A
• abbatial (Fr. abbatial)
• abbreviation, from abréviation
• abet
• abhor (Fr. abhorrer)
• ability (Fr. habilité)
• abjection
• ablation (Fr. ablation)
• ablative
• able, from Old French, compare modern Fr. habile or capable
• ablution
• abnormal compare anormal
• abolish, compare abolir
• abomination
• abortive
• abound
• abridge, Fr. abréger
• absence
• absolute, from Middle French, compare modern Fr. absolu
• absorb (Fr. absorber)
• abstain (Old Fr. abstenir)
• abstinence
• abstract
• abstruse
• abundance (Old Fr. abundance, now abondance)
• abuse (Fr. abuser)
• academic (Fr. académique)
• academy, compare académie
• Acadia (Fr. Acadie)
• acceleration (Fr. accélération)
• accent (Fr. accent)
• accept (Fr accepter)
• access (Fr. accès)
• accession
• accident
• acclimate (Fr. acclimater)
• accolade (Fr. accolade)
• accommodation
• accompany (Fr. accompagner)
• accomplice (Fr. complice)
• accomplish (Fr. accomplir)
• accord
• accost
• account (Fr. compte)
• accourtre
• accoutrement (Fr. accoutrement)
• accredit
• accrue
• accusation
• accusative (Old Fr. accusatif)
• accuse
• accustom (Old Fr. acostumer, now accoutumer)
• ace, compare as
• acid, compare acide
• acoustic, compare acoustique
• acquisitive
• acquit
• acrobat (Fr. acrobate)
• acrostic, compare acrostiche
• action
• activity, compare activité
• adaptation
• adhesive, compare adhésif or feminine form adhésive
• adieu, which literally means "to God" (à Dieu), farewell
• adjective, compare adjectif
• administer (Fr. administrer)
• admire, compare admirer
• adolescence
• adopt, compare adopter
• adore, from Old French, compare modern Fr. adorer
• adroit
• advantage, compare avantage
• adventure, from Old French, compare modern Fr. aventure
• adverb, compare adverbe
• adversary, from Old French, compare modern Fr. adversaire
• advertisement, compare avertissement (warning)
• advise, compare aviser (to assess [a situation])
• advocate (noun), from Old French avocat - in modern French this means an attorney or lawyer
• affair, from Old French, compare modern Fr. affaire (business)
• affection
• affiliation
• affinity, compare affinité
• affliction
• affluence
• age
• agent provocateur
• aggression, compare agression
• à gogo, or a-go-go, in abundance
• agree (Old Fr. agreer)
• agreeable, compare agréable
• aid (Old Fr. aide)
• aim (Old Fr. esmar)
• à la, in the style of...
• alabaster, from Old French alabastre (>Latin> Greek> Ancient Egyptian a-labaste)
• à la carte
• alas, from Old French, compare modern Fr. hélas
• alert, compare alerte
• align, compare aligner
• allocation
• allure, look or air
• almond, from Old French, compare modern Fr. amande; compare also Spanish almendra. //NOTE: I believe almond (and almendra) come from Arabic
• amateur
• ambience
• ambiguous, from ambigu
• ambition
• ambergris, from ambre gris, grey amber
• ambulance
• ameliorate
• ammunition, from munition
• amnesty, compare amnistie
• amorous, from Old French, compare modern Fr. amoureux
• ample
• amplitude
• amusement
• analyse, compare analyser
• animal
• anarchism
• anarchist (Fr. anarchiste)
• anatomy, compare anatomie
• ancestor, from Old French, compare modern Fr. ancêtre
• ancient, compare ancien
• angle
• anglophobe, someone who fears or dislikes England or the English
• anglophone, a speaker of English (Fr. anglophone)
• anguish (from Old French anguisse, now angoisse)
• anise
• annals
• annex, compare annexer
• annihilation
• announce
• annoy, from Old French anoier, now ennuyer
• annual (Fr. annuel)
• annuity (Fr. annuité)
• annular (Fr. annulaire)
• anoint, compare oindre
• anomie
• antecedent, compare antécédent
• anther, compare anthère
• antique
• apartment, compare appartement
• aplomb
• apostrophe
• apparel, from Old French, compare modern Fr. appareil
• application
• appliqué
• apprehend, compare appréhender
• après-ski
• apropos, compare à propos
• arbitrage
• arcade
• archetype
• area, from aire
• arête, a mountainous ridge
• argent (Fr. argent)
• argue, from Old French, compare modern Fr. arguer
• army, compare armée> desarmée, armement Le français langue de la guerre et de l'amour (French as language of war and love)
• arrest, from O.Fr. arester
• article
• artificial, from artificiel
• artist (Fr. artiste)
• assembly (Fr. assembler)
• assume, from assumer (in its old meaning : to suppose)
• assurance
• attack (Fr. attaque)
• attaché
• attorney (Fr. procureur)
• attitude
• aubergine, British name for eggplant
• au naturel
• aunt (Old Fr. ante)
• authority (Fr. autorité)
• avalanche
• avenue (Fr. avenue)
• average (Fr. moyenne)
• averment
• aversion (Fr. aversion)
• avert
• aviation (Fr. aviation)
• avid (Fr. avide)
• avocet
• avoid (Old Fr. evuider)
• avoirdupois
• avouch
• avow (Fr. aveu)
• axiom (Fr. axiome)
• aye-aye
• azimuth (from Old French, from Arabic as-sumut)
• azure (Old Fr. azur, from Old Spanish azur, from Arabic, in turn from Persian)hi
B• bacon
• bag, from both Old Norse "baggi" and Old French "bague" (bundle)
• baggage, from French bagage
• ballet
• band, from bande
