French words in English/Catalogs

List of French words in English

This is a list of words that retain their French spelling in English. Some of them may also feature written French accents, or be written in italics, or have a strange or little-known pronunciation in English, in any combination. Some very common words, such as 'centre' (which retains its French spelling in British English - 'center' in American) have been omitted.

The accents in the pronunciation column show stress and pronunciation (see English spellings for a table). The equals sign (=) introduces a word that has the same pronunciation (no other kind of connection is implied). Words in italics show meaning.

Click on any of the letters below to see the words beginning with that letter.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

Spelling (All French accents are included here; they are frequently omitted in English usage, and always in cases like 'deception', where the pronunciation has become completely anglicised)	Pronunciation
à bas—down with (à bas the profiteers)	à-bà
abatis, abattis—a defensive obstacle formed by felled trees with sharpened branches facing the enemy	ábatis, abáttis
abattoir—slaughterhouse	ábətwar
abbé—a member of the French secular clergy	ábbay
absinthe—a green liqueur flavored with wormwood, anise, & other herbs	ábsínth, ábsànth; or -t
accouchement—the time or act of giving birth	acoûshmàn
accoucheur—one that assists at a birth, esp. an obstetrician	acoushër
à deux—privately or intimately with only two present	à-dë
adieu—farewell	adyë
(agent) provocateur—one who incites others to some incriminating action	ázhonprovoca-tër
aide(-de-camp)—a military aide or civilian aide to an executive	= âid help dəcàn
aigrette—a spray of feathers for the head	aigrét
aide-mémoire—a mnemonic or a written summary or outline of important items	= âid help mém-wàr
aiguille—a sharp-pointed pinnacle of rock	aigwîl
aiguillette—a shoulder cord worn by designated military aides	aigwilét
aileron—a movable airfoil on the trailing edge of an airplane wing	âileron
à la carte—a menu with each item's price shown separately	àlà càrt
à la mode—fashionable, stylish; topped with ice cream	àlà môde
amour propre—self-esteem	amorprópr
amuse-bouche—a small complimentary appetizer offered at some restaurants	amûse boûsh
amuse-gueule—a small complimentary appetizer offered at some restaurants	amûse gïrl (BrE gïrl)
ancien régime—a system or mode no longer prevailing	ánciàrè-zhêem
aperçu—a brief survey or sketch; outline; immediate impression; insight	aperçu
apéritif—an alcoholic drink taken before a meal as an appetizer	aperitêef
appellation—a name for a geographical area where authorized wines are made	appellâtion
après—after; usually used in combination, ie, après-theater	aprây
après-ski—social activity after a day's skiing	apray-skì
arabesque—a ballet posture, or elaborate or intricate pattern	arabésk
arbitrage—the nearly simultaneous purchase and sale of securities or foreign exchange in different markets to order to profit from price discrepancies	àrbitràzh
argot—vocabulary and idiom peculiar to a certain group	= Àrgo ship
arras—a wall hanging or screen of tapestry	árras
arrière-ban—proclamation of a French king calling his vassals to arms; the body of vassals summoned	áriér-bán
arrière-pensée—a mental reservation	áriér-pànsây
