French words in English (1)

 

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Match the French words that we use in English to the definitions.

1. He spent the afternoon working in a cosy café.
2. The private detective had a *rendezvous in front of the library with the woman.
3. Walking into that room gave me a strong sense of déjà vu.
4. My daughter takes *ballet classes every Saturday.
5. The movie was full of *clichés, but I still enjoyed it.
6. Wearing white to a wedding is considered a major faux pas.
7. The CEO gave her carte blanche to manage the project as she saw fit.
8. The gallery featured avant-garde art that challenged traditional ideas.
9. She looked incredibly chic in her black dress.
10. She introduced her *fiancé at the party.
11. The government was overthrown in a sudden coup (d'état).
12. We are currently en route to the airport.
13. He is so blasé about his success, as if he doesn’t care.
14. When she pointed out my mistake, I had to say, 'Touché.
15. They had a private tête-à-tête in the corner of the room.
16. Could you *RSVP by the end of this month?
17. The jacket may look like leather, but it’s actually faux.
18. She wore a couture dress designed by a famous French designer.
19. We went to the afternoon matinée of the play.
20. He keeps all his important documents in the *bureau.
21. My favourite *genre of movies is science fiction.
22. He handled the difficult situation with great savoir-faire.
23. Every bedroom has an en suite bathroom.
24. Their house is located on a quiet cul-de-sac.
25. By the time we arrived, the decision was already a fait accompli.
26. She has a certain je ne sais quoi that makes her stand out.

      a. A man engaged to be married.

      b. A street or passage closed at one end.

      c. A piece of furniture with drawers and a lid that opens to form a writing surface.

      d. A sudden illegal, often violent, taking of government power, especially by part of an army

      e. Stylish and elegant.

      f. The feeling that you’ve experienced something before.

      g. A request for a reply to an invitation.

      h. A small restaurant where you can buy drinks and small meals.

      i. A private conversation or meeting.

      j. Artificial or imitation.

      k. A form of dance performed on stage.

      l. An arrangement to meet someone, especially secretly, at a particular place and time.

     m. High fashion design and tailoring.

      n. An overused expression or idea.

      o. Innovative or experimental, especially in art.

      p. On the way to a destination.

      q. A category or type of art or literature.

      r. A room with an attached bathroom.

      s. A daytime performance or show.

      t. An elusive quality that makes something or someone attractive.

      u. Acknowledgement of a clever or effective point made by someone else.

      v. Unimpressed or indifferent due to overexposure.

      w. The ability to act appropriately and skillfully in social situations.

      x. An action that is already completed and irreversible.

      y. A social mistake or blunder.

      z. Complete freedom to act as one wishes.

*

 2. A rendezvous can also refer to the place where a particular group of people often go or meet, by arrangement or habit.       e.g. The bar is a popular rendezvous for local artists. 

 4. We try to pronounce French words the way the French do. So, unlike in Spanish, we don't pronounce the final t in ballet       in English.

 5. Read the blog post - Topic and discover the difference between stereotype and cliché.

10. A fiancée is the woman who someone is engaged to be married to.

16. RSVP = répondez s’il vous plaît

20. In the US, a bureau is a government organisation. FBI = Federal Bureau of Investigation.

 

• Can you think of an avant-garde artist or musician? What makes their work unique?
• Have you ever attended a ballet performance? What did you think of it?
• What is a cliché in movies or books that you find annoying?
• Can you name a historical coup d’état? What was its impact?
• Have you ever experienced déjà vu? How did it feel?
• What is your favorite genre of music, movies, or books? Why?
• Do you prefer formal meetings or casual rendezvous when making plans?
• Do you prefer group discussions or private tête-à-têtes? Why?
• If you were given carte blanche to organize an event, what would you do?
• Can you recall a time when you or someone else made a social faux pas?
• Have you ever been in a situation where you were presented with a fait accompli?
• Who is the chicest celebrity in your opinion? Why?

A Parisian Café Encounter

Sophie sat at a quaint café in Montmartre, stirring her espresso absentmindedly. She had been feeling rather blasé about Paris lately—perhaps she'd lived here too long, or maybe it was just another grey November morning.

Across from her, Antoine raised an eyebrow. “You’re unusually quiet today.”

“I suppose,” she sighed. “Maybe I need a change of scenery.”

Antoine smirked. “And yet, you still find yourself here every morning.”

“Touché,” she admitted, smiling.

They sat in comfortable silence, their daily tête-à-tête a ritual they both looked forward to. Just as Sophie was about to speak again, a man at the next table caught her eye. He wasn’t classically handsome, but there was something about him—a je ne sais quoi that made him impossible to ignore.

Antoine followed her gaze. “That’s Julien. A writer. Lives just around the corner, in that little cul-de-sac off Rue Lepic.”

Sophie sipped her espresso, suddenly feeling a spark of curiosity she hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe she didn’t need to leave Paris after all.

The Mysterious Guest List 

The bureau of Madame Bisset was in a frenzy. The most prestigious fashion show of the year was only days away, and the guest list was a disaster.

“Madame,” her assistant stammered, “half of the RSVPs haven’t come in!”

Madame Bisset, a woman of impeccable savoir-faire, waved a manicured hand. “Then make calls. We cannot have a half-empty runway for the new couture collection.”

The stress of the event had affected even her usual morning routine—no leisurely matinée at the theatre, no quiet breakfast in her lavish en suite bedroom. Everything hinged on this show.

“Also,” the assistant continued nervously, “there’s an issue with the main attraction’s dress. The jewels are faux.”

Madame Bisset’s nostrils flared. “Unacceptable. Find real ones. And tell everyone that failure is not an option.”

The assistant scurried away, knowing that in the world of high fashion, mistakes were never forgiven.

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