• bandeau, a type of headdress
• banquet
• barge
• baroque
• barrel (Fr. baril)
• barren, from Old French
• barricade
• barrier
• base
• Baton Rouge, Bâton Rouge
• battle (Old Fr. bataille)
• bay, compare baie
• bayonet, compare baïonnette
• beagle (Fr. bagle)
• beak, compare bec (also found in Frisian and Dutch as "bek")
• Béarnaise, a type of sauce, named after a region in France (Béarn)
• beau, a lover or a dandy
• beauty (Old Fr. beauté)
• beast (Old Fr. beste) (also found in Frisian as "bist", the word for animal)
• beaux arts, fine arts
• beef (Fr. boeuf)
• benefit (Fr. bénéfice)
• beret, compare béret
• bête noire
• bicycle, compare bicyclette > vélo
• bidet
• bikini
• billet
• billet-doux, a love letter
• binge, after a beer-festival in Binche, Belgium
• biscuit
• bistro
• bivouac
• bizarre
• blank (Old Fr. blanc)
• blanket, from Old French blanquette Blanquette de veau
• blasé
• bloc > blocage
• blonde
• boil (Old Fr. boilir)
• Boise
• bomb
• bombard (Fr. "bombarde")
• bombe
• bon appétit
• bon mot
• bonnet, from Old French, compare modern Fr. bonnet
• bon-vivant
• bon voyage
• bon-bon (Fr. "bonbon")
• bouillabaisse
• boule
• boulevard
• bound (leap), from bond
• bouquet
• bourgeoisie
• bracelet
• bran, from Old French bran or bren
• brandish, compare brandir
• brasserie
• brassiere, compare brassière, although the modern French for this is soutien-gorge
• brave
• bravery
• bric-a-brac
• brigade
• brilliant, compare brillant
• brioche
• briquette
• brochure, from brocher - to stitch
• broderie anglaise, a type of embroidery
• brunette
• buckle, compare boucle
• budget, from Old Fr. bougette (a little purse)
• buffet
• bullet, from boulette, although the modern French for this is balle
• bureau
• button, from bouton
C
• cabal, compare cabale
• cabaret
• cache, compare cacher
• cadet
• café
• cafetière
• cagoule
• cajole, compare cajoler
• calque
• camaraderie
• camouflage
• camp
• campaign, compare campagne
• canapé
• canard, aeronautical term
• cancel, from canceller, evolution of chanceler (1293) (to cross out)
• capacity
• cape, compare cap, land jutting into the sea, as in Cape Horn
• captain (from capitaine)
• car (Norman-Fr. carre)
• card (Fr. carte)
• career (Fr. carrière)
• casserole
• cassette
• castle (Old North Fr. castel)
• castor
• casual (Old Fr. casuel)
• casuist, compare casuiste
• cataclysm
• catalogue
• catch
• category
• caterpillar
• catholic
• cattle
• cause
• cavalry, compare cavalerie
• celebrate, from célébrer
• cement (Old Fr. ciment)
• cense, compare encenser
• censer (Old Fr. censier)
• centime (Fr. centime)
• centre (Old Fr. centre)
• chaise longue or sometimes chaise lounge
• chalet
• chalice, from calice
• chance
• change
• character, from caractère
• chase, compare chasse
• château, compare castle
• chatelaine
• chattel
• chauffeur
• chauvinism
• cheat (Old Fr. escheat)
• check (Old Fr. eschec)
• checkmate, compare échec et mat or possibly from old Arabic
• cheer (Old Fr. chiere)
• chef compare chief
• chemise
• chemist, from chimiste
• cheque
• cherish (Old Fr. chériss-)
• cherry (Old North Fr. cherise)
• cheval de frise, a military term
• cheval-glass, from cheval - horse
• Chicago (from Fort Chécagou)
• chief (Old Fr. chief, compare chef)
• chieftain (Old Fr. chevetain, compare chief)
• chiffon
• chivalry
• cinema, compare cinéma
• city (Old Fr. cite)
• claim (Old Fr. clamer)
• clairvoyance
• clarinet, compare clarinette
• classic
• cliché
• cloche, a kind of hat
• closet, from Old French closet
• Coeur d'Alene
• coiffeuse
• coin (Old Fr. coigne)
• collage
• collar, from collier, from cou (neck)
• colonel, compare modern Fr. colonel
• combustible
• comedian and comedienne, compare comédien and comédienne
• comic, from comique (funny)
• commandant, commanding officer
• commendation
• commode
• common
• communion
• communiqué
• communism (Fr. communisme)
• community, from Old Fr. comunalté, modern Fr. communauté
• company (milit.), from compagnie
• competent
• competitor
• complete
• compliment, from compliment
• comrade, from camarade
• concede, from concéder
• congratulations
• connoisseur (from connaisseur)
• conscience
• convenient, from covenant, convenable
• cordon
• cormorant, compare cormoran
• cornet
• corniche
• corporal Old.Fr. corporal
• corps
• corset
• costume
• cotton (Old Fr. 'coton')
• council
• count
• county (Old Fr. comté)
• countenance (Old Fr. : continere, Modern French : contenance)
• counter
• counterfeit, from Old French, compare modern Fr. contrefaire
• country (Old Fr. cuntree)
• coup
• coup d'état
• coup de grâce
• couple
• coupon
• courage (Old Fr. corage)
• courageous
• courgette, in the UK, but called zucchini in the US
• courier
• course
• court
• courtesy
• couscous
• cousin (Old Fr. cosin)
• couture
• couturier
• cover (Old Fr. covrir)
• crème brûlée
• crème caramel
• crème de menthe
• crêpe crêperie
• Croissant - Croissanterie
• croupier
• crouton, from the diminutive form of the old French word, Croust, (later to come into modern French as the word croûte), meaning Crust.
