You Speak French And Didn't Even Know It

Many of the expressions that English speakers use originated in French. This article discusses some of these phrases and their true meaning. A better mand of these phrases will strengthen your vocabulary for business and social purposes.Coup. The plete French expression is coup detat. Whichever form of the phrase is used, the Rosetta Stone
meaning is generally the same: a takeover of a government or other body.Concierge. This word has essentially the same meaning in both English and French, but the English definition is a little more narrow because in French it can refer to any building caretaker who lives near the entrance. Faux pas. The literal meaning is false not. English speakers use the phrase to refer to making a mistake in social etiquette.Au naturel. This expression has retained its original French meaning, which means nude or in a natural state.Fiance. The literal meaning is engaged. However, in French, fianc (with one e) refers to a man, while a version ending in two es refers to a woman.Protg. In English, this means someone whose training is sponsored or administered by an Rosetta Stone German
important individual. In French, it simply means protected.In lieu of. This phrase has basically the same meaning in both languages, which is instead of or in place of.Carte blanche. In French, this expression literally refers to a blank card or letter. Somehow, this came to be a phrase used in English to mean having unlimited power to act at ones own discretion, or unconditional authority.Dj vu. In English, this expression means the feeling of having already experienced a place or event that you are experiencing for the first time. The literal French meaning is already seen.Rouge. This word is usually used in connection with reddish-colored cosmetics, which makes sense since the literal meaning is red.As you can see, in many cases the English definition Rosetta Stone Indian
of these phrases is very close to the original definition. However, it is less important to know the true meaning than it is to know how to use (and pronounce) these expressions in your business vocabulary. Learning and using expressions such as these will make you sound smarter than you are.