arrivé—one who has risen rapidly to success, power, or fame	arrêevây
arriviste—a new and uncertain arrival as in social position or artistic endeavor	árì-vêest
arrondissement—administrative district of some large French cities; the largest division of a French department	áron-dêesmon
artiste—a skilled adept public performer; an artistic or creative person	artêest
art moderne—art deco	armo-dérn
art nouveau—a design style of the late 19th century characterized by sinuous lines and foliate forms	arnu-vô
attaché—a technical expert on a country's diplomatic staff at a foreign capital	ətáshay
atelier—an artist's or designer's studio or workroom; a workshop	ətéliây
aubade—a song or poem greeting the dawn; morning music	ô-bàd
auberge—inn	ô-bérzh
aubergine—eggplant	ôberzhêen
auburn—a moderate brown; of a reddish brown color	åbərn
Aubusson—a figured scenic tapestry for wall hanging or upholstery	ôbə-són
au courant—fashionable, stylish; fully familiar, conversant	ôcù-ràn
au fait—to the point; fully competent; fully informed; socially correct	ôh Fây
au fond—at bottom; fundamentally	ô-fón
au gratin—covered with bread crumbs or grated cheese and browned (as under a broiler)	ôgra-tán
au jus—served in the juice obtained from roasting (referring to meat)	ô-zhû
au naturel—cooked or served plainly; nude	ônatu-rél
au pair—a young foreign person who cares for children in return for room and board and the opportunity to learn the family's language	ô-pãir
au poivre—prepared or served with a generous amount of coarsely ground black pepper, as "steak au poivre"	ô-pwàhvr
au revoir—goodbye, see you again	ôrə-vwàr
auteur—an artist (musician or writer) or film director whose style and practice are distinctive	ô-tër
avalanche—a mass of snow, rock and ice descending a mountain rapidly	ávalanche
avant—culturally or stylistically advanced, as "avant jazz"	á-vàn
avant-garde—an intelligensia that develops new or experimental concepts, esp. in the arts	ávàn-gàrde
avant la lettre—before a specified name for the category existed, e.g., "Douanier Rousseau was an avant la lettre surrealist painter", i.e., before that term was invented	avànlà-létrə
avenue—an often broad street or road; a way of access; route	ávenue
aviation—the operation of heavier-than-air aircraft; military airplanes; airplane manufacture, development, and design	âvy-âshən
avoirdupois, avoir-du-pois—weight; heaviness; personal weight; expressed in avoirdupois weight	avrdupŏiz
badinage—playful repartee, banter	bádinàzh
bagasse—plant residue, as of sugarcane or grapes, left after a product has been extracted	bagásse
bagatelle—a trifle; various games involving rolling balls into scoring areas; a short literary or musical piece in a light style	bagatélle
baguette—a small molding; a gem in the shape of a long narrow rectangle; a long thin loaf of French bread	bagét
bain-marie—a cooking utensil containing heated water in which food in smaller pots is cooked	bán-marìe
ballade—a fixed verse form of three stanzas; a musical composition, usually for piano suggesting the epic ballad	ballàde
ballet—dancing in which conventional poses and steps are combined with light, flowing figures, as leaps and turns; music composed for this	bálay
bandeau—a fillet or band for the hair; brassiere; a band-shaped covering for the breasts	bandô