• crown, from couronne
• crust, from Croûte, or Crust, in French.
• cry (Old Fr. crier)
• cuisine
• cul-de-sac
• culotte
• cult (Fr. culte)
• culture (Fr. culture)
• curfew (Fr. couvre-feu)
• custom, from Old French coustume, compare modern Fr. coutume
D
• dais, from Old French deis
• dalmatic (Old Fr. dalmatique)
• dame
• damage (Old Fr. damage)
• damn (Fr. damner)
• debt (Old Fr. dete)
• déclassé
• décolletage
• décor or decor
• découpage
• defamation, from diffamation
• default, from Old French, compare modern Fr. défaut
• defeat (Fr. "défaite")
• déjà vu
• de luxe or deluxe
• demand
• demi-monde
• démodé
• denouement
• dépanneur
• department
• deploy, from Old French, compare modern Fr. déployer
• depot
• derail, compare dérailler
• derive (Fr. "dérive")
• derogation (Fr. dérogation)
• derrière
• descend (Old Fr. descendre)
• desert (Old Fr. desert)
• Des Moines (Fr. des moines of the monks)
• dessert
• detachment (Fr. détachement)
• detail (Fr. détail)
• detain (Old Fr. detenir)
• détente
• determine
• detonation
• detriment
• Detroit (Fr. détroit = strait)
• deuce, from deux (two)
• development or develop
• deviation
• device (Old Fr. devis)
• devise
• devoid
• devotion
• devour (Old Fr. devorer)
• devout (Old Fr. devot)
• diabolical
• diadem
• diamanté
• diet
• different
• digestion
• dignity (Old Fr. dignete)
• dilate
• diligence
• dime (Old Fr. disme, modern French "dîme", from "dix", ten)
• diplomacy, compare diplomatie
• direction (Fr. direction)
• disadvantage
• disappoint (Fr. desappointer)
• disarm (Old Fr. desarmer)
• discothèque or discotheque, thus disco
• discover (Old Fr. descovrir)
• disguise (Old Fr. desguisier)
• disport (Old Fr. desporter, modern Fr. "déporter")
• diverse
• divinity
• division
• double (Old Fr. duble)
• doubt (Old Fr. douter)
• douche, from French, meaning shower
• dozen, from Old French, compare modern Fr. douzaine
• dress (Old Fr. dresser)
• due (Old Fr. deu)
• during (Old Fr. durer, compare endure)
• duty (Anglo-Fr. duete from Old Fr. deu)
• duvet
E• eager, from Old French aigre
• eagle, from Old French, compare modern Fr. aigle
• easy, from Old French, compare modern Fr. aisé
• echelon, compare échelon
• éclair
• ecstasy, from Old Frech, compare modern Fr. extase
• élite
• eloquence, compare éloquence
• emigré
• emir from Fr. émir, colloquial pronunciation of Ar. amir "commander"
• emperor (Old Fr. emperere)
• empire
• emplacement
• employ (Old Fr. employer)
• empress
• enclave
• encore
• encourage, from Old French, compare modern Fr. encourager
• endive
• endue
• endure (Old Fr. endurer)
• endurance
• enfranchise
• enemy (Old Fr. ennemi)
• energy (Fr. énergie)
• engage, compare engager
• enjoy (Old Fr. enjoir)
• enmity, from Old French, compare modern Fr. inimitié
• ennui
• enrage, compare enrager
• enrich, compare enrichir
• ensemble
• en suite
• ensure, from 'assurer
• entente
• enter, compare entrer
• entomb, from Old French, compare modern Fr. entomber
• entrant
• entrée (but is first part of the meal in French)
• entrepreneur (Fr. from entreprendre undertake)
• envelope, compare enveloppe
• environ, from Old French, compare modern Fr. environs
• environment or environmental
• envisage, compare envisager
• envoy, compare envoyé
• envy, compare envier
• epaulet or epaulette, compare épaulette
• épée
• ephebe, from éphèbe
• ephemeral, from "éphémère
• epic, from épique
• epicurean, from épicurien
• epidemic, from épidémie
• epilogue
• episcopal
• episode
• epithet, from épithète
• épris
• equal, from égal
• equality, from Old French, compare modern Fr. égalité
• equation
• equilibrate, from équilibrer
• equipage, compare équipage
• équipe
• equipment, from équipement
• equitable
• equity, from équité
• eradicate, compare éradiquer
• erase, from araser
• erect, from ériger (to build)
• ermine, from hermine
• erode, compare éroder
• erudite, compare érudit
• escapade
• escargots
• escarpment
• essence
• establish (Old Fr. establisse)
• estate (Old Fr. estat)
• ether
• etiquette, étiquette
• Eucharist (Old Fr. eucariste)
• European, compare européen
