French and Latin Phrases
Looking for a way to “spice up” your writing? Tired of using the same old tired words
and phrases like great and nice? Try something different like a French or Latin phrases
to convey your meaning in a more sophisticated way. Below are some Latin and French
phrases that you can begin using in your writing. Please use italics to designate that it is
a foreign word.
French Phrases
à la carte : according to the menu, i.e., ordering individual items off the menu
à la mode: in fashion; frequently used to indicate desserts served with ice cream.
au contraire: on the contrary
au courant: well informed
au revoir: until we meet again
bon appetite: good appetite
bonjour: good day, hello
bon vivant: lover of good living
bon voyage: have a good trip
carte blanche: full discretionary authority
coup d’etat: sudden overthrow of a government
cul de sac: dead end
de rigeur: required
double entendre: double meaning
en masse: in a large group
en route: on the way
esprit de corps: group spirit
fait accompli: a thing accomplished or done with
faux pas: a mistake
hors d’oeuvre: appetizer
je ne sais quoi: I don’t know what
laissez faire: non interference
n’est-ce pas?: Isn’t that so?
noblesse oblige: rank imposes obligations
nom de plume: pen name
objet d’art: article of artistic value
pardonnez moi: excuse me
piece de resistance: irresistible item or event
raison d’etre: reason or justification for living
savoir faire: social know-how
tout de suite: immediately
vis-à-vis: in relation to
Latin Phrases
ad hoc: with respect to the particular case at hand
ad infinitum: to infinity
ad nauseam: to the point of disgust
bona fide: in good faith, authentic
caveat emptor: let the buyer beware
cogito ergo sum: I think, therefore I am.
e pluribus unum: one from many
et cetera: and others
in memorium: in memory of
in toto: totally
mea culpa: my fault
modus operandi: manner of working
non sequitur: it does not follow
nota bene: note well
persona non grata: person not accepted
pro forma: does as a matter of formality
pro rata: according to rate or proportion
quid pro quo: one thing for another
sine qua non: indispensable
status quo: the way things are
sub rosa: secret or confidential
vice versa: conversely
Source: Fry, E.B., et. al. (2000). The Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists (Fourth Edition).
Paramus, NJ: Prentice Hall.