List of English words of French origin
This is a list of words in the English language which have their origins in French. For French which may be used by English speakers, but which is not (yet) considered to be part of the English language, see French phrases used by English speakers.
The origins of many of these words can be traced further back, frequently to Latin, however it was from the French that English gained these words.
A
- abandonment
- abase, from Old French, compare modern Fr. abaisser
- abattoir, from abattre to shoot or kill [an animal]
- abbey
- abbreviation, from abréviation
- ability
- able, from Old French, compare modern Fr. habile
- abolish, compare abolir
- abominable
- abomination
- absence
- absolute, from Middle French, compare modern Fr. absolu
- abstinence
- absurd
- abuse
- acadamy, compare académie
- accident
- accommodation
- accomplishment, compare accomplissement
- accusation
- ace, compare as
- acid, compare acide
- acoustic, compare acoustique
- activity, compare activité
- adaptation
- adhesive, compare feminine adjective adhésive
- adieu, which literally means "to God" (à dieu), farewell
- adjective, compare adjectif
- admire, compare admirer
- adolescence
- adopt, compare adopter
- adore, from Old French, compare modern Fr. adorer
- adroit
- advantage, compare avantage
- adventure, from Old French, compare modern Fr. aventure
- adverb, compare adverbe
- adversary, from Old French, compare modern Fr. adversaire
- advertisement, compare avertissement (warning)
- advise, compare aviser (to assess [a situation])
- advocate (noun), from Old French avocat - in modern French this means an attorney or lawyer
- affair, from Old French, compare modern Fr. affaire
- affection
- affiliation
- affinity, compare affinité
- affliction
- affluence
- agent provocateur
- aggression, compare agression
- à gogo, or a-go-go, in abundance
- agreeable, compare agréable
- aide-de-camp
- à la..., in the style of...
- alabaster, from Old French alabastre
- alas, from Old French, compare modern Fr. hélas
- alert, compare alerte
- align, compare aligner
- allocation
- allure, look or air
- almond, from Old French, compare modern Fr. amande
- amateur
- ambition
- ambulance
- amnesty, compare amnistie
- amorous, from Old French, compare modern Fr. amoureux
- amour
- ample
- amplitude
- amusement
- analyse, compare analyser
- anatomy, compare anatomie
- ancestor, from Old French, compare modern Fr. ancêtre
- ancient, compare ancien
- angle
- Anglophobe, someone who fears England or the English
- animé
- annex, compare annexer
- annihilation
- antecedent, compare antécédent
- anther, compare anthère
- apartment, compare appartement
- apathy, compare apathie
- aplomb
- apostrophe
- apparel, from Old French, compare modern Fr. appareil
- application
- appliqué
- apprehend, compare appréhender
- après-ski
- apropos, compare à-propos
- arcade
- arête, a mountainous ridge
- argue, from Old French, compare modern Fr. arguer
- army, compare armée
- attaché
- aubergine, British name for eggplant
B
- baggage, from Old French bagage
- ballet
- bandeau, a type of headdress
- banquet
- barge
- baroque
- barren, from Old French
- base
- bay, compare baie
- bayonet, compare baïonnette
- beak, compare bec
- Béarnaise, a type of sauce
- beau, a lover or a dandy
- beaux arts, fine arts
- beret, compare béret
- bête noire
- bicycle, compare bicyclette
- bidet
- bikini
- billet
- billet-doux, a love letter
- biscuit
- bistro
- bizarre
- blanket, from Old French blankete
- blasé
- bloc
- blonde
- bombe
- bon appétit
- bon mot
- bonnet, from Old French, compare modern Fr. bonnet
- bon-vivant
- bon voyage
- bon-bon
- bouillabaisse
- boule
- boulevard
- bouquet
- bourgeoisie
- bracelet
- bran, from Old French bren
- brandish, compare brandir
- brasserie
- brassiere, compare brassière, although the modern French for this is soutien-gorge
- bric-à-brac or bric-a-brac
- brigade
- brilliant, compare brillant
- brioche
- briquette
- brochure, from brocher - to stitch
- broderie anglaise, a type of embroidery
- brunette
