RSVP French Répondez s'il vous plaît “Respond/reply please”

déjà vu French for “Already seen.” The feeling as though an event has already happened in the recent past.

Faux pas

Du Jour McAllister’s soup du jour is chicken tortilla.

Bon VOyage French for good journey

Alma Mater Latin Latin a school or college from which one has graduated or a school's song a school or college from which one has graduated or a school's song

Cum Laude Latin for “with honors”

Femme Fatale French for “deadly woman”

esprit de corps A shared spirit of comradeship, enthusiasm, and devotion to a cause among the members of a group. Example of a military unit or team. A shared spirit of comradeship, enthusiasm, and devotion to a cause among the members of a group. Example of a military unit or team.

verbatim Latin for “Word for Word”

E pluribus unum Latin meaning "From many, one", or "out of many, one“ A national motto of the United States of America, referring to the integration of 13 independent colonies into one country. Latin meaning "From many, one", or "out of many, one“ A national motto of the United States of America, referring to the integration of 13 independent colonies into one country.

prima donna Italian for “First Woman” One who considers oneself much more important than others, has high expectations of others and becomes angry when his or her standards or demands are not met.

avant-garde French for “Advance guard” Originally the part of an army advancing into battle Now applied to any group, particularly of artists, that is innovative and ahead of the majority.

status quo Latin for “the state in which” meaning the current or existing state of affairs. To maintain the status quo is to keep the things the way they presently are.

joie de vivre to express a cheerful enjoyment of life; an exultation of spirit can be a joy of conversation, joy of eating, joy of anything one might do…

carte blanche French for “blank check”

caveat emptor Used as a warning to anyone buying something that there might be unforeseen problems or faults with what is bought Latin meaning “Buyer Beware”

alpha and omega Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Omega is the last. Greek for “The first and last; the beginning and end.”

tabula rasa Latin for “erased tablet” The idea that the mind comes into this world as a "blank slate".

hoi polloi Greek for “the many” The common people; the masses

ad nauseam Latin for “to sickness or nausea” Term used to describe something which has been continuing "to the point of nausea”. "This topic has been discussed ad nauseam"  the topic has been discussed so much and that those involved are sick and tired of it.

carpe diem Latin for “Seize the day”

tempus fugit

c’est la vie French for “Such is Life” or “That’s life”

bona fide Latin for “in good faith” Done in good faith. Although he failed, the king made a bona fide attempt to repair the nation's economy. Genuine; not counterfeit. This is a bona fide Roman coin. Done in good faith. Although he failed, the king made a bona fide attempt to repair the nation's economy. Genuine; not counterfeit. This is a bona fide Roman coin.

savoir faire French for “Know How” The ability to do or say what is appropriate for the occasion

non sequitur Latin for “it does not follow” Any invalid argument in which the conclusion cannot be logically deduced from the premises; a logical fallacy. A statement that does not logically follow a statement that came before it

id est Latin for “that is” or “in other words” Abbreviated i.e. As in “for example” Latin for “that is” or “in other words” Abbreviated i.e. As in “for example” I'm going to the place where I work best, i.e., the coffee shop.

enfant terrible An unconventional badly- behaved person who causes embarrassment or shock to others.

terra firma Latin for “Solid Earth” The phrase refers to the dry land on the earth's surface and is used to differentiate from the sea.

Latin for “Voice of the People.” vox populi

Start State Test questions here