• evangelist, compare évangéliste
• evaporation, compare évaporation
• evasion, compare évasion
• example
• exclamation
• exhibition (Old Fr. exhibicion)
• expire, compare expirer
• exploit, compare exploiter
• exposé or expose
• extraction (Fr. extraction)
• extraordinaire
• extravagance
F• fabric, compare fabrique
• fabulous
• face
• facile
• factor
• faience, compare faïence
• failure
• family
• fanfare
• fantastic
• fantasy, compare fantaisie
• farce
• farm (Old Fr. ferme)
• fashion, from Old French façon
• fatal
• fatigue
• fault (Old Fr. faute)
• faux pas
• feasible
• feast (Old Fr. feste)
• feint, compare feinte
• felicity, from Old French, compare modern Fr. félicité
• felon, from Old French, compare modern Fr. félon
• female (Old Fr. femelle)
• feminine, compare féminin
• fertility, compare fertilité
• figure
• fiancé
• fierce
• fillet, compare filet
• film noir
• final
• finance
• fine (Old Fr. fin)
• flageolet
• flambé tarte flambée
• flan
• flèche
• fleur-de-lis
• flexible
• floret, from Old French, compare modern Fr. fleurette
• florin
• floss
• flourish (Old Fr. floriss, compare flower)
• flower (Old Fr. fleur)
• fluid, compare fluide
• flux
• foliage (Fr. feuillage)
• folly (Old Fr. folie)
• fondant
• font (Fr. fonte)
• fool (Old Fr. fol)
• force majeure
• foreign (Old Fr. forain)
• forest (Old Fr. forest)
• forte compare fort (strong)
• fortune
• found (Old Fr. founder)
• fountain from O.Fr. fontaine, still used in modern French.
• foyer
• fracas
• fraction, from Old French, compare modern Fr. fraction
• franchise
• francophone, a speaker of French (Fr. francophone)
• frappé
• frigate, compare frégate
• frisson
• fritter, compare friture
• frontier
• fruit
• function (Old Fr. function)
• fund
• fuselage
• fusible
• fusion
• futile
• future (Old Fr. futur)
G• gabardine
• gaffe
• gallant, compare galant
• gallop, from galop
• galvanize
• ganache
• gangrene
• gangue
• garage
• garter, from Old French, compare modern Fr. jarretière
• gasket
• gateau
• gauche
• gay (Old Fr. gai)
• gel
• gelatin or gelatine, from gélatine
• gem, from gemme
• general
• generic
• generosity
• generous
• gender, from genre
• genial
• genius, from génie
• gent
• gentle, from Old Fr. gentil (both noble and sweet)
• genteel
• gently, from gentiment
• gesticulation
• gesture, from geste (movement)
• giant
• gigantism
• gigolo
• gleet (Old Fr. glette)
• glissade
• globe (Fr. globe)
• global
• goblet, from Old Fr. gobelet (a deep cup)
• gondolier
• gorge
• gorgeous
• gouache
• gourmet
• govern, governance, government, governor
• grace
• gracious, from Old French, compare modern Fr. gracieux
• grammar, from Old French, compare modern Fr. grammaire
• grand
• grant
• gratin
• grief
• group
• gruel, from gruau
• guard, from garde
• guide
• guillotine
• gulf, from Old French, compare modern Fr. golfe
H• hangar
• harlequin, from Arlequin, a character from the Italian comedy
• haste, from OF. (Compare contemporary French hâte)
• haute couture high sewing
• hazard (Old Fr. hasard)
• Hollandaise
• honour or honor, Old French, compare modern Fr. honneur
• hors d'œuvre
• hospital (Fr. hôpital)
• host, compare with "hôte", or, in the meaning of an army, with Old Fr. "ost"
• hostage
• hotel, compare hôtel
• huge (Old Fr. ahuge)
• humanity (Old Fr. humanité)
I
• illustration
• Illinois
• ignore
• ignorance
• ignorant
• imagine
• imaginative
• immediate
• imbecile, compare imbécile
• indictment
• infant
• infantry (from infanterie)
• influence
• influx
• inform
• information (Old Fr. information)
• infrastructure
• infusion
• ingénue
• injustice (from injustice)
• ink (Old Fr. enque)
• insurance, from assurance
• insurgent, from insurgé
• insurmountable, from insurmontable
• insurrection
• integrate, from intégrer
• integrity
• integrant
• intellect or intellectual
• intelligence
• intention
• intercession
• interchange
• intercourse
• interdict
• interest
• interfere
• interlace
• intense
• intrinsic, compare intrinsèque
• ivory, from Old French, compare modern Fr. ivoire
