French words used in everyday English

Dear fellow ELT professionals,

Did you know that English has borrowed thousands of words from French? Many of them are so common that learners don’t even realize they’re not originally English.

Here’s a selection of 21 French words that often pop up in everyday conversation:

Sabotage
Chauffeur
Chandelier
Camouflage
Champagne
Concierge
Mirage
Espionage
Faux-pas
Fiancé
Cliché
Cul-de-sac
Debris
Ballet
Brunette
Bureau
Chic
Detour
Omelette
Souvenir
Coup d´état

Pronunciation: Watch out!
The “ch” in words like Chauffeur, Chandelier, Chic and Champagne is pronounced differently from typical English words like Chair, Chocolate, or Chance.

In these cases, “ch” is pronounced like /ʃ/ (the “sh” sound).

This can be tricky for learners, so it’s worth highlighting!

I hope you´ve enjoyed this post.

Au revoir!

José Roberto A. Igreja is the author and co-author of several ELT books, including:

LET´S TALK ABOUT IT! – The Ultimate ELT Conversation Book, available on the Amazon stores of the following countries:

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