STUDY NOTES EPISODE 24: NEW TRAINING FOREIGN WORDS AND PHRASES IN ENGLISH English vocabulary abounds with many foreign words and phrases They are borrowed into the language to express things, ideas and concepts, which cannot otherwise be aptly, conveyed using native words or phrases Some are totally assimilated into the vocabulary, for example, violin and macaroni from Italian, and alligator and tomato from Spanish Others, while fully part of the vocabulary, retain the pronunciation, spelling or grammatical ending of the original language, for example, Grand Prix (French), karaoke (Japanese) and phenomena (Latin) STUDY TIPS When using foreign words or phrases in spoken or written English it is important they are used correctly and are stylistically appropriate Foreign words can make your speech or writing sound casual or more sophisticated, or excessively formal and artificial, if used incorrectly English borrows from many languages of the world, examples of which are examined in further in the notes below Foreign words, phrases and expressions It is not uncommon in English speech and writing, both formal and informal, to come across foreign words, phrases and expressions, given the extent people travel, mass communication, migration, foreign exchange programs, colonisation etc These borrowings make English vocabulary rich and diverse The vocabulary of English is increasing by thousands of new words each year as words and concepts are taken from other languages The table that follows is a list of the more commonly used foreign words, phrases and expressions Foreign word, phrase or expression Origin, word form, pronunciation Meaning a cappella Italian, adjective/adverb to sing without the accompaniment of musical instruments /a k 'p l / ad hoc Latin, adjective/adverb, formal /æd 'h k/ aficionado aficionados (plural) Spanish, noun / f i 'nado / something that is not planned, but rather organised or arranged when necessary someone who has an interest in and is quite knowledgeable about a particular subject or activity Page of Foreign word, phrase or expression Origin, word form, pronunciation Meaning la carte French, adjective/adverb menu which allows you to choose individually priced dishes something that is in fashion /a la 'kat/ la mode French, adjective/adverb alma mater Latin, noun /a la 'mo d/ /ælm 'mat / angst German, noun (uncountable) /æ st/ apparatchik Russian, noun a priori Latin, adjective/adverb, formal apropos French, adverb, formal /ap 'ra ik/ the school or university you attended feelings of anxiety and worry because of uncertainties in the life and future government or party official who obeys orders an argument or reason which is based on general principles /e pri' ri/ /æpr 'o / au fait French, adjective /o 'fe / au naturel French, adjective blasé French, adjective /o næ 'r l/ /bla'ze / blitz with reference to, in respect of familiar or acquainted with German, noun in a natural state or form, uncooked, naked being uninterested in, unimpressed with or indifferent to something a surprise and sudden attack /bl ts/ bona fide Latin, adjective real, genuine, true /bo n 'fa di/ bon appetit French, interjection enjoy your meal /b n æp 'ti/ bon vivant bon viveur bon voyage French, noun, formal /bã vi'vã/ French, interjection /bã v 'ja / boomerang Australian aboriginal, noun carte blanche French, noun /'bum ræ / /kat 'bl n / c’est la vie French, interjection chilli carne Spanish , noun /se / someone who indulges in good food and wine, and lives well used to wish someone a pleasant journey, trip a curved piece of timber when thrown returns full circle permission to as you please that’s life la 'vi/ li k n 'kani/ a spicy meat dish with beans and chillies Page of Foreign word, phrase or expression Origin, word form, pronunciation Meaning ciao Italian, interjection informal to say hello or goodbye cliché French, noun / a / /'kli e / cordon bleu French, adjective /k d n 'bl / cosmonaut Russian, noun coup French, noun crème de la crème French, noun cul-de-sac French, noun curriculum vitae curricula vitae (plural) de facto Latin, noun an idea or phrase which is overused and ineffective describes a cook or cookery of the highest quality or standard astronaut /'k zm n t/ overthrowing a government and seizing