banderole—a long, narrow flag or streamer; a long scroll bearing an inscription or a device	banderôle
banlieue—a French suburban housing block; suburbs containing these	bàn-lyë
banquette—a built-in upholstered bench along a wall	bàn-két
baroque—characterized by grotesqueness, extravagance, or flamboyance; an irregularly shaped pearl	barôk, barók
barquette—a small boat-shaped pastry shell	barkét
barrage—an artificial dam; artillery fire; a vigorous projection of many things at once, as "a barrage of protests"	bárràzh
baton—music conductor's stick, policeman's hitting implement, army officer's ceremonial stick	BrE bátón, AmE bətón
beau (singular), beaux (plural)—a dandy; a boyfriend	bô singular, bôz plural
beaucoup (slang)—great in quantity or amount; many , much, e.g., "he spent beaucoup dollars"	bô-coô
beau geste (singular), beaux gestes or beau gestes (plural)—a graceful or magnanimous gesture; an ingratiating conciliatory gesture	bô-zhést
beau idéal (singular), beaux idéals (plural)—the perfect type or model	bôwidây-ál, bôzidây-ál
beau monde—the world of high society and fashion	bô-mónd
beaux arts—the fine arts	bô-zàr
bèige—a cloth made of natural undyed wool; a variable color averaging light grayish-yellowish brown; a pale to grayish yellow	bâizh
belle—a popular and attractive girl or woman; especially a girl or woman whose charm and beauty make her a favorite, ie, "the belle of the ball"	= béll ring
belle époque—a period of high artistic or cultural development; especially such a period in fin de siècle France	bélây-pók
belles lettres—literature that is an end in itself and not merely informative; specifically, light, entertaining, and often sophisticated literature	béll létra
béret—a visorless, usually woolen cap with a tight headband and a soft full, flat top	béray
bête noire—a person or thing strongly detested or avoided; bugbear	bét-nwàr
beurre blanc—a seasoned butter sauce (as for fish) flavored with white wine, shallots, and vinegar or lemon juice	bër-blànc
beurre manié—flour and butter kneaded together used as a thickener in sauces	bër-mániay
beurre noir—butter heated until brown or black and often flavored with vinegar or lemon juice	bër-nwàr
bézique—a card game similar to pinochle that is played with a pack of 64 cards	bəzêek
bidet— a bathroom fixture used especially for bathing the external genitals and the anal region	BrE bêedây, AmE bidây, bidét
bizarre—strikingly out of the ordinary: odd, extravagant, or eccentric in style or mode; involving sensational contrasts or incongruities	bí-zàr, cf. bazàar shop, bə-
blancmange—a usually sweetened and flavored dessert made from gelatinous or starchy ingredients and milk	bləmànzh
blasé—apathetic to pleasure or excitement as a result of excessive indulgence or enjoyment; world-weary; sophisticated, worldly-wise; unconcerned	blà-zây
blouse—a long loose overgarment that resembles a shirt or smock and is worn especially by workmen, artists, and peasants; the jacket of a uniform; a usually loose-fitting garment especially for women that covers the body from the neck to the waist	blòuz
blouson—a garment (as a dress) having a close waistband with blousing of material over it	bloûzon
bonhomie—	bónóm-êe
bon mot—a clever remark; witticism	bón-mô
bon ton—a fashionable manner or style; the fashionable or proper thing; high society	bón-tón