J• jack, Old Fr. jaque or jacque, a garment, from Jacques, general nickname for peasants who used to wear this garment (see jacket)
• jacket, Old Fr. jaquette, diminutive form of jaque
• jade
• j'adoube
• jardiniere
• jargon
• jelly (from gelée)
• je ne sais quoi
• jet
• jetty
• jew, from Old French giu
• jewel, from joyau
• juggle
• joie de vivre
• join, from joindre
• joint
• journey (Old Fr. journée)
• judge, from juge , jugement,
• juggle, from jongler
• juggler
• just, from Old French juste
• justice, from Old French, compare modern Fr. justice
K• kepi, compare képi
• kiosk, (Fr. kiosque)
• kermess or kirmess (Fr. kermesse)
• kilo
• kilogram (Fr. kilogramme)
• kilometre (Fr. kilomètre)
L
• label
• labour or labor, compare labourer
• lace
• lackey, compare laquais
• laissez-faire
• laissez-passer
• lamé
• lancer
• lancet
• language (Old Fr. langage)
• L'Anse aux Meadows (Fr. L'anse aux méduses : Jellyfish Cove)
• large
• largess
• latrine
• launder
• laundry
• laurel
• laver (Fr. laveoir)
• lay, literary sense
• leisure, from Old French, compare modern Fr. loisir
• liaison
• lias
• libel, from Old Fr. un libelle (short memorandum)
• liberal
• liberty (from Old Fr . liberté)
• library
• libre
• license
• licorice
• lieu
• lieutenant
• limousine
• lingerie
• liquor, from liqueur
• litre
• lorgnette
• Louisiana (Fr. Louisiane land of Louis XIV)
• Louisville, Louisville (named after Louis XVI)
• loupe
• love (as used in tennis)
• lozenge, from Old French, compare modern Fr. losange
• luminary, compare luminaire
• lustre or luster
M• machine
• madam (Old Fr. ma dame)
• mail (Old Fr. male)
• Maine (name of the former French province of Maine)
• maintain (Old Fr. maintenir)
• maintenance
• maisonette, compare maisonnette
• majesty (Fr. majesté)
• majority (Fr. majorité)
• maladroit
• male (Old Fr. masle)
• malinger (Fr. malingre)
• mangetout
• manger
• mannequin
• manœuvre or manœuver, compare manœuvre
• maquis
• mardi gras
• marine, compare marin
• marionette (Fr. marionnette)
• marmalade, compare marmelade
• marriage, compare mariage
• marshal, from Old French, compare modern Fr. maréchal
• marvel
• marvelous, from merveilleux
• mascot
• masculine
• mask, compare masque
• masque
• mass (Old Fr. masse)
• massacre, compare massacrer
• massage
• masseur
• masseuse
• mathematics
• matron
• mattress, from Old French, compare modern Fr. matelas
• May, compare mai
• Mayday, from m'aider which means literally to help me
• medal, compare médaille
• mediocre, compare médiocre
• mêlée
• memory, (from mémoire)
• ménage à trois
• mercy (Old Fr. mercit, merci)
• meridian
• merit
• merle
• merlin (from Old Fr. esmerillon via Anglo-Fr. merilun)
• merlon
• meringue
• mésalliance
• mesclun
• mess
• message
• messenger
• Messiah (Fr. Messie)
• messianic (Fr. messianique)
• metro (Fr. métro)
• military
• mille-feuille
• Mille Lacs (USA), means thousand lakes
• milliard (Fr. milliard)
• million
• millionaire (Fr. millionnaire)
• miniature
• mine or mining, as in a coal mine
• minister (Old Fr. ministre)
• minstrel
• mitten, compare mitaine
• modern
• modify
• module
• moil
• moist (Old Fr. moiste, now "moîte")
• moment (Old Fr. moment)
• monad
• monarch (from monarque)
• monarchism (from monarchisme)
• monarchy (from monarchie)
• monetary (from monétaire)
• money (Old Fr moneie)
• monition
• monster (Fr. monstre)
• monobloc
• monocle
• monogamy (Fr. monogamie)
• monogram
• monolith
• monologue (Fr. monologue)
• montage
• morgue
• mortality
• mosaic (Fr. mosaïque)
• motif
• mot juste
• mount (from mont)
• mountain (from montagne)
• mousse
• moustache or mustache, compare moustache
• move (Old Fr. moveir)
• movement (from mouvement)
• muffle (Old Fr. moufle)
• mule, as a type of footwear
• murder (Old Fr. murdre)
• muscle
• musket (from mousquet)
• musketeer (from mousquetaire)
• mustard, from Old French, compare modern Fr. moutarde
• mutton
• mystery (Old Fr. mystère)
• mystic
• mystique
N• nacelle
• naïve
• née or nee, feminine past participle of naître to be born
• Nez perce (Fr. Nez percés = Pierced noses)
• nice (Old Fr. nice)
• niche
• nicotine, from Jean Nicot
• niece (Fr. nièce)
