English words that come from French

Although the main origin of English is Germanic, it has received enormous enrichment from other languages, and among the most relevant contributions is French. This linguistic connection has a deep-rooted historical cause, which definitively changed the course of the English language.

In this paper, we will investigate some English words from French while exploring how this influence shaped the lexicon.

To understand why French had such a strong impact on English, we must analyze the historical event that encouraged it. In 1066, England experienced one of the most important invasions of its history: the Norman incursion under William the Conqueror.

William, monarch of Normandy (northern territory of France), defeated King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings, which led to the occupation of England by the Normandy aristocracy. Thereafter, French became the language of the court, management, and culture of the aristocrats. Meanwhile, the majority of the population maintained the use of English.

This exchange of languages continued over the following centuries, resulting in the transmission of words from French to English, particularly in fields such as law, politics, education, and culture. Let’s look at some of the most frequent English words inherited from French, analyzing how their adoption manifests this intriguing relationship between the two languages.

The term “coffee” derives directly from the French café, whose roots are found in the Arabic “qahwa.” Coffee was introduced in Europe in the 17th century, with the French being the pioneers in spreading the consumption of this uncommon beverage.

With time, the “café” was transformed into a space for social gatherings, and the term spread throughout Europe. In English, the term “café” was adopted without major alterations, which highlights the cultural relevance of this concept.

Ballet, a form of dance that emerged in the royal courts of Italy, had its heyday in France in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The term “ballet” derives from the French ballet, which comes from the Italian balletto. With its dance academies and its emphasis on the officialization of the arts, France was at the heart of the transformation of ballet into a professional discipline.

In English, the term “ballet” was introduced in the 19th century and has been largely retained since that time. This word represents the sophistication of the French arts, and its use continues to remind us of France’s cultural relevance at that time.

This word, derived from the French verb rendez-vous, which implies “to meet” or “to gather,” was introduced into English in the 18th century. In French, the term rendez-vous was initially used to refer to a meeting place, and this same concept was adopted in English, although with the meaning of a particular and often secret meeting.

In English, the term “rendezvous” has been retained in its French version. Today, it is used to refer to a scheduled rendezvous and a casual or programmed meeting. The use of this word underlined the impact of French on the social and cultural life of that period when formal and private meetings were common among the aristocracy.

The use of the words “fiancé” (fiancé) and “fiancée” (fiancée) shows how English assumed gender differences found in French but not in English. The two words are derived from the French verb “fiancer,” which translates as “engagement.”

In French, a differentiation is established between the masculine “fiancé” and the feminine “fiancée,” the same difference that English adopted, preserving its structure and pronunciation. The language conveys the elegance and refinement that the French associate with marital commitment while maintaining the gender difference in English.

In literal terms, déjà vu translates as “already seen” in French, and the word began to be used in the 19th century in the field of psychology. It refers to this sensation we have of having already experienced a present situation, even though we have no memory of it. In all languages, including English, déjà vu has remained untranslated.

More French words without English translation.

Like this unusual perception, they have been encapsulated in a specific and exact term originating in French. Thus, this word not only manifests a psychological phenomenon but also the intense influence of the French language.

The term “cliché” derives from the French cliché, which was used to reproduce an image accurately. Over time, the term began to refer to something that has been repeated so much that it has lost its uniqueness.

This semantic transformation took place in the 19th century, and the term was incorporated into English with the same meaning. Today, the term “cliché” is used in English to refer to expressions, concepts, or circumstances that have become excessively predictable or habitual.

Meaning “to undertake” or “to initiate,” this term was incorporated by the English in the 19th century. The French, with their innovative approach to commerce and finance, marked the beginning of the definition of “entrepreneur,” and the term was quickly assimilated into other languages.

In English, the term “entrepreneur” retains the same meaning of someone who starts and structures a business, usually with a predisposition toward risk and innovation. The use of this term emphasizes the economic impact of France during the centuries of its Industrial Revolution and its growth in the global business arena.

In French, it translates as “souvenir” and initially alludes to something that was kept as a memento of an event or experience. The term was first used in English in the late 19th century when leisure travel and tourism began to gain prominence.

In English, the term “souvenir” is mostly used to refer to objects acquired as memories of a site or event. This word represents linguistic transmission, as well as the transformation in social traditions and the growth of tourism as a global industry.

From concepts related to food, art, and culture to psychological and social manifestations, French has left a significant impact on English. This historical link between the two languages reminds us that languages are not immutable entities but dynamic and ever-changing. Languages are affected by cultural events and interactions over time.