce de résistance

"piece of endurance" or "piece of staying power"; item that excels in quality and/or value from the rest of a collection

pièce d'occasion

"occasional piece"; item written or composed for a special occasion

pied-à-terre

"foot-on-the-ground" or "foothold"; a place to stay

pis-aller

"worse"; an undesirable option selected because the other choices were even worse

plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose

the more things change, the more they stay the same; often shortened to plus ça change

poseur

a person who pretends to be what he or she is not: an affected or insincere person: a wannabe

pourboire

"for drink"; gratuity, tip; donner un pourboire: to tip.

pour encourager les autres

"to encourage others"; said of an excessive punishment meted out as an example. The original is from Voltaire's Candide and referred to the execution of Admiral John Byng

prêt-à-porter

ready to wear clothing (off the shelf). Contrast with haute couture

A pied a terre is a small second home in the city (typically an apartment or a condominium). ... For the sport horse, see Voltaire (horse). ... Candide, ou lOptimisme, (Candide, or Optimism) (1759) is a French language picaresque novel by the Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. ... John Byng (October 29, 1704 – March 14, 1757), British admiral, was the fourth son of George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington, and entered the navy in 1718. ... Ready-to-wear or prêt-à-porter is the fashion design term for clothing marketed in a finished condition, in standard clothing sizes (in casual usage, off the rack). ... Haute couture (French for high sewing or high dressmaking; IPA: ) refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted fashions. ...

Q

Quai d'Orsay

address of the French foreign ministry in Paris, used to refer to the ministry itself.

Quatorze juillet

"14th July", Bastille Day. The beginning of the French Revolution in 1789; used to refer to the revolution itself and its ideals. It is the french National Day.

Quelle horreur ! (often written in English as "quel horreur", which is not grammatically correct in French, as horreur is a feminine noun)

"How awful!"

qui vive ?

literally "who would live?"; "who's there?" (used as a sentry's challenge to determine a person's political sympathies). "Sur le qui-vive" (literally "on the point of saying qui vive") — on the alert, vigilant.

quoi de neuf?

"What's new?", "What's the news?"

City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ... The Champs-Élysées decorated with flags for the 14 July. ... The French Revolution (1789–1815) was a period of political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

R

raison d'être

the basic reason or purpose to exist

raison d'état

reason of state

rendez-vous

appointment, meeting place

Rive Gauche

the left (southern) bank (of the River Seine in Paris). A particular mindset attributed to inhabitants of that area

roi fainéant

powerless king (literally "do-nothing king"); an expression first used about the kings of France from 670 to 752 (Thierry III to Childeric III), who had to do what their ministers told them. The term was later used about other royalty who had been made powerless, also in other countries, but lost its meaning when parliamentarism made all royals powerless

roman à clef

literally "novel with key"; a novel in which actual persons, places or events are depicted in fictional guise

RSVP

abbreviation of répondez, s'il vous plaît, which politely requests the recipient to reply to an invitation ("please respond")

For the musical group, see Left Banke. ... This article is about the river in France; it should not be confused with the Senne, a much smaller river that flows through Brussels. ... Kings ruled in France from the Middle Ages to 1848. ... A parliamentary system, or parliamentarism, is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. ...

S

Sacrebleu !

literally "Sacred blue!"; a stereotypical minced oath, which is an euphemism for Sacré Dieu ("Sacred God!"). Very dated in France and rarely heard.

sang-froid

literally "cold blood"; translates as keeping a cool head or a stiff upper lip. Also "cold-blooded" in the expression "meurtre de sang-froid" ("cool-blooded murder")

sans-culotte

literally "without knee-britches/trousers"; refers to lower-class Parisian republicans in the French Revolution, in modern use to those holding strong republican views

savoir-faire

literally "know how to do"; to respond appropriately to any situation.

sauve qui peut !

those who can should save themselves. Used as a pragmatic response to an accident

soi-disant

literally "oneself saying"; means self-proclaimed, self-styled

A minced oath is an expression based on a profanity which has been altered to reduce or remove the disagreeable or objectionable characteristics of the original expression; for example, gosh used instead of God, darn instead of damn and heck instead of hell. Nearly all profanities have minced variants; the... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Stiff Upper Lip is a 2000 hard rock album by Australian band AC/DC. The album was recorded at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, British Columbia and mastered at Sterling Sound in New York City. ... The French Revolution (1789–1815) was a period of political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on...