• noble
• noblesse oblige
• noise (Old Fr. noise)
• nonpareil
• note
• notice
• nouveau
• nouveau riche
• nouveau roman
• nouvelle cuisine
• nouvelle vague
• novel
• novelty
• november
• novice (Old Fr. novice)
• nuance
• nuisance
• null
• nullity (Fr. nullité)
• number (Old Fr. nombre)
• numerator
• numismatic
• nun (Old Fr. nonne)
• nurse
• nurture
• nutrition (Fr. nutrition)
• nutritive
• nymph (Old Fr. nimphe)
O
• oboe (via Italian), from French "haut bois"
• ocean, from O.Fr. occean
• œuvre
• offend
• offense (Fr. offense)
• office
• officer (Old Fr. officier)
• official
• ogive (Fr. ogive)
• ogre
• oil (Old Fr. oile)
• ointment (Old Fr. oignement)
• olive
• omelette, compare omelette
• omission
• omnibus
• opacity
• opal
• operation
• opinion (Old Fr. opinion)
• opportune
• opportunism (Fr.opportunisme)
• opportunity
• oppose (Old Fr. opposer)
• opposite
• opposition (Old Fr. oposicion)
• oppress (Old Fr. oppresser)
• optative (Fr. optatif)
• optician
• optimism (Fr. optimisme)
• option
• oracle (Old Fr. oracle)
• orange (Old Fr. orenge)
• ordain (Old Fr. ordener)
• order (Old Fr. ordre)
• organic
• organism
• organise
• orgy
• origin
• original
• ormolu
• ornament
• ornithopter
• orpine
• orthography, from Old French, compare modern Fr. orthographe
• oubliette
P
• pair
• palace (Old Fr. palais)
• palm (Old Fr. palme)
• panache
• pansy (Fr. pensée)
• pant (Old Fr. pantaisier)
• pantaloon (Fr. pantalon)
• panther (Old Fr. pantère)
• papier mâché
• parade
• paragon
• parent
• parentage
• parfait
• parley
• parliament
• part (Old Fr. part)
• partial (Old Fr. parcial, compare modern Fr. partiel or partial, the later being a synonym of biased)
• partisan
• partition
• pass (Old Fr. passer)
• passion
• passé
• passive
• passport
• paste
• pastel
• pastiche
• pastille
• pastor
• pasture
• pasturage
• pasty
• pastry
• patch
• pâté
• patent
• paternity
• pathetic
• pathology
• patience (Old Fr. pacience)
• patient
• patisserie
• pause (Old Fr. pause)
• pawn (Old Fr. pan, pant)
• peace (Old Fr. pais)
• peach
• pear
• pell-mell (Fr. pêle-mêle)
• pelt (Old Fr. pelete)
• pen (Old Fr. penne)
• penal
• pencil
• pension
• pensive
• penthouse (Old Fr. apentis)
• people (Old Fr. peupel)
• perchance
• perceiver
• perch (Old Fr. perche)
• perdition
• perfect
• perfection
• perfume, from Middle French, "parfum"
• person (Old Fr. persone)
• petty (Old Fr. petit)
• petulant, compare pétulant
• phial
• philanthropic (Fr. philanthropique)
• philately (Fr. philatélie)
• philharmonic
• philosophy (Old Fr. filosofie)
• philtre (Fr. philtre)
• physics (Fr. physique)
• phantom (Fr. fantôme)
• phlebotomy
• phlegm
• piece (Old Fr. piece)
• pied à terre
• piety (Old Fr. piete)
• pipette
• piquant
• piqué
• pirouette
• piss (Old Fr. pisser, still used today in slang)
• pistol
• pistole
• plain (Old Fr. plain)
• plaque
• plastic (Fr. plastique)
• plat du jour
• plate
• plateau
• platform (Fr. plateforme)
• platoon (Fr. peloton)
• platter
• plebiscite (Fr. plébiscite)
• plea (Old Fr. plait)
• please (Fr. plaire)
• pleasant (Old Fr. plaisant)
• pleasantry (Old Fr. plaisanterie)
• pleasure (Old Fr. plesir, modern French "plaisir")
• plead
• pledge (Old Fr. plege)
• plié
• plumage
• plumb
• plumber (Old Fr. plommier)
• plume, nom de plume
• plural (Old Fr. pluriel)
• plurality
• plus ça change
• plush
• pneumatic
• poach, as in cookery, from Old French, compare modern Fr. pocher
• poem (Fr. poème)
• poesy (Old Fr. poesie)
• poetic (Fr. poétique)
• policy, from police (as a contract)
• poor (Old Fr. poure, compare poverty)
• populace (Fr. populace)
• popular
• pork
• porous
• porpoise
• port (Old Fr. port)
• portage
• porter
• portion
• portmanteau
• pose, compare poser
• position (Old Fr. position)
• positive (Old Fr. positif)
• posology
• possess (Old Fr. possesser, modern Fr. posséder)
• possibility
• possible (Fr. possible)
• post, compare poste
• poultry
• poutine
• poverty (O.Fr. poverte, compare poor)
• power (Old Fr. poeir)
• practical (Old Fr. practique)
• practise
• precious
• pregnant
• prejudice
• premier (Fr. = first)