- buckle, compare boucle
- budget
- buffet
- bullet, from boulette, although the modern French for this is balle
- bureau
C
- cabal, compare cabale
- cabaret
- café
- cafetière
- cagoule
- cajole, compare cajoler
- calque
- camaraderie
- camouflage
- camp
- campaign, compare campagne
- canapé
- canard, aeronautical term
- cape, compare cape, land jutting into the sea, as in Cape Horn
- card, compare carte
- career, compare carrière
- carte blanche
- casserole
- cassette
- cause
- cause célèbre
- cavalry, compare cavalerie
- chaise longue or sometimes chaise lounge
- chalet
- château
- chef
- chef d'œuvre
- cherchez la femme
- cheval de frise, a military term
- cheval-glass, from cheval - horse
- chiffon
- cinema, compare cinéma
- cinéma vérité
- clairvoyance
- cliché
- cloche, a kind of hat
- closet, from Old French closet
- coiffeuse
- collage
- colonel, compare modern Fr. colonel
- combustible
- comedian and comedienne, compare comédien and comédienne
- commandant, commanding officer
- comme ci, comme ça
- comme il faut
- commendation
- commode
- communiqué
- cordon
- cormorant, compare cormoran
- corps
- counterfeit, from Old French, compare modern Fr. contrefaire
- coup
- coup d'état
- coup de grâce
- courgette, in the UK, but called zuchinni in the US
- couscous
- couture
- couturier
- crème brûlée
- crème caramel
- crème de menthe
- crêpe
- croupier
- croûte
- croûton
- cuisine
- culotte
- custom, from Old French, compare modern Fr. coutume
D
- dais, from Old French deis
- déclassé
- décolletage
- décor or decor
- découpage
- default, from Old French, compare modern Fr. défaut
- déjà vu
- de luxe
- demi-mondaine
- demi-monde
- démodé
- deploy, from Old French, compare modern Fr. déployer
- derail, compare dérailler
- le dernier cri
- derrière
- desert, as in "to get one's just deserts"
- diamanté
- digestif
- diplomacy, compare diplomatie
- discothèque or discotheque, thus disco
- double entendre
- dozen, from Old French, compare modern Fr. douzaine
- dressage
- duvet
E
- eager, from Old French aigre
- eagle, from Old French, compare modern Fr. aigle
- easy, from Old French, compare modern Fr. aisé
- echelon, compare échelon
- éclair
- ecstasy, from Old French, compare modern Fr. extase
- eloquence, compare éloquence
- emigré
- emplacement
- enclave
- encore
- encourage, from Old French, compare modern Fr. encourager
- endive
- enemy, from Old French, compare modern Fr. ennemi
- enfant terrible
- engage, compare engager
- en masse
- enmity, from Old French, compare modern Fr. inimitié
- ennui
- enrage, compare enrager
- enrich, compare enrichir
- en route
- ensemble
- entente
- entente cordiale
- enter, compare entrer
- entomb, from Old French, compare modern Fr. entomber
- entrant
- entrée
- envelope, compare enveloppe
- environ], from Old French, compare modern Fr. environs
- envisage, compare envisager
- envoy, compare envoyé
- envy, compare envier
- epaulet or epaulette, compare épaulette
- épée
- épris
- equality, from Old French, compare modern Fr. égalité
- equipage, compare équipage
- équipe
- erode, compare éroder
- escapade
- escargot
- escarpment
- essence
- etiquette, étiquette
- European, compare européen
- evangelist, compare évangéliste
- evaporation, compare évaporation
- evasion, compare évasion
- example
- exclamation
- exhibition, from Old French exhibicion
- expire, compare expirer
- exploit, compare exploiter
- exposé or expose
- extraordinaire
- extravagance
F
- fabric, compare fabrique
- face
- facile
- faience, compare faïence
- fait accompli
- faites vos jeux, place your bets
- fanfare
- fantasy, compare fantaisie
- fashion, from Old French façon
- fatigue
- faux pas
- feint, compare feinte
- felicity, from Old French, compare modern Fr. félicité
- felon, from Old French, compare modern Fr. félon
- felony, compare félonie
- feminine, compare féminin
- femme
- fertility, compare fertilité
- fête
- figure
- fillet, compare filet
- film noir
- finance
- fine, compare fin
- flageolet
- flambé
- flan
- flèche
- fleur-de-lis
- floret, from Old French, compare modern Fr. fleurette