bon vivant—a person having cultivated, refined, and sociable tastes especially with respect to food and drink	bón-vìvàn
bouclé—an uneven yarn of three plies, one of which forms loops at intervals; a fabric of bouclé yarn	boûclây
boudin—a blood sausage, especially "boudin noir"; a spicy Cajun sausage containing rice and meat (as pork) or seafood	boûdán
boudoir—a woman's dressing room, bedroom, or private sitting room	boûdwàr
bouffant	boûffàn
bougie	boozhêe
bouillabaisse	bwêeabâisse
bouillon	bwêeon
boule	boûle
boulevard	boûlevard
boulevardier	boôlə-vàrdiay
bouleversement	boôlə-vérsmón
bouquet	boukây
bouquet garni	boukâygar-nêe
bourgeois noun and adjective	bŏrzhwà
bourgeoise noun	bŏrzhwàz
bourgeoisie	bŏrzhwà-zì
bourguignonne, bourguignon	bŏrgin-yon
bourrée	bŏrây
bourride	bourrìde
bourse	bŏrse
boutique	bootêek
boutonnière	boôtoni-ére
Bouvier des Flandres	Bouvier des Flandres
brasserie	brásserie
brassière	bráziére
bric-à-brac	brícabrac
brie	brìe
brioche	brêe-ósh
buffet	bùffay, boôfay
bureau	bûro
bureau de change	bûrodə-shónzh
burlesque	burlésk
cabaret	cábəray
cabernet franc	cábernây-fràn, some AmE cábernây-fránk
cabernet sauvignon	cábernâysovêen-yón
cabinet	cábinet
cabotin	cabotán
cabriole	cabriôle
cabriolet	cabriolây
cachalot	cáshalót, cáshalô
cache hide	= cásh money
cachepot	cáshpo, cáshpót
cachet	cáshây
cachou lozenge, catechu	= cáshew nut
cadet	cadét
café	cáfè
café au lait	cáfè ôh lây
café noir	cafè nwàr
cahier	càyay
camembert	cámembér
camouflage	cáməflàzh
canapé	cánapè
canaille	canàî
canard	cánard
caprice	caprìce
caramel	cáramel
carrousel	carəssél
carte blanche	càrt-blànsh
cause célèbre	côze-celébrə
cerise	cerìse
c'est la vie	sâyla-vêe
c'est la guerre	sâyla-gãir
chablis	shábly
chaconne	chacónne
chacun à son goût—"each to his own taste"	shákən-ason-goô
chagrin	shágrin
chalet	shálay
chamois	BrE shámwà, AmE shámmy
Champagne, BrE champagne	shám pâin
chanson	shànson
chanteuse—a female singer	BrE shàn-tëz, AmE shán-tûz
chapeau, chapeaux plural	sháppo, sháppôz
chaperon	sháperôn
charabanc	shárabang
charade	BrE shəràd, AmE shərâde
charcuterie	sharcûterie
chargé d'affaires	shàrzhâydá-fãir
charivari	BrE sharivàri, AmE shivarêe
charlotte	shàrlot
charlotte russe	shàrlot rûss
chartreuse	BrE shartrëuz, AmE shartreûz
chassé	shássay
chasseur	shassur
châssis	shássy
château, châteaux plural	shátto, sháttôz
chateaubriand	shatôbriand
chatelain, chatelaine	shátelain
chauffeur	shô-fër
chef	shéf
chef d'oeuvre	shây-dëvr
chemin de fer card game	shəmánda-fãir
chemise	shəmêez
chemisette	shəmeezét
chenille	chənêe, chənìl
cheque—in BrE, a written order to a bank to pay money, AmE check	= chéck
chequers—in BrE, a pattern of different coloured squares, AmE checkers	= chéckers
cherchez la femme, chercher la femme	shérchèla-fám
cheval-de-frise, chevaux-de-frise	shəváldə frêeze, shəvôdə frêeze
chevalier	shəválêeây
chevelure	shəvəlûre
chèvre	shévra
chez house	= Shây person
chic	shèek
chichi	shêshê
chiffon	shíffon
chiffonade	shiffonàd
chiffonier	shiffónìây
chignon	shìnyon
chinoiserie	shinwazerìe
choucroute	shoô croût
chûte fall	= shoôt shot
cigarette	cigərét
cinema	cínemà, cínemə
cinemathèque	cínematek
cinemaphotograph	cínema phôtograph
cinema verite	cínema véritè
Cítroën ™	Sítrən
claque	cláck
claqueur	clackër
cliché	clêeshây (AmE stresses 2nd syllable)
clientèle	cleeontél
clique	clêek
cloche	clósh
