Commonly Used Foreign Words and Phrases

Déjà vu Psychology. the illusion of having previously experienced something actually being encountered for the first time./disagreeable familiarity or sameness—”The new television season had a sense of déjà vu about it—the same old plots and characters with new names.”

RSVP Verb (used without object) – to reply to an invitation: Don’t forget to RSVP before Thursday. Noun (a reply to an invitation) – He sent a lovely bouquet of flowers with his RSVP Used on an invitation to indicate that the favor of a reply is requested. From the French phrase “repondez s’il vous plait”

Faux pas A slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion

Du jour As prepared on the particular day; of the kind being served today “The soup du jour is split pea. du = of jour = day

Bon voyage Interjection – Have a pleasant trip!

femme fatale An irresistibly attractive woman, expecially one who leads men into difficult, dangerous, or disastrous sitiuations; a siren

esprit de corps a sense of unity and of common interests and responsibilities, as developed among a group of persons closely associated in a task, cause, or enterprise, etc.

avant-garde the advance group in any field, especially in the visual, literary, or musical arts, whose works are characterized chiefly by unorthodox and experimental methods

joie de vivre a delight in being alive; keen, carefree enjoyment of living

carte blanche Unconditional authority; full discretionary power

savoir faire Noun – knowledge of just what to do in any situation; tact

enfant terrible An incorrigible child, as one whose behavior is embarrassing An outrageously outspoken or bold person who says and does indiscreet or irresponsible things A person whose work, thought, or lifestyle is so unconventional or avant-garde as to appear revolutionary or shocking

alma mater a school, college, or university at which one has studied and, usually, from which one has graduated

cum laude An academic honor given at graduation (Magna cum laude: with high honors) (Summa cum laude: the highest academic distinction)

verbatim in exactly the same words; word for word “to repeat something verbatim”

E pluribus unum out of many, one (motto of the United States)

prima donna a first or principal female singer of an opera company a temperamental person a person who takes adulation and privileged treatment as a right and reacts with petulance to criticism or inconvenience

status quo the existing state or condition

caveat emptor Let the buyer beware: the princi;le that the seller of a product cannot be held responsible for its quality unless it is guaranteed in a warranty

Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end of something (Revelation 1:8) the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet

tabula rasa a mind not yet affected by experiences, impressions, etc. anything existing undisturbed in its original, pure state

hoe polloi the common people; the masses (often preceded by the)

ad nauseam (adverb) – to a sickening or disgusting degree

carpe diem Seize the day; enjoy the present, as opposed to placing all hope in the future

tempus fugit Time flies.

bona fide (adjective) – made, done, presented, etc., in good faith Without deception or fraud Authentic True “a bona fide sample of Lincoln’s handwriting”

non sequitur (noun) - an inference or a conclusion that does not follow from the premises a statement containing an illogical conclusion

terra firma Firm or solid earth Dry land (as opposed to water or air)

vox populi the voice of the people; popular opinion