Discover the Most Beautiful Words in French!
The most beautiful French words
French has a reputation as one of the most elegant languages in the world, and it has quietly shaped English too: from the kitchen to the catwalk, hundreds of French words are used in English every day. This guide from SPRACHCAFFE gathers some of the most beautiful French words, along with the French vocabulary of food and fashion that English has borrowed, with accurate meanings so you know exactly what you are saying.
A small collection of French words that learners often find especially lovely, in sound and in meaning:
| French | Meaning |
|---|---|
| âme sœur | soulmate (literally "sister soul") |
| bonheur | happiness |
| heureux / heureuse | happy, fortunate |
| espoir | hope |
| rêveur / rêveuse | dreamer |
| sourire | smile |
| bisou | kiss |
| voilà | there it is |
| vie | life |
| pardon | sorry / excuse me |
| cliché | cliché (also "photograph" in French) |
| été | summer |
French words in English
Why so many French words look familiar
Many French words are easy for English speakers to recognise, and there is a historical reason. French is a Romance language, descended from the Latin of the Roman Empire, alongside Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. English is a Germanic language, but after the Norman Conquest of 1066 it absorbed an enormous amount of French and Latin vocabulary. That is why words such as information, nation, colour, decision, and famille/family look almost identical across the two languages, and why an English speaker already knows more French than they realise.
[Bridge: Teaserbox French Language Courses, link to programme page]
French words in English: gastronomy
French cuisine has shaped kitchens and menus worldwide, and English has borrowed the vocabulary to match. Here are common food terms, with their real meanings:
| French | Meaning in English |
|---|---|
| baguette | the long thin loaf; in French baguette also means a stick, rod, or wand |
| croissant | crescent-shaped buttery pastry (literally "crescent") |
| canapé | a small appetiser on bread or pastry (in French also "sofa") |
| caviar | salt-cured fish roe |
| consommé | a clarified, concentrated clear broth |
| crêpe | a thin pancake |
| fondue | melted cheese or chocolate for dipping (from fondre, "to melt") |
| mousse | a light, aerated dessert or savoury dish (literally "foam") |
| soufflé | a baked dish that rises (from souffler, "to puff") |
| champagne | sparkling wine from the Champagne region |
| apéritif | a pre-meal drink to stimulate the appetite |
| à la carte | ordering individual dishes from the menu, rather than a set menu |
| chef de cuisine | the head chef of a kitchen |
| dégustation | a tasting, often a multi-course sample menu |
| frappé | a chilled, iced drink (from frapper, "to strike/chill"), not an ice cream |
| garniture | a garnish or trimming (to garnish is garnir) |
| mise en place | the preparation and arrangement of ingredients before cooking begins |
| petits fours | bite-sized cakes and pastries (literally "small ovens") |
| sommelier | a trained wine steward |
French words in English: fashion
Paris is a global fashion capital, and French supplies much of the industry's vocabulary. Some common terms:
| French | Meaning |
|---|---|
| bandeau | a strapless band-style top |
| barrette | a hair clip |
| boutique | a small fashion shop |
| couture | dressmaking and sewing; haute couture means high-end, custom fashion |
| culotte(s) | in French, underpants; in English fashion, wide cropped trousers |
| eau de toilette | a lightly scented perfume |
| mélange | a blend or mixture, often of fabrics or yarns |
| mille-fleurs | a pattern of many small flowers (literally "a thousand flowers") |
| parka | a warm hooded jacket |
| prêt-à-porter | ready-to-wear clothing |