Cointreau, BrE cointreau	quantrô
cocotte	cocót
collage	cóllàzh
college	cóllege
colonnade	colonnâde
colporteur	cólporter
comedienne	comediénne
comme ci, comme ça	comsêe-comsà
comme il faut	comêel-fô
commode	commôde
commune	cómmune
communiqué—official communication or report	commûnikay
compère	cómpére host, cf. compãre contrast
compote	compóte
concierge	cóncìërzh
confit	cónfì
confrère	cónfrére
concours d'élégance	concordéle-gànce
conduit	cóndwít
consommé	consómmè
contretemps	cóntratóm
coq au vin	cóck ôh ván
coquette	cô-két
cordon sanitaire	cŏrdon sanitãire
corniche	cor-nêesh
cornichon	cornishón
corps army	= cŏre apple
corps de ballet	cŏrda-bálay
corps d'élite	cŏrdây-lêet
corsage	corsàzh
corsetière	corsetiére
coryphé(e)	coryfây
coulis, coulisse	coulìsse
coup d'état	coôdây-tà
coup de grace	coôdəgràss
coup de théâtre	coôdətay-átrə
coupé	coûpè
courgette	cŏr-zhét
couscousière	cusscussiér
cortège	cŏr-tézh
cravat	cravát
crayon	crâyón
crèche	crésh
crème	créme
crème anglaise	cremongléz
crème brulé	crembrulây
crème caramel	cremcaramél
crème de cacao	cremdəcacòw
crème de cassis	cremdəcassìs
crème de la crème	cremdəlacrém
crème de menthe	cremdmónt
crème fraîche, crème fraiche	cremfrâysh, cremfrésh
crèpe	crèpe
crepe de chine	crèpe de shêen
crèpe suzette	crèpe suzét
crepon	crépon
cretin	crétin
crevasse	crəváss
crevice	créviss
cri de coeur	crìdə-kër
crochet	crôshây
croissant	quàson
Cro-Magnon	Cro-Mágnon, Cro-Mányon
crôquet	crôcây
croquette	crockét
croquignole	cróckêen-yôle
croquis	cróck-êe
croupier	croôpêeây
croustade	crùs-tàd
crouton	croôton
cuirassier	quêer-ássiây
cuisine	quêe-zêen
cul-de-sac	cúll de sáck
culotte	culót
curé	cyûrây
curetage	cyùretàzh
curette, curet	cyurét
dame	dame
dauphin—the eldest son of the king of France	dô-fán
dauphine—the wife of a dauphin	dô-fêen
débâcle	debàcle
débris	BrE débrêe or dèbrêe, AmE dəbrêe
début	dèbyû or débyû
débutant male	dèbyûtàn or débyûtàn
débutante female	dèbyûtànt or débyûtànt
décadence	décadence
déception	decéption
déclassé	declássè
décolletage noun, décolleté male, décolletée female	daycoletàzh, daycoletây
décor	dâycor
dégringolade	dây-gráng-go-làd
degustation—a tasting of foods or wines in a series of small portions	dây-gù-stá-ssión
de haut en bas	də-ôwàn-bà
déjà vu	dâyzhà-vû
deluxe, de luxe	də-lúxe, də-lûxe
demoiselle	dəmwazél
démimonde, demimondâine	démimon-dâne
dénouement	dây noûmon
département	daypàrtmon
depot	BrE déppo, AmE dêpo
derailleur	dayrî-yër
de rigueur	dərigër - hard g
dernier cri	dãirny-ãir-crêe
derrière	Dérry ãir
détente	daytànt
de trop	dətrô
digestif	deezhestêef
discothèque	díscoték
divorcé man, divorcée woman; divorcee either—divorced person	divorsây; divorcêe
double entendre—a word or expression capable of two interpretations, with one usually being risqué	doôblon-tóndrə
douche	doôsh
doyen man, doyenne woman	doyén
droit	dwà
droit du seigneur	dwàdusen-yer
du jour	dû-zhûr
duvet	dûvay
eau de Cologne	ôdaco-lône
eau de parfum	ôdapar-füm
eau de toilette	ôda-twà-lét
eau-de-vie	ôda-vêe
éclair	eclãir
éclat	è-clà
éclaircissement	eclaircìsmàn
élan	è-làn
embouchure	emboû-shûre or óm-
embourgeoisement	ombŏurzhwazmón
émigré	émigrè
éminence grise	éminonce-grêez
en attendant	ón ətóndón
en banc	ón bónk
en bloc, bloc	ón blóck, blóc
en brochette	ón broshét
enceinte	ón sánt
en clair	ón Clãir
enclave	énclave, ónclave
encore	óncore
endive	éndíve
en face	ón fáss
