FANTASTIQUE!

Bonjour! Discover Ten English Words Derived From French!

Image: Jossuha Théophile

Oh, la France! From Nobel-Prize-winning authors to delicious dishes and mouth-melting desserts, France's contributions to the world can’t be denied. However, you might be surprised to learn how deeply French culture has influenced the world we live in today. Sure, we are all aware of what the birthplace of baguettes is, but are you aware that everyday words like "scarlet" and "mortgage" come from France as well?

We have selected ten common English words that come straight from the elegant streets of Paris. Keep on reading and celebrate this wonderful exchange between our two languages. Bon voyage!

Image: Jay Wennington

We’ll begin with what’s probably the most well-known entry in this article. You don’t need us to tell you that "restaurant" comes from France: If English speakers were asked to say a French-sounding word on the spot, most of us would probably go straight to "restaurant". However, do you know the gorgeous, poetical meaning hidden in this everyday word?

"Restaurant" comes from 16th century France, in which this word first meant "food that restores". In French, restaurant is derived from the word restaurer, which means "to restore or refresh". Therefore, this word can literally be interpreted as a place that serves food so good that it can restore you.

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Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is an American classic and an argument could be said that the sharpness of its title adds to the gravitas of this novel. Do you think we would remember Hester Prynne’s troubles and tribulations if the novel was called "The Bright Red Letter"? No, "scarlet" definitively is a better fit, and we can thank the French language for this colorful word.

The word "scarlet" comes from escarlate, an Old French word that means "a type of cloth". Interestingly, escarlate itself comes from scarlatum, a Medieval Latin word of unknown origin that translates to "a scarlet cloth".

Image: Dan Dennis

The addition of "cushion" to this list might come as a surprise, but let’s try something: say the word "cushion" out loud. Doesn’t it vaguely resemble a French-sounding word? Try repeating the word a few times, perhaps while pretending you are enjoying a warm drink in a cozy French cafe.

This bit of roleplaying notwithstanding, "cushion" comes from the Middle English word quysshyn, which in turn comes from the Old French word coissin. In turn, this word evolved into coussin, currently used by French speakers everywhere.

Image: Eric TERRADE

Considering the world’s most famous portrait calls the Louvre Museum its home, it seemed only fair that we included this word on our list. "Portrait" comes from the Old French portraire, which means "to portray". However, it should also be noted that the word "portrait" has evolved rather similarly in both English and French, up to the point that currently both words are spelled in the exact same way.

The root behind both the English and French words is the Latin prōtrahō. As any Latin scholar could tell you, understanding the inner workings of this ancient language can be rather tricky: At first glance, prōtrahō means "I drag". However, another definition of this term could be translated as "to reveal" or "to expose", which seems a more faithful root behind our modern understanding of what a portrait is.

Image: Kind and Curious

We placed this item in the exact middle of this article for a reason: Time to take a little detour. Well, not really, we are still going to focus on etymology, but let’s think about this middlepoint as a breather of sorts. After all, while having to take a detour on your way to work is certainly annoying, some changes in direction offer a whole different scenery for us to enjoy, and sometimes, a new road might bring a whole new meaning to the trip we find ourselves on.

Feeling refreshed? Great! Now let’s go back to the subject at hand. The word "detour" was borrowed from the French word détour, which in turn comes from the verb détourner (turn away). Our English word is practically identical to its French counterpart, although its pronunciation is definitively different.

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Paris is famous for its elegant, world-class hotels. From the Ritz to the Plaza Athenee, visitors everywhere know that a night spent in one of these hotels is a night spent in comfort and luxury. In that regard, the hospitality world has a lot to thank France for, besides setting the bar on splendid accommodation. How about, for starters, we thank the French language for providing the word "hotel" itself?

The French word **hôtel**is one of the most borrowed words in modern history, considering that several countries use this word with little to no variations. In that regard, hôtel comes from the Latin word hospitālis, which can be translated to "hospitable" or as "guesthouse".

Image: Pawel Czerwinski

While this word is obviously French, the story of how this peculiar color got its name is particularly interesting. The French word "turquoise" has remained practically unchanged since its adoption by the English-speaking world: only its pronunciation has slightly changed. Not only that, turquoise is the same term used in Old French for this color, during the time period this word was first introduced.

Interestingly, the etymology of this word doesn’t describe anything related to the tones or characteristics of this color, but it does focus on its origins.Turquoise is derived from the Old French words turc and ois, and it roughly translates to "Turkish stone". This relates to the fact that turquoise stones were brought over to Europe through Turkey.

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Not every word in this list can be pleasant. Let’s try to push through this one, we promise that the last two entries are way more fun. The mere mention of the word "mortgage" is enough to keep millions of English speakers awake at night, as if this common bank loan was some kind of adult version of the boogeyman. In any case, if you happen to be one of those unfortunate souls terrified by the mere mention of a pending mortgage, you should know you can blame the French language for this awful-sounding word.

Even the etymology of this word is slightly creepy: it comes from the Old French termmort gage, which roughly translates to "dead pledge". Luckily, it doesn’t involve any morbid subjects: the dead part of the term is derived from the fact that any interest would be paid to the lender and not deducted from the loan owed.