power the very best of something /ku/ /kr m d la 'kr m/ /'k l-d -sæk/ /k 'r kj l m 'vita / Latin, adjective /d 'fækto / déjà vu French, noun /de détente street or road which is closed at one end a brief description of your career, work experience etc actually existing but not legally the feeling of having experienced something before but in fact it wasn’t experienced Friendly relations between countries where previously relations were tense and problematic as a single unit a 'vu/ French, noun /de 't nt/ en bloc French, adverb encore French, interjection / n'bl k/ /' nk / en route French, adverb entourage French, noun repetition of a song or music because the audience requests it on the way / n 'rut/ / ks 'f sio / a group of people or assistants who travel with a famous or important person expression used to show how happy you are because you’ve finally solved a problem or realised something a payment which is made as a gift or as a favour a rank or privilege because of their position Origin, word form, Meaning / ntu'ra / eureka Greek, interjection /ju'rik / ex gratia Latin, adjective, formal ex officio Latin, adjective, formal / ks 'gre Foreign word, phrase / Page of or expression pronunciation fait accompli French, noun /fe t k m'pli/ fatwa Arabic, noun /fætwa/ faux pas French, noun /'fo glasnost pa/ Russian, noun /glæzn st/ gnocchi Italian, noun gourmet French, noun /'n ki/ /'g me / Grand Prix Grands Prix (plural) gratis French, noun Latin, adverb harakiri Japanese, noun /grã 'pri/ Something which has already been done and has to remain as is a religious order issued by an Islamic leader an embarrassing mistake or inappropriate behaviour in a social situation a policy allowing openness in government small round or square dumplings food which is exceptionally good and usually expensive a series of international races, especially motor-racing free /'grat s/ /hær 'k ri/ hoist Dutch, noun /h in camera st/ Latin, adjective killing oneself by cutting open the stomach to avoid dishonour equipment used to lift heavy objects in private / n 'kæm r / in toto Latin, adverb in all; totally / n 'to to / kamikaze Japanese, adjective /kæm 'kazi/ karaoke Japanese, noun /kæri'o ki/ kitsch German, noun la dolce vita Italian, noun /k / /la 'd l e laisser-faire laissez-faire French, noun lasagne (Australian and British English) lasagna (North American English) lychee Italian, noun /le se 'vit / 'f / non-interference; allowing things to act of their own accord flat pieces of pasta /l 'sanj / Chinese, noun /la ' i/ Foreign word, phrase or expression someone who willingly takes a risk knowing they are endangering themselves a form of entertainment in which a machine plays songs to which people sing the words something which is of poor quality, worthless and showy the good life Origin, word form, pronunciation a small round piece of fruit with sweet white flesh inside Meaning Page of macho Spanish, adjective, informal /'mæ o / modus operandi Latin, noun, formal nouveau riche French, adjective /mo d s /nuvo p 'rændi/ 'ri / persona non grata Latin, noun, formal pièce de résistance French, noun putsch German, noun a man who emphasises his masculinity, aggressiveness, bravery etc the way someone operates/works someone who has recently acquired wealth but not manners or good taste someone who is not welcome /p so n n n 'grat / something which is the best /pi s d r 'z st ns/ /p rattan / Malay, noun /r 'tæn/ rigor mortis Latin, noun sashimi Japanese, noun sheikh Arabic, noun /r g 'm t s/ removing a government forcefully furniture which is made from the stems of a plant grown in South East Asia the condition whereby a body becomes stiff after death small pieces of raw fresh fish /sæ' imi/ / e k/ sushi Japanese, noun /'s tête-à- tête i/ French, noun /te t-a-'te t/ thug Hindi, noun tiramisu Italian, noun / g/ /t rami'su/ touché French, interjection /tu' e / tycoon an Arab ruler or a Muslim religious leader small cakes of prepared rice and raw fish or vegetables a conversation between two people, usually private a person who is violent Japanese, noun /ta 'kun/ literally means ‘pick-me-up’; layered cake with coffee and cream acknowledging a good point/remark that your opponent has made a successful businessman with power and money Page of