en famille	ón famì
enfant terrible	ón fànté-rìbl
en fête	ón fét
engagé	ón gázhây
en masse	ón máss
en passant--in passing: in chess, of a pawn taking a pawn that has reached the same rank as one's own only by virtue of the fact that on its first move a pawn has the option of moving two squares	ón pásson
en plein	ón plán
en poste	ón póst
en prise	ón prêez
en rapport	ón rá-pŏr
en route	ón roûte
ensemble	ón sómbl
ensilage	ón silàzh
en suite	ón swêet
entente	ón tónt
entente cordiale	óntónt cordiàl
entourage	ónturàzh
entrechat	óntrəshà
entrecôte	óntrecote
entrée	ón trây
entremets	óntrəmây
entrepôt	óntrəpô
entrepreneur	óntrəprənër
entresol	óntrəsól
equipage	ekípàzh
escarole	éscarôle
esprit de corps	espreedəcŏr
estaminet	éstáminay
etiquette	étikét
étouffée	ây-toûfay
étude	âytûde
etui	ây-twì
euclase	ëugh-clàz
exposé	expôzây, cf. expôse
façade	fassàd
fait accompli	fétəcóm-plêe
fatigue	fətêeg
faute de mieux	fôte de-myə
fauteuil	foe toô ê
fauve	fôv
faut-naïf	fôe nîgh êef
faux pas	fô-pâ
fête festival	= fâte destiny
fiancé man, fiancée woman	fì-ànsây
figurine	figurìne
fils	fêece
fin de siècle—"end of the century", in particular the 'naughty nineties' of the nineteenth	fándəsì-éclə
finesse	finésse
flamboyant	flambŏyant
flânerie	flánə-rìe
flâneur	flanëur
flèche arrow	flésh meat
fléchette	flésh-ét
foie gras	fwà-grà
folie à deux	folìà-dë
fondant	fóndàn
forte	fŏrtè
foyer—entrance hall in hotel, theatre or cinema	fŏyèh
franc	= Frank person
franc-tireur	fràncti-rer
frisée, frisé	frìzây
frisson	frìsson
frottage	frótàzh
frou-frou	froû-frou
fuselage	fûsilàzh
fusil	fûzil
fusilier, fusileer	fusilêer
fusillade	fuzilàd
gaffe mistake	= gáff blow, fishing
galantine	galantìne
galère	galére
galette	galét
garage	AmE gəràzh, gəràj, BrE gáràj, gáràzh or the despised gáríj
garçon	gàr-són
garde-manger	gàrdmàn-zhây
gastronome	gástronôme
gâteau, gâteaux	gáttô, gáttôz
gauche	gôsh
gaucherie	gôshery
gavotte	gavótte
genre	zhónrə
gigot	zhêego
glacée	glássây
gouache	gouache
grandeur—great power, rank or eminence; nobility, splendour	grándure
grand mal—the worst kind of epilepsy	grà-mál
Grand Prix—international motor-racing championship	Gràm Prêe
grande dame—dignified lady	gràn-dám
grange—a country house with farm buildings attached	grânge
gratin—a brown crust formed on cooked food, or the crusted food itself	gratán
gratiné or gratinée —to cook au gratin; a dish cooked in that manner	gratinây
grillage	grêeàzh
grille lattice	= gríll cook
grotesque	grotésk
grotesquerie	grotéskery
gruyère	gruyére
guillotine	gilətêen
haute cuisine	ôat-kwì-zêen
haute couture	ôat-coô-tûre
honi soit qui mal y pense	ónny-swà-kêe-málly-pànss
hors commerce	orcommérce
hors de combat	ordəcom-bà
hors d'œuvre	ŏr-dëvr
hotel	hotél
hotelier	hotélier
idée fixe	êedây fêex
image	ímage
impasse	ímpasse, ámpasse
impromptu	imprómptu
infusion	ánfûzi-ón
ingénue	ánzhé-nû
insouciance	ánsoossi-àhnss
insouciant	ánsoossi-àhn
jabot	zhàbo
j'ádoube—"I adjust", said when centring a chessman on its square	zhadoûb
je ne sais quoi	zhənəsâi-kwà
jeté	zhətay
jeu d'esprit	zhëdé-sprêe
jeunesse dorée	zhənéss-dórây
joie de vivre	zhwàd-vìvrə
julienne	juliénne, zhulién
képi	= KP, kây-pêe
laissez-faire	= lây sây fãir
largesse	larzhéss
latrine	latrìne
lavabo	lavàbo
lavage	lavàzh
lavaliere or lavalliere pendant	lavalìer
lavalier or lavaliere microphone	ləválier
layette	layét