Image: Mohammad Asadi

Parachuting is one of those things that took a fear as primal as falling and turned it into something fun. While definitively not for everyone, it is highly recommended to anyone who feels at least a little bit like a daredevil, looking for that adrenaline rush that only these types of activities can provide.

For such an exciting hobby, the etymology of this French word is rather straightforward: It comes from the combination of para (protection against) and chute (fall). Just like with "restaurant", this word remains relatively unchanged in the English language, with only the pronunciation varying.

Image: Jake Hills

We’ll end with one of the world’s favorite pastimes. Going to the movies is a universally beloved experience, and one that has transcended decades ever since its invention. From your children to your grandparents, every single generation in modern history has at least a few treasured memories that took place in front of a silver screen.

In that regard, the word "cinema" is as old as movies themselves: it comes from cinématographe, a term coined by the groundbreaking French filmmakers the Lumiere Brothers. Cinématographe comes from the amalgamation of the Ancient Greek words kínēma, which means "movement, and gráphō, meaning "to record" or "to write".

The shock factor

You’ve seen these 12 things, but you had no idea they had names!

Image: Gary Butterfield

Ever notice how some everyday objects or sensations seem to lack a name? You use them, experience them, and see them all the time—yet you never stop to think about what they’re actually called. And when you have to talk about them, you end up using a bunch of words to describe them rather than the specific word. Well, prepare to be amazed: here are twelve things you never knew had their own official names!

Image: Rhendi Rukmana

That amazing earthy smell after a fresh rainfall? It’s called petrichor. The scent is produced when rain interacts with dry soil, releasing aromatic compounds into the air.

The term was coined by Australian scientists in 1964, combining the Greek words petra (stone) and ichor (the fluid said to run through the veins of the gods). It’s so distinct that some companies have even tried to bottle it as a fragrance. Would you buy one?

Image: Karsten Winegeart

Your kids or grandkids will love this fact—because they all love this little thing! Do you know that small plastic table in the center of a pizza box? It’s officially called a tent, and its job is to prevent the box lid from collapsing onto your delicious pizza.

Introduced in the 1980s, this small invention has saved countless pizzas from disaster, keeping the cheese intact for your enjoyment. Now, once it’s removed, that’s a kid’s toy for sure!

Image: Eli DeFaria

That little strip of tissue separating your nostrils? It has a fancy name: columella nasi. It’s crucial for maintaining the shape of your nose and is often involved in rhinoplasty procedures.

The term originates from Latin, where columella means "little column"—which makes perfect sense since it's the little column keeping your nose upright!

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If you find it nearly impossible to get out of bed in the morning (pretty much like everyone else), you might have dysania. While this is not strictly a medical condition, the term perfectly captures that all-too-familiar feeling of wanting to stay under the covers forever.

It comes from Greek, with dys- meaning "difficulty" and -ania referring to a state of mind or struggle. It really is a struggle sometimes!

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If your handwriting looks like a doctor’s prescription, you might be guilty of griffonage.

This word refers to scrawled, unreadable handwriting—the kind that leaves people squinting and guessing. It comes from French, where griffonner means "to scribble." So… are you guilty of it?

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Look at your hand—your nails, specifically. Do you notice that little white, half-moon shape at the base of your nail? That part is called a lunule.

It’s actually part of the nail’s root and is most visible on the thumbs. The name comes from the Latin word luna, meaning "moon," because of its crescent shape. A healthy lunule is a sign of good nail growth!

Image: Allef Vinicius

The smooth patch of skin between your eyebrows has a name: the glabella. It’s the area where frown lines often form and is a frequent target of Botox treatments.

The word comes from the Latin glabellus, meaning "smooth." Next time someone wrinkles their forehead, impress them by pointing out their glabella in action!

Image: AESOP. Wines©

That deep indentation at the base of your wine bottle? It’s called a punt. While its exact purpose is debated, it’s believed to add structural integrity and aid in pouring.

Some say it also makes the bottle look more expensive! The origin of the word is uncertain, but it has been used in glassmaking for centuries. Pour that wine—now that you know all about it!

Image: freddie marriage

The beautiful, never-ending figure-eight symbol that represents infinity is officially called a lemniscate.

It has been used in mathematics, philosophy, and even tattoos as a symbol of endless possibilities. The name comes from the Latin lemniscus, meaning "ribbon"—a perfect description of its flowing shape.

Image: Eugene Chystiakov

Have you ever had "butterflies" in your stomach before a big event? You know, that nervous, fluttery sensation is actually called the collywobbles. It’s your body’s way of responding to excitement, anxiety, or nervous anticipation.

The term dates back to the 19th century and is believed to be a playful alteration of "colic," a word used for stomach pain—naturally.

Image: David Travis

We’ve all been to the eye doctor, hoping we wouldn’t need glasses. Yet the eye test chart is right there, waiting to issue its verdict. That chart you stare at during an eye exam—with rows of letters that get progressively smaller—is called a Snellen chart.

It was developed in 1862 by Dutch ophthalmologist Dr. Herman Snellen and remains a standard tool for testing vision to this day.

Image: Jason Leung

Ever wondered why "knight" has a silent ‘k’ or "what" has a silent ‘h’? Those unpronounced letters are called aphthongs. The word comes from Greek, where "aphthongos" means "voiceless" or "speechless." Quite accurate, right?

English is full of them, and they make spelling just a little trickier—especially if it’s not your first language!