T

tant pis

too bad, what a shame

tête-à-tête

"head to head"; an intimate get-together or private conversation between two people

tour de force

"act of strength"; a brilliant feat

tout de suite

"at once", "immediately" (per Oxford English Dictionary). Sometimes shortened to tout suite

très belle

very beautiful

U

V

vas-y !

Go Ahead! Used to encourage someone (pronounced vah-zee)

va-t'en !

imperative form, like above, literally meaning "Go from here" but translating more closely as "Go away". Used to tell someone that you don't require their presence.

vendu or vendus

sellouts, generally by apostates

vin de pays

literally "country wine"; wine of a lower designated quality than appellation controlée

vis-à-vis

"face-to-face"; opposed to, compared with, in relation to

Vive (...) !

literally "live"; as in "Vive la France !" (long live France), "Vive le Canada !" (long live Canada), or "Vive le Québec libre" (long live free Quebec, a sovereigntist slogan famously used by French President Charles de Gaulle in 1967 in Montreal).

voilà !

this word is one of the most common and familiar French words in the English language^{[citation needed]}. A compound word formed from voir (to see) and là (there), it would be translated literally as "see there". Though having more uses in French, in English it is usually used in the same way as "presto", or "ta-da", as in when presenting or making something.

voulez-vous coucher avec moi?

literally "do you want to sleep with me?", means: "do you want to have sex with me?" Popularized by the song Lady Marmalade.

Selling out is a common slang phrase. ... Apostasy (from Greek αποστασία, meaning a defection or revolt , from απο, apo, away, apart, στασις, stasis, standing) is a term generally employed to describe the formal renunciation of ones religion, especially if the motive is deemed unworthy. ... Vin de pays is the third highest ranking in the French wine system, after VDQS, preceding Vin de table. ... ViVe (Visión Venezuela) is a cultural television network funded by the Venezuelan national government that was inaugurated on November 11, 2003 and whose objective consists of spreading information related to achievements made by Hugo Chávez’s political possess and the encouragement of Venezuelan cultural. ... Vive le Canada is an Internet-based grassroots organization stressing Canadian Nationalism. ... Charles De Gaulle delivering the famous speech upon the Montreal city hall balcony. ... The term sovereigntist has two meanings in political discourse. ... The President of France, known officially as the President of the Republic (Président de la République in French), is Frances elected Head of State. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Nickname: Motto: Concordia Salus (salvation through harmony) Coordinates: Country Canada Province Quebec Founded 1642 Established 1832 Government  - Mayor Gérald Tremblay Area [1][2][3]  - City 365. ... Lady Marmalade, released in December 1974, is a 1975 number-one single recorded by Labelle for CBS Records Epic label. ...

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le zinc

bar/café counter

zut alors

a mild oath like "Darn it!"

zut zut et zut

darn darn and darn

See also

• List of French proverbs
• List of Latin words with English derivatives
• List of Latin phrases
• List of Greek phrases
• List of German expressions in English
• Wiktionary:Transwiki:List of German words and phrases
• French phrases used by English speakers
• Wiktionary:Transwiki:List of Spanish expressions in common English

A list of French proverbs can be found at Wikiquote:French proverbs. ... This is a list of Latin words with derivatives in English (and other modern languages). ... This page lists direct English translations of common Latin phrases, such as veni vidi vici and et cetera. ... List of Greek Phrases/Proverbs Αα (h)a Ageōmetrētos mēdeis eisitō. Let no-one without knowledge of geometry enter. Motto over the entrance to Platos Academy (quoted in Elias commentary on Aristotles Categories). ... This is a list of German expressions used in English; some relatively common (e. ... Here are some examples of French words and phrases used by English speakers. ...

External links

• French Words and Phrases
• French words within complete sentences, text + audio files