• premiere (Fr. première)
• prepare
• prerogative
• presence
• present
• president
• prêt-à-porter
• pretend
• pretense
• price (Old Fr. pris)
• prince (Old Fr. prince)
• princess
• princical
• principality (Old Fr. principalité)
• principle
• print
• prison (Old Fr. prisoun)
• prize compare price
• proof (Old Fr. proeve)
• pronoun (Fr. pronom)
• pronounce
• pronunciation
• proper (Old Fr. propre)
• property
• prophecy (Old Fr. profecie)
• prophesy
• proportion (Old Fr. proportion)
• propose, from proposer
• proposition (Old Fr. proposition)
• prorogue
• prosaic
• prose (Old Fr. prose)
• prosecution
• protection (Old Fr. protection)
• protein
• protestation
• protocol (Old Fr. prothocole)
• proud (Old Fr. prud)
• province (Old Fr. province)
• pulley
• punish (Old Fr. puniss-)
• pure (Old Fr. pur)
• purify (Old Fr. purifier)
• purpose (Old Fr. porpos)
• putty (Modern Fr. potée)
[Q
• qualify
• quality
• quantity
• quarter
• quartet
• quartier
• quatrain
• quatrefoil
• quay
• Québécois
• quest
• question
• questionnaire
• queue
• quiche
• quiet
• quilt
• quintessence
• quintuple
• quit
• quittance
• quotidian
R• rabble (Fr. râble)
• raconteur
• rage (Old Fr. raige)
• raison d'être
• rare (Old Fr. rere)
• rarefy
• rarity
• ratatouille
• rate
• ration
• rave
• real (O.Fr. reel)
• realm
• reason (Old Fr. raison)
• reasonable
• rebound
• receipt, from un reçu, un récépissé
• receive (Old Fr. receivre, modern Fr. recevoir)
• reception
• receptor
• recitation
• recite
• record
• reclaim
• recognize
• recognizance
• recoil
• recollection
• Récollet
• reconnoitre, compare reconnaître
• record
• recorder (Old Fr. recordeur)
• recover
• recovery
• recreation
• recruit
• rector
• rectory
• regret, from Old French, compare modern Fr. regretter
• reign, from régnier
• remain (Old. Fr. remaindre)
• remark
• remarkable
• rendezvous
• reservoir
• responsible
• rest ("remainder, part that is left")
• restaurant
• restaurateur
• resume
• résumé
• revenue
• riposte
• risqué
• rock ("stone", Old Fr. ro(c) que)
• role (Fr. rôle, compare roll)
• roll (Old Fr. rolle)
• Roman
• romantic
• rotisserie
• rouge
• roué
• roulette
• round
• roundel
• rouse
• rout (Old Fr. route)
• route
• routine
• roux
• royal (Old Fr. roial)
• royalty
• rubble
• rubric
• rush (Old Fr. ruser)
• ruse
• russet
• rut
S• sabot
• sabotage
• saboteur
• sachet
• sacrament, compare sacrement
• Saint Louis (named for Louis IX)
• salon
• saloon, compare salon
• sample (Old Fr. essample)
• satin
• sauce (Old Fr. sauce)
• sauté
• sausage, compare saucisse
• savage (Old Fr. sauvage)
• savant
• savate
• save (Anglo-fr. sa(u) ver, Old Fr. salver)
• savoir faire
• scepter
• scholar
• science
• screw (Old Fr. escroue)
• seal (Old Fr. seel)
• séance
• search (Old Fr. cerchier)
• season (Old Fr. saison)
• second (Old Fr. second)
• sensitive
• sentence (Old Fr. sentence)
• sentiment (Old Fr. sentement)
• sentinel
• sepal
• separable
• separation
• septillion (from sept seven)
• sepulchre
• sepulchral
• sequester
• serf (Old Fr. serf)
• sergeant or serjeant, from Old French, compare modern Fr. sergent
• servant
• several (from Old Fr. seperalis via Anglo-Fr. several)
• sex
• similar (Fr. similaire)
• simple (Old Fr. simple)
• skirmish (from escarmouche)
• slice (Old Fr. esclis)
• slot (Old Fr. esclot)
• snye
• sober (Old Fr. sobre)
• sobriety (from sobriété)
• sobriquet
• sociable (Fr. sociable)
• social (Fr. social)
• socialism (Fr. socialisme)
• society (Fr. société)
• socket
• soil (Old Fr. soil)
• soiree (Fr. soirée)
• sojourn (Old Fr. sojorn)
• solder
• sole
• solemnize
• solicit (Old Fr. solliciter)
• solicitor (Old Fr. solliciteur)
• solid
• solidarity (Fr. solidarité)
• soldier
• sombre (Fr. sombre)
• sort (Old Fr. sorte)
• soufflé
• sound (Old Fr. son)
• soupçon
• sovereign (from souverain)
• sovereignist (Fr. souverainiste)
• special
• spirit (Old Fr. esprit)
• stage (Old Fr. estage)
• state (Old Fr. estat, modern Fr. état)
• stay
• stereotype
• story (Old Fr. estorie)
• stray
• stress (Old Fr. estresse)
• structure (Old Fr. structure)
