Vocabulary
Bouncing off of yesterday’s vrais amis et faux-amis, today we will touch on some modern English words that have influenced the French language. Due to the fact that English is gaining popularity as a global business language, France has adopted many vocabulary words from it. Globalization has also made it popular to use English words and phrases in everyday conversation.
Franglais: English Loan Words
It is exceedingly important to note that these loan words are often pronounced and utilized differently in French. So, in order to avoid experiencing embarrassing conversations, be sure to know exactly what the word means in French before using it.
Culturally, France is very proud of its language. There is even an organization dating back to 1635 called L’Académie Française, which continues to regulate and maintain the “purity” of the language. These days, the forty peer-elected members, known as Les Quarante (the forty) or Les Immortels (the immortals), often focus on the task of reducing the influx of English loan words by choosing or creating French equivalents. An example of this is the 2011 decision to replace the word e-mail with courriel. The decision sparked a lot of debate which rages on today.
This is important to acknowledge for a couple of reasons. First, although English loan words are a growing trend in France, there are still some people (especially of the older generation) who view these words as a faux-pas. In respect-driven situations, it might be best to avoid these terms (unless you hear the other person use them, of course). Another thing to acknowledge is that the newer generation and contemporary media outlets in France absolutely adore using English terms, even if there are obvious traditional French equivalents. Terms like “super cool,” “hyper-sexy,” and “le top du top” (top of the top) are used often, but should be considered in the same light as our own slang terms.
All in all, these terms are certified to make your French sound relaxed and conversational. In a business environment, using these terms with proper pronunciation will be sure to create a great impression. As long as you know when and how to use them, they are another easy way to make your French “super bon.”
Common Franglais Words
Everyday words:
Listen to Track 25
baby-foot: table football
basket: sports shoe, basketball
brushing: blow-dry
camping: campsite
dressing: walk-in closet
catch: wrestling
flipper: pinball machine
footing: jogging
forcing: pressure
jogging: tracksuit
lifting: face-lift
people: celebrity
planning: schedule
pressing: dry-cleaner
relooking: make-over
smoking: tuxedo
sweat: sweatshirt
warning: hazard lights
parking: parking lot
planning: schedule
zapping: channel hopping
station-service: service station
Verbs
Listen to Track 26
bruncher: to have brunch
googeliser: to Google
Skyper: to Skype
tweeter: to tweet
liker: to like
follower: to follow (on Twitter)