lèse-majesté	lâys mázhestay
lieu	lyë
lieutenant	AmE lieuténant, BrE lefténant
littérateur	literatër
lorgnette, lorgnon	lornyét, lornyón
louche	loôsh
lunes	= loôn crazy
luthier—a maker of stringed instruments such as violins or guitars	lûtiər
luxe	lúx, lûx
macabre	macàbre
mâche	màsh
machine	məshêen
madame brothel, Madame title	madáme, cf. mádam shopping
madeleine	mádeleíne
mademoiselle	madame wàzél
maisonette	maizonét
maître d'hôtel	métradô-tél, mâitradô-tél
mal de mer	máldə-mér
maladroit	maladrŏit
malcontent	málcontént
malice	málíce
malines	malêen
mandoline (also 'mandolin' in English)	mándə-lín
margarine	marjərìne
marionette	marionét
marque type	= màrk write = Màrk person
marquee	= màrr kêy
marquis	màrquís
marquise	markêez
marron	márron
māsque drama	= māsk face
masquerade	maskerâde
massage	mássàzh
masseur	BrE massër, AmE massûr
masseuse	BrE massëz, AmE massûze
matinée	mátinèe
mauve	môve, cf. move, pronounced moôve
mayonnaise	mayonnâise
Médecins sans Frontières	Mâydsàn són Frontiére
mélange	mây-lànzh
ménage à trois	ménàzhà-twà
menagerie	menádgery
menu	ményu
merlon	mérlon
merlot	merlô
Messrs. (abbreviation of Messieurs)	méssers
métier	mâytiây
métis	maytêess
milieu	miliëü
miracle—divine intervention in human affairs	míracle
mirage—an optical effect; something illusory or unobtainable	míràzh
mirepoix—a sautéed mixture of diced vegetables used as a base for sauces	mêerpwà
moi (first person pronoun)	mwà
Monsieur	Məsyər
montage	móntàzh
montagnard	móntanyar
moquette	mokét
moresque	morésque
mot juste, le mot juste	mô-zhûst, ləmô-zhûst
motif	motif
Mousquetaire	Mousketãire
mousse	moûsse
mousseline	mousselìne
mousselìne de soie	mousselìne de swà
moustache	AmE mústásh, BrE mə-stàsh
moyen-âge	mwayenàzh
musique concrète	muzêek concrét
naïve	nî-yêeve
naïveté	nî-yeevì-tây
négligee, négligé	néglizhây
Nez Percé	Naypãir sây, Néz-Pérss, Nézperz
niche	nêesh
noblesse oblige	nô bléss oblêezh
noir	nwàr
nom de guerre	nóm-de-gãir
nom de plume	nóm de plûme
nougat	nougat
nouveau	nû-vô
nouveau riche	noôvô-rêesh
nouvelle	nuvél
nouvelle cuisine	nuvél-quizêen
nouvelle vague	nuvél-vàg
nuance	nûànce
objet d'art	óbzhâi-dàr
objet trouvé	óbzhâi-troûvây
odalisque	ôdalísk
oeil de boeuf	oidə-bəf
oenophile	ênofîle
œuvre	ëvr
oubliette	oûbli-ét
outré	oûtrè
paillard	pîàr
paillette	pà yét
pain-au-chocolat	pánnoshoko-là
palette	pálit
panache	pənásh
papier-mâché	BrE pápiay-máshay, AmE pâper-məshây
papillon	pápêeon
papillote	pápêeot
parachute	párashoot
parfait	parfây
par excellence	parexelónss
parole	parôle
parquet	pàrkây
parterre	partér
parvenu	pàrvən(y)û
pas de bourrée	pàdə-boùray
pas de chat	pàdə-shà
pas de deux	pàdə-dë
pas de quatre	pàdə-kátr
pas de trois	pàdə-twà
passé	pássè
passe-partout	pàss pâr toô
pâté	pátè
Pathéthique	patetêek
patois	pátwà, rhyming with fátwà
penchant	AmE pénchant, BrE pànshàn
pensee	pànsây
perdu or perdue	perdû
père	pére
petit	pətêe
petit bourgeois	pətêe-bŏrzhwa
petite	pətêet
petite bourgeoisie	pətêet-bŏrzhwa zêe
petite sirah, petite syrah	pətêet-sírə
petit four	pətêe fŏur
petit-maître	pətêe-métr
petit mal	pətêe-mál
petit point	pətêe-pwàn
pièce de résistance	pì-éss də râyzêe-stànss
pied-à-terre	pyédà-téər
pince-nez	pánss-nây
pinot noir	pêeno-nwàr
pipette	pipét
pique	= pêak mountain
piqué	= PK, K stressed
piquet	= PK, P stressed
pirogue	pirôg
pirouette	pirouét
pis aller	pêace állây
pissoir	pêeswahr
piste	pêast
