French words used in English – research In Languages for Life and Work we have been learning about French words in English. We have learned that many English words come from French. Some words which come from French are: crème, salmon, market, jail, castle, judge, servant, etc. We have also been learning about etymology and how to research the etymologies of words. Mia Wilson S3 Je ne sais quoi – describes a quality that cannot be described or named easily. Translated from the French ‘I do not know what’ - Shayne Robertson S3 Déjà –vu is a feeling of recollection. It comes from French and means ‘already seen’. Touché is used as an acknowledgement during a discussion of a good or clever point. It comes from French and literally means ‘touched’- Aiden Currie S3 Chef- translates to boss and cook. Chic- means elegantly fashionable and stylish –Zye Rogerson S3 Coup de foudre –means ‘stroke of lightning’. It is often used in English to describe the feeling of love at first sight- Alisha Judd S3 Coup de grâce – comes from the French ‘stroke of grace’. In English we use it to describe a finishing blow or strike e.g. the final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal. – Aaron Stewart S3 Some words we learned that were from French were: Jury- from the old French juree which means oath Souvenir is from French it means to remember -Harry Sinclair S3 Avant-garde means ‘advanced guard’. In English it is used to describe new ideas. Synonyms could be ultra-modern, pioneering or forward-looking. Marcin Furmaniuk S3 Coup d’état means a ‘blow of state’. In English we use it describe what happens when a government is overthrown. After William the Conqueror became king the English language changed. Some words introduced from French are: portier, saumon, makerel, oistre, porc, salade, bacun, fruit and bescoit. - Munro Coltart S3
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St. Joseph’s College Easter Newsletter 2019