List of French phrases

Categories: Language lists

This page lists English translations of several French phrases used in English texts and presumed to be understood by the English reader.

Contents

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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A

À propos: regarding (this particular subject)

J'accuse!: I accuse! - title of an open letter by Emile Zola exposing the Dreyfus affair.

aide-de-camp: literally "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.

ancien régime: the previous administration/government/reign. Note that in Englsh 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.

Après moi, le déluge.: After me, the flood. i.e. things will be disastrous after I have gone (or died). Attributed to Louis XV of France.

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B

bon mot: well-chosen word(s), particularly a witty remark
bon vivant: one who enjoys the good life, an epicurean
bon voyage: pleasant trip
bonne chance: good luck
bric-à-brac: small ornamental objects, less valuable than antiques

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C

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 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.: Tastes differ/Opinions naturally differ/What people regard as normal differs.

Champs Elysées: literally "Elysian fields", actually the name of a major street radiating from the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Châteaux en Espagne: i.e. castles in Spain, visionary projects

Chevalier d'Industrie: one who lives by his wits, specially by swindling.

contretemps: argument

Coup d'état: A sudden blow to a state

cul-de-sac: literally "bottom-of-the-bag" or "arse-of-the-bag", refer to a dead-end street.

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D

Déjà vu: literally "seen before", seeing something you have seen again, probably in similar settings.

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E

éminence grise: literally "grey eminence", refers to a publicity-shy person with little formal power but great influence over those in authority.

en principe, "Oui": literally: in principle, "Yes" - actually a bureaucratic and circumlocutional way of saying "No"

L'état, c'est moi!: I am the state! - Attributed to the archetypal absolute monarch, Louis XIV of France

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F

fait accompli: the thing is done, it is too late to plan it

fin de siècle: end of the century – relating to the culture pertaining at the end of the 19th century.

foie gras: fatty liver – usually the liver of overfed geese.

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G

Gautier And Garguille: all the world and his wife.

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.

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H

haute couture: Paris-based custom-fitted clothing. Literally "high sewing".

hors de combat: prevented from fighting - usually by injury. Literally "out of combat".

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I

idée fixe: an obsession or fixed attitude. In the Asterix books by Goscinny & Uderzo, Asterix' dog is named Idéfix in French and Dogmatix in English.

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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.

Je ne regrette rien.: I regret nothing. (Title of a popular song by Edith Piaf)

Je ne sais quoi.: Literally: I don't know what. Used to mean a certain, indefinable 'something' which distinguishes the object in question from others which are superficially similar.

Jeunesse Dorée (Jeunesse Doree): (lit. 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/living

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K

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L

Laissez-faire: "Leave to 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 the hand", used to mean sleight of hand usually in the context of deception.

lieu: "Instead": originally derived from Latin locus ("place"); in lieu of: "instead of", "in the place of" — e.g., "In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the decedent's charity of choice."

Louis Quinze: Louis XV of France, or more specifically, relating to the rococo style of furniture, architecture and interior decoration during his reign.

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M

moue: a pursing together of the lips to indicate disapproval.

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N

n'est-ce pas: isn't it? - usually indicated the previous phrase was a (rhetorical) question.
noblesse oblige: "Those granted a higher station in life are obliged to extend (possibly token) favours/courtesies to those in lower stations".

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O

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P

passe-partout: a document that allows the holder to travel without hindrance from the authorities and enter any location.

pied-à-terre: literally 'foot-on-the-ground' - a small ground floor flat/apartment in a large town or city.

pis-aller: literally 'go worse'; an undesirable option selected because the other choices were even worse

pour encourager les autres: literally 'to encourage the 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. Contrast haute couture.

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Q

Quai d'Orsay: Address of the French foreign ministry, used to refer to the ministry itself.

Quatorze juillet: 14th July, Bastille Day. The nominal beginning of the French Revolution; used to refer to the revolution itself and its ideals.

Quoi de neuf?: What's new, what's the news?

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R

raison d'être: The basic reason or purpose to exist.
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.
Rois Fainéants: (i. e. the Do-nothings), the name given to the kings of France of the Merovingian line from 670 to 752, from Thierry III. to Childeric III., who were subject to their ministers, the mayors of the palace, who discharged all their functions.
RSVP: Abbreviation of "Répondez, s'il vous plaît", which politely requests the recipient to reply to an invitation.

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S

Sacré bleu!: literally "Sacred blue!", a stereotypical oath, which is an euphemism for "Sacré Dieu" (Sacred God!).

sang-froid: literally "Cold blood", translates as keeping a cool head or a stiff upper lip, NOT cold-blooded.

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