plage	plàzh
pláteau, pláteaux plural	pláttô, plátôz; in both, the second syllable is stressed in AmE
police	polìce
politesse
plus ça change	ploôssà-shànzh
pommée	pómmây
portmanteau	portmántô
poseur	pô-zër
pot-pourri	pôpu-rêe
pouf, pouffe, pouffet	poùf, poùf, poùffay
poularde	poûlarde
pourboire	porbwàr
pourparler	porpàrlay
pousse-café	poûss-cafây
poussette	poû-sét
précis	prâysêe
prelude	prelude
première	prémiãir
prie-dieu	prêe-dyü
promenade	prómenàde
proneur	prón-ër
protégé	prôtezhây
Provençal	Provonssàl
puce	pûce
puisne judge	= pûny small
pourboire	porbwàr
pourparler	porpàrlây
pourpoint	porpwàn
pousse-café	poosscaffây
poussette	poôssét
purée	pûrây
queue—noun and verb, British English for 'line' as in 'stand in line'; also 'to queue up'	= cûe signal, billiards
quiche	kêesh
raclette	rác-lét
raconteur	rácon-tër
ragout	ragoû
raison d’être	râizon-détrə
rapport	rá-pŏr
rapporteur	rapportëur
rapprochement	rappróchement
ratafia	ratafìa
ratatouille	ratatoôêe, ratatwêe
recherché	rəshãirshây
rendezvous	róndâyvoô, róndivoô
renifleur	rəníflër, rənì-flër, réniflër
renaissance	renâisàhnss
rentier	ràntêeây
repertoire	répertwàr
reservoir—lake, usually artificial, for preservation of water	réservwar
restaurant	réstərànt
restaurateur	restratëur
résumé	rézyumây, râyzyumây, cf. resûme (rizyûme)
retroussé	retroûsay
revanche	revànsh
ricochet	ríkəshây
riposte	ripóste
risqué	rískây, rêeskây
rôle part	= rôll over, eat
rondure	rondûre
roquefort	BrE róck fŏr, AmE rôkefərt, rôkefŏrt
rosé wine	ro-zây
rosette	rozét
rotisserie	rotíssery
roué	roôwây
rouge—red powder for facial colouring	roûzh
roulette	roulét
roux	roû
sabotage	sábotàzh
sage	sâge
salon	sálon
sang-froid	song-fwà
sans	sáns
sans culotte	sàncû-lót
sardine	sardìne
sauté	sôtây
sauterne, sauternes plural	sô-térn
sauvignon blanc	sôvêenyàn-blàn
savant(e)—learned person	savànt male, savànte female
savate	savàte
savoir-faire	sávwà-fãir
savoir-vivre	sávwà-vìvrə
séance	sâyónce
serviette	serviét
silhouette	siluwét
sobriquet	sóbrikây
soi-disant	swà-dêezon
soigné, soignée	swàn-yây
soiree	swàray
soixante-neuf	swàsont-nëf
solfège	solfézh
solitaire	solitãire
son et lumière	sonaylumiére
sorbet	sŏrbay
sortie	sŏrtie
sou coin	= Sûe Susan
soubise	soû bêes
soubrette	soûbrét
soufflé	soûflây
soupçon	soûpsón
sous vide, sous-vide	soô-vêed
souvenir	souvenìr
steak tartare, steack tartare	steâk tartàre
suede fabric	= swâyed sway
suite	= swêet sour
suture	sûture
table d’hôte	tàbla-dôte
tábleau, tábleaux plural	táblô, táblôz
tartar(e) (sauce)	tartàr
tarte tatin	tàrt tà-tán
terrine	terrìne
tête-à-tête	tétà-tét
-tion—forming nouns	shən
toque, toque blanche	toque, toque blanche
torque	torque
torsades de pointes—a medical condition involving rapid heartbeat	torsád-də-pwànt
touché	tooshây
tour de force	toûr de fŏrce
Tour de France	Toûr de Frànce
tourniquet	BrE toûrnikây, AmE türnikit
travail	travâil
triage	trîage
triste	trêest
trompe l'œil	trómp-lŏy
troûsseau	trûsô (either stressed)
trouvaille	trouvaî
trouvère	trouvére
unique	yunêek
urine	yùrín
valise	vəlêez
vase	BrE vàz, AmE vâce, vâze
velocipede	velócipede
vermouth	BrE vërməth, AmE vr-moôth
vice	vîce
vichyssoise	vishyswàz
vignette	veenyét
village	víllij
vingt-et-un blackjack	vántayán
vis-à-vis	víza-vêe, vêezà-vêe
visage	vízij
vive...	vêev
voilà	vwà-là
vol-au-vent	vóllow-vón
voyageur	vŏyázh-ër, vwŷázh-ër
voyeur	vŏy-ër, vwŷ-ër