French words in English/Catalogs
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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[1] |
|---|---|
| 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[2]—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[3] | 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[4]—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 |
| aubade—a song or poem greeting the dawn; morning music | ô-bàd |
| auberge—inn | ô-bérzh |
| aubergine[5]—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 |
| 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; | bagét |
| bain-marie— | 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— | bàn-lyë |
| banquette—a built-in upholstered bench along a wall | |
| baron— | báron |
| baroque— | barôk, barók |
| barquette— | barkét |
| barrage— | bárràzh |
| baton—music conductor's stick, policeman's hitting implement, army officer's ceremonial stick | BrE bátón, AmE bətón |
| beau singular, beaux[6],plural | bô singular, bôz plural[7] |
| beaucoup (slang) | bô-coô |
| beau geste, beaux gestes, beau gestes plural | bô-zhést |
| beau ideal, beaux ideals plural | bôwidây-ál, bôzidây-ál |
| beau monde— | bô-mónd |
| beaux arts— | bô-zàr |
| beige— | bâizh |
| belle of the ball | = béll ring |
| belle epoque— | bélây-pók |
| belles lettres— | béll létra |
| béret | béray |
| bête noire | bét-nwàr |
| beurre blanc | bër-blànc |
| beurre manié | bër-mániay |
| beurre noir | bër-nwàr |
| bezique | bəzêek |
| bidet | BrE bêedây, AmE bidây, bidét |
| bizarre strange | bí-zàr, cf. bazàar shop, bə- |
| blancmange | bləmànzh |
| blasé | blà-zây |
| blouse | blòuz |
| blouson | bloûzon |
| bon mot | bón-mô |
| bon ton | bón-tón |
| bon vivant | bon-vìvàn |
| bouclé | boûclây |
| boudin | boûdán |
| boudoir | 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[8] | 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[9] | 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[10] | 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 |
| 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[11] | coôdətay-átrə |
| coupé | coûpè |
| courgette[12] | 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 | doôblon-tóndrə |
| douche | doôsh |
| doyen man, doyenne woman | doyén |
| droit | dwà |
| droit du seigneur | dwàdusen-yer |
| du jour [13] | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| grand mal | grà-mál |
| grand prix | gràm-prêe |
| grande dame | gràn-dám |
| 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 |
| 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[14] | 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 | oeil de boeuf |
| oenophile | oenophile |
| 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[15] | 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 [16] | 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 |
| 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...[17] | vêev |
| voilà | vwà-là |
| vol-au-vent | vóllow-vón |
| voyageur | vŏyázh-ër, vwŷázh-ër |
| voyeur | vŏy-ër, vwŷ-ër |
Notes
- ↑ Ideally, final -n nasalises the preceding vowel, but some just pronounce the n.
- ↑ An English variant is absinth.
- ↑ "Amuse-bouche" is more commonly used in English-language restaurants than in France, where "amuse-gueule" is frequently used.
- ↑ Arbitrageur (arbitrazhër) does not exist in French.
- ↑ British English; egg plant in American.
- ↑ The spelling beaus is not correct in French but is frequent in English.
- ↑ In French, the singular and plural are pronounced the same (bô).
- ↑ Carousel, with a single r, is more freguent in English.
- ↑ Also BrE champâign with the meaning 'open country'.
- ↑ Generally spelled chassis.
- ↑ 'Theatre' outside this phrase has no accents and is pronounced thêeətər.
- ↑ British English; zucchini in American.
- ↑ Used only in expressions with a preceeding noun: soupe du jour, buzzword du jour, starlet du jour, etc.
- ↑ There is also the anglicisation naìvity, nà-ìvity.
- ↑ Used as a title for musical works including, most famously, Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony, retaining the original meaning of pathos, in contrast to 'pathetic'.
- ↑ The second accent (not usually both) is often used to avoid confusion with resûme.
- ↑ Used only in expressions with a following noun: vive le roi, vive la France, vive la différence, etc.