• study (Old Fr. estude, modern Fr. étude)
• stuff (Old Fr. estoffe, modern Fr. étoffe)
• stupid (from stupide)
• sturgeon, from esturgeon
• subject, from sujet
• subtle (from subtile)
• subtlety(from subtilité)
• succession
• successor
• succumb (from succomber)
• succour
• suffer (from souffrir)
• sufficient
• suit, from Old Fr. seoir
• suitor
• superior
• superlative
• support (Old Fr. supporter)
• suppose (Old Fr. supposer)
• sure (Old Fr. sur, seur)
• surety (Old Fr. seurté)
• surface
• surgeon (from chirurgien)
• surgery (from chirurgie)
• surgical (from chirurgical)
• surmise
• surmount
• surname (Old Fr. surnom)
• surpass
• surplus
• surprise
• surrender (Old Fr. surrendre)
• surrealism (Fr. surréalisme)
• suspend
• suspense (Fr. suspens)
• suspension
• sustain
• system
T
• tablature
• table
• tableau
• tablet
• tailor (Old Fr. tailleor)
• talc
• tally
• talon
• tambour
• tamp
• tampon
• tapestry
• tapis
• target
• tariff (Fr. tarif)
• tarot
• tarnish (Fr. ternir)
• Tartar (Old Fr. Tartare)
• tart, as in cookery, compare tarte
• task (from Old Fr. tasche via Norman Fr. tasque)
• taste (Old Fr. tast)
• taupe
• tax (Old Fr. taxer)
• taximeter (Fr. taximètre)
• teat (Old Fr. tete)
• telegraph (Fr. télégraphe)
• temporal (Old Fr. temporel)
• template (Fr. templet)
• temporize
• tempt (Old Fr. tempter)
• tenant
• tench (Old Fr. tenche)
• tend (Old Fr. tend)
• tender
• tendon (Fr. tendon)
• tennis (Old Fr. Tenez, to start the game)
• tent
• terrace, from terrasse
• terrible
• terror (Old Fr. terreur)
• terrorism (first used during French Revolution)
• theatre
• theology (Old Fr. theologie)
• theorem (Fr. théorème)
• therapeutics (Fr. thérapeutique)
• thermal
• toilet, compare toilette
• tonne
• torrid
• tortuous
• torture
• touch (Old Fr. touchier)
• toupée
• tout de suite or toot sweet, compare tout de suite
• towel (Old Fr. toaille)
• transfer
• transparent
• trial
• triangle
• tribe (Old Fr. tribu)
• tribunal
• trompe l'œil
• troop, from troupe
• troupe
• try (Old Fr. trier)
• tuff
• tube
• tyrant (from Fr. tyran, through Latin tyrannus and Greek turannos)
U• unique
• unity
• universal
• university
• universe
• urgent
• use
• usurp
•)• velcro, from velours, velvet, and crochet, hook
• ventre à terre
• verdigris, from vert de gris, the colour of the copper oxide
• verdict
• Vermont (from les verts monts the green mountains)
• versatile
• verse
• version
• vert
• vertical
• very (Old Fr. verai)
• vesper
• vest
• view (Old Fr. veue)
• victory
• vigour
• vile
• villain (Old Fr. villain)
• village (Old Fr. village)
• vintage
• viol (Old Fr. viel(l) e)
• violence (Old Fr. violence)
• violent
• vin, vin blanc, vin rouge, vin rosé, etc.
• vintage
• virgin (Old Fr. virgine)
• virginal
• virtue
• vis-a-vis
• visible
• viscount
• vogue
• voice
• voilà
• void
• volant
• volatile
• volley
• volte-face
• voluble
• volume (Old Fr. volume)
• voluntary
• volunteer
• voluptuous
• volute
• voodoo (from a West African language)
• voucher
• voyage (Old Fr. veiage)
• voyeur
W
Many imported words beginning with "w" in English have cognates in French that start with a "g" or "gu". This is because the English word was not borrowed directly from French or Old French, but from other languages closely related to French, like Norman and Anglo-Norman, where the original "w" sound was preserved (the majority of these words are words of Germanic origin, and stem mainly from either the Frankish language, or other ancient Germanic languages, like Burgundian). In Old French, the initial "w" sound was prefixed by the letter "g" as "gw" and then the "w" sound was later lost. The "w" survives in orthography as "u" in "gu", but only to produce a hard "g" sound.
• wage (Cf Old Fr. gage)
• wager, (Cf Old Fr. gager.
• war, (Cf Old Fr. guerre.)
• wardrobe, (Cf French Garde-Robe, meaning the keep a dress, or clothes.)
• warrant, Cf French garantie.
• waste (Old Northern Fr. wast, Cf Modern French gâter "to spoil, waste")
• Wisconsin, from Ouisconsin, a French variant of a Native American word
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