Commonly Used Foreign Words and Phrases

Déjà vu

• Psychology. the illusion of having previously experienced something actually being encountered for the first time./disagreeable familiarity or sameness—”The new television season had a sense of déjà vu about it—the same old plots and characters with new names.”

RSVPVerb (used without object) – to reply to an invitation: Don’t

forget to RSVP before Thursday. Noun (a reply to an invitation) – He sent a lovely bouquet of

flowers with his RSVPUsed on an invitation to indicate that the favor of a reply is

requested.From the French phrase “repondez s’il vous plait”

Faux pasA slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an

embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion

Du jourAs prepared on the particular day; of the kind being

served today

“The soup du jour is split pea.

du = of

jour = day

Bon voyage

Interjection – Have a pleasant trip!

femme fataleAn irresistibly attractive woman, expecially one who

leads men into difficult, dangerous, or disastrous sitiuations;

a siren

esprit de corps

a sense of unity and of common interests and responsibilities, as developed among a group of persons closely associated in a task, cause, or enterprise, etc.

avant-garde the advance group in any field, especially in the

visual, literary, or musical arts, whose works are characterized chiefly by unorthodox and experimental methods

joie de vivrea delight in being alive; keen, carefree enjoyment of

living

carte blancheUnconditional authority; full discretionary power

savoir faireNoun – knowledge of just what to do in any situation;

tact

enfant terribleAn incorrigible child, as one whose behavior is embarrassingAn outrageously outspoken or bold person who says and does

indiscreet or irresponsible thingsA person whose work, thought, or lifestyle is so unconventional

or avant-garde as to appear revolutionary or shocking

alma mater a school, college, or university at which one has

studied and, usually, from which one has graduated

cum laude An academic honor given at graduation

(Magna cum laude: with high honors)

(Summa cum laude: the highest academic distinction)

verbatim in exactly the same words; word for word

“to repeat something verbatim”

E pluribus unum

out of many, one

(motto of the United States)

prima donnaa first or principal female singer of an opera company

a temperamental person

a person who takes adulation and privileged treatment as a right and reacts with petulance to criticism or inconvenience

status quo

the existing state or condition

caveat emptor

Let the buyer beware: the princi;le that the seller of a product cannot be held responsible for its quality unless it is guaranteed in a warranty

Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end of something

(Revelation 1:8)

the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet

tabula rasaa mind not yet affected by experiences, impressions,

etc.

anything existing undisturbed in its original, pure state

hoe polloi the common people; the masses

(often preceded by the)

ad nauseam

(adverb) – to a sickening or disgusting

degree

carpe diem Seize the day; enjoy the present, as opposed to

placing all hope in the future

tempus fugit Time flies.

bona fide (adjective) – made, done, presented, etc., in good

faith

Without deception or fraud

Authentic

True

“a bona fide sample of Lincoln’s handwriting”

non sequitur(noun) - an inference or a conclusion that does not

follow from the premises

a statement containing an illogical conclusion

terra firmaFirm or solid earth

Dry land (as opposed to water or air)

vox populi the voice of the people; popular opinion