20 French Words You Didn’t Know You’ve Been Using All Along!
- Anissa :)
- Feb 3
- 3 min read
If you've ever thought, "French is way too hard to learn!"—surprise! You’ve been speaking French all along without even realizing it. No, really. Your vocabulary is already full of fancy French words. English has borrowed so many of them over the years that you probably use them daily without a second thought.
Wait… Why Are There So Many French Words in English?
You might already know that English has borrowed a lot of words from French, but did you know that around 30% of English vocabulary comes from the language of love?
It all goes back to the Norman Conquest of 1066, when the Normans (who spoke Old French) took over England. Suddenly, French became the language of the ruling class, law, administration, and culture. Over time, these French words blended into English, and many stuck around.
Even centuries later, French continues to sprinkle itself into English, proving that language is always evolving. So, if you're nervous about learning French, remember—you've been speaking it your entire life!
So, let’s take a little rendezvous (yep, that’s French too!) with 20 French words you’ve been casually throwing into conversations all your life. Who said learning French was hard?
Ballet – Whether you’re watching Black Swan or just trying to impress people with your flexibility, this one’s been in your vocabulary since childhood.
Cliché – That overused phrase? That predictable movie plot twist? That influencer’s "rise and grind" speech? Yep, all clichés. And all French.
Déjà vu – That eerie feeling that you’ve experienced something before? Even the English language had to borrow French to describe it.
Fiancé / Fiancée – That’s right, your engagement status is 100% French. It even comes with a little accent to make it extra fancy.
Rendezvous – Sounds way more exciting than just saying "meeting." Secret agent vibes included.
Faux pas – When you wave at someone who wasn’t actually waving at you? Faux pas. When you pronounce "croissant" like "croi-zant"? Major faux pas.
Café – You thought it was English? Nope. But it does sound better than "coffee shop where I spend too much money."
Entrepreneur – Fancy way of saying "hustler with a business idea." French gave us the word, but America took the concept and ran with it.
Bureau – Your desk, your office, or that pile of paperwork you’ve been ignoring? All thanks to French.
Chauffeur – You may not have one, but if you’ve ever Ubered somewhere, you’ve at least pretended to feel important for a moment.
Cuisine – The reason "food" sometimes gets an upgrade. You don’t just cook, darling. You create cuisine.
Mardi Gras – The world’s best excuse to throw beads at strangers while eating way too much. It literally means "Fat Tuesday"—French people knew what they were doing.
Encore – Whether you’re at a concert or just forcing your friend to repeat their embarrassing story, you’re speaking French.
Matinée – That cheap afternoon movie ticket? You’ve been buying it in French all along.
Touché – Perfect for when someone calls you out, and you’ve got no comeback. Just accept your defeat en français.
Souvenir – That overpriced Eiffel Tower keychain? That beach magnet from your last trip? All souvenirs. Because memories are more fun in French.
Bon appétit – Saying "enjoy your meal" just isn’t the same. Throw in a little ooh la la and suddenly it tastes better.
RSVP – Ever been invited to a party? That "Répondez s'il vous plaît" on the invite is just French politely asking if you’re coming or not.
À la carte – Because sometimes you don’t want the full menu, you just want fries. French understands.
Bon voyage – Sounds way fancier than "have a good trip," doesn’t it?
So, there you have it. You’ve been casually dropping French words into conversations your whole life. Learning French isn’t about starting from zero—it’s just about building on what you already know.
See? You totally got this. Alors, en route to learning French?! 😉
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