- florin
- fluid, compare fluide
- folly, from Old French, compare modern Fr. folie
- fondant
- force majeure
- forest, from Old French, compare modern Fr. forêt
- foyer
- fracas
- fraction, from Old French, compare modern Fr. fraction
- frappé
- frigate, compare frégate
- frisson
- fritter, compare friture
- frontier
- fuselage
G
- gaffe
- gallant, compare galant
- garage
- garter, from Old French, compare modern Fr. jarretière
- gâteau or gateau
- gigolo
- gracious, from Old French, compare modern Fr. gracieux
- grammar, from Old French, compare modern Fr. grammaire
- grand
- grande dame
- grandeur
- grand mal
- Grand Prix
- gratin
- guide
- guillotine
- gulf, from Old French, compare modern Fr. golfe
H
- harlequin
- haste, from Old French, compare modern Fr. hâte
- haute couture
- Hollandaise
- honour or honor, Old French, compare modern Fr. honneur
- hors d'œuvre
- hotel, compare hôtel
I
- imbecile, compare imbécile
- infrastructure
- ingénue
- intrinsic, compare intrinsèque
- ivory, from Old French, compare modern Fr. ivoire
J
- je ne sais quoi
- joie de vivre
- justice, from Old French, compare modern Fr. justice
K
- kepi, compare képi
L
- labour or labor, compare labourer
- lackey, compare laquais
- laissez-faire
- lamé
- latrine
- leisure, from Old French, compare modern Fr. loisir
- lieu
- lieutenant
- limousine
- litre
- lorgnette
- loupe
- lozenge, from Old French, compare modern Fr. losange
- luminary, compare luminaire
- lustre
M
- machine
- madam, from Old French ma dame, my lady
- maisonette, compare maisonnette
- maître d'hôtel, also maitre d' or maitre dee
- mange-tout
- mannequin
- manœuvre or manœuver, compare manœuvre'
- maquis
- mardi gras
- marine, compare marin'
- marmalade, compare marmelade
- marriage, compare mariage
- marshal, from Old French, compare modern Fr. maréchal
- mask, compare masque
- masque
- massacre, compare massacrer
- mattress, from Old French, compare modern Fr. matelas
- May, compare mai
- medal, compare médaille
- mediocre, compare médiocre
- mêlée
- ménage à trois
- meringue
- mille-feuille
- million
- mine, as in a coal mine
- mitten, compare mitaine
- montage
- morgue
- motif
- mot juste
- mousse
- moustache or mustache, compare moustache
- mule, as a type of footwear
- mustard, from Old French, compare modern Fr. moutarde
N
- nacelle
- naïve
- née or nee, feminine past participle of naître to be born
- niche
- noblesse oblige
- nouveau riche
- nouvelle cuisine
- nouvelle vague
- nuance
O
- œuvre
- ogre
- omelet or omelette, compare omelette
- omnibus
- ordain, from Old French, compare modern Fr. ordonner
- orthography, from Old French, compare modern Fr. orthographe
- oubliette
P
- pachyderm, compare pachyderme
- papier mâché
- parade
- paragon, from Old French, compare modern Fr. parangon
- partial, from Old French, compare modern Fr. partial
- partisan
- pâté
- petite
- petulant, compare pétulant
- pied à terre
- piety from Old French, compare modern Fr. piété
- piquant
- plié
- plus ça change
- poach, as in cookery, from Old French, compare modern Fr. pocher
- portmanteau
- pose, compare poser
- post, compare poste
- première
- prêt-à-porter
Q
- quiche
R
- raison d'être
- ratatouille
- reconnoitre, compare reconnaître
- regret, from Old French, compare modern Fr. regretter
- rendezvous
- restaurant
- restauranteur, compare restaurateur
- résumé
- riposte
- risqué
- role, compare rôle
- roux
- ruse
S
- sabotage
- saboteur
- sachet
- sacrament, compare sacrement
- salon
- saloon, compare salon
- satin
- sauce
- sauté
- sauve-qui-peut
- savant
- savate
- savoir faire
- séance
- second
- sentiment, from Old French, compare modern Fr. sentiment
- sergeant or serjeant, from Old French, compare modern Fr. sergent
- servant
- stage, from Old French, compare modern Fr. stage
- stereotype, compare stéréotype
T
- tart, as in cookery, compare tarte
- taupe
- toilet, compare toilette
- tonne
- touché
- tout de suite or toot sweet, compare tout de suite
- trompe l'œil
U
V
- ventre à terre
- vin (vin blanc, vin rouge, vin rosé, etc)
- voilà
- volte-face
- voyeur