Ms. Neville's Class Resources

Cultural Literacy List #5: French words and terms used in English

1.)  joie de vivre – exuberance

2.) je ne sais quoi – an elusive, mysterious quality (literally translates “I don’t know what”)

3.) au contraire – on the contrary

4.) c’est la vie – that’s life; such is life

5.) du jour – of the day

6.) touché – “you got me!” (literally translates to “touch”)

7.) faux pas – a social blunder

8.) haute couture – hot/high fashion

9.) savoir–faire – social adeptness

10.) raison d’être – reason for being; justification; basis

11.) en route – on the way

12.) femme fatale – an attractive but dangerous woman

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