s2024 notes

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 1 of 5


Foreign word, phrase
or expression

Origin, word form,
pronunciation

Meaning

à la carte

French, adjective/adverb

menu which allows you to
choose individually priced
dishes
something that is in fashion

/a la 'kat/
à 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 con 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 do as you

please
that’s life

la 'vi/
li k n 'kani/

a spicy meat dish with beans
and chillies

Page 2 of 5


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 3 of 5


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 4 of 5


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 5 of 5