Common French Words and Phrases Used by Americans

When I hear a French expression on television or in conversation with someone else, it surprises me how often the words are lost on other people around me. It's great that words from other languages are being used more in the U.S., but if people can't figure out what they mean, then they'll be lost. Or worse, they'll try to use the phrase themselves and get it wrong. Here is a list of commonly used French words and phrases.

A la mode - with ice cream

Après vous - after you

Au contraire - to the contrary

Au jus - with juice (such as when you order a steak and it comes with a dipping juice)

Beaucoup - a lot of, very much

Bonjour - good morning

Bonsoir - good evening

Café au lait - coffee with milk

C'est la vie - that's life

Comment ça va? - How are you?

Connaisseur - an expert in culture or someone of refined taste

Dossier - a file about someone such as a detailed background check

Du jour - of the day

Enchanté - nice to meet you, delighted

Gauche -tactless

Haute couture - refers to trend setting fashion

Hors d'œuvre - appetizer

Je ne comprends pas - I do not understand

Je ne sais pas - I do not know

Maître d' (maître d'hotel) - head waiter

Ménage a trois - a sexual threesome

Merci - thanks

Moi - me

N'est-ce pas - isn't it?

Oui - yes

Plus ça change - the more things change, the more they remain the same

Qu'est-ce que c'est? - What is it?

Quoi de neuf? - What's new?

Raison d'être - Reason for being

S'il vous plaît - please

Très - very

Vous - you