# Do you use certain foreign words/phrases exclusively rather your native language's words? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 15, 2019, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883 "2019-12-15T06:27:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/1 "2019-12-15T06:27:25Z")
Sorry if the topic is a bit confusing. English is my first and only intelligible language, but I sometimes catch myself using Japanese words/phrases exclusively in certain situations. I’m not talking about about local words or phrases, for example in Hawaii, bento could be described a a lunch box since it contains a variety of foods in a container, but it’s never described as anything but a bento or bento box which is actually more descriptive. I just pulled my clothes from the dryer and caught myself yet again saying _atsui_, Japanese for hot. To the best of my conscious knowledge I’ve never said hot (to the touch). Another word and phrase that I’ve never said without thinking about it consciously are _heave-ho_ and _upsy-daisy/here we go/give it your all_ or their equivalent. I always use _yoisho_ which is usually translated as _heave-ho_ or yotdokkoisho\* which is usually used by old people (myself included) when getting up or doing something strenuous. \*I usually don’t add the sho, unless it’s really strenuous and then it’s semi-consciously said to get myself an extra energy boost. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/2 "2019-12-15T09:08:57Z")
I always respond with _¡Salud!_ instead of _Bless you!_ when someone sneezes. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/3 "2019-12-15T12:06:14Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > I always respond with _¡Salud!_ instead of _Bless you!_ when someone sneezes. Gesundheit is very popular is some circles. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/4 "2019-12-15T13:56:11Z")
My wife says she needs to _shishi_ when she wants help getting to her bedside commode, and I ask her if she’s _pau_ before I help her up. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/5 "2019-12-15T14:49:36Z")
I use _bueno_ (Spanish for ‘good’) while texting, and a lot spoken (altho not exclusively). ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/6 "2019-12-15T14:51:36Z")
I use many English words in everyday conversation, like many of my friends and many Germans in general. “Fuck” is my to-go swear word, and I rather use “sorry” than “Entschuldigung” just for brevity. I correspond a lot with my doper friend **The Butterfly’s Ghost,** who’s also German, via WhatsApp and we usually tend to code-switching and using a mishmash of both languages, especially when talking about things on the dope. ---
**Author:** ![ASGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@ASGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/7 "2019-12-15T14:58:46Z")
One comes right to mind for me. Growing up, foul language spoken in front of my Mom was strictly forbidden. But my Dad taught me and my siblings the German word for the expletive “shit.” (Scheisse.) We couldn’t say _that_ in front of Mom either, but I got used to saying it instead of the English equivalent. I still do. Just thought of this. I was in France for many months back the the mid 1980s. The french word is merde. I use that on occasion, but have to think about it first. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/8 "2019-12-15T15:11:01Z")
Yiddish and Hebrew pepper my language pretty frequently. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/9 "2019-12-15T15:13:27Z")
I use an occasional Yiddish word. Not just Gesundheit, but oy vey, Chutzpah, and a few others (some of them appear to have entered English). I also use a few French words since they have become standard in Montreal. For example, depanneur, for 7/11 type stores (I am not even certain what the English word is: convenience store, maybe). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/10 "2019-12-15T15:14:44Z")
I used to toss out a lot of French words and phrases as a child, then I found out those weren’t really French words. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/11 "2019-12-15T15:23:22Z")
We had grand ambitions of teaching the twins Japanese when they were born, but it’s kinda devolved entirely into mom-nagging words. They exclusively use Japanese words for “brush teeth”, “take bath”, “what are you doing”, “what have you done”, “why did you do that”. I don’t speak a ton of Japanese but I learned enough to contribute my fair share of the nagging. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/12 "2019-12-15T17:25:42Z")
I use Yiddish as often as I can. It’s a beautiful language in which you can say things that you can’t use in English. Just last night I got _verklempt_ at a really touching commercial. FWIW, I’m in no way connected to Judaism. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/13 "2019-12-15T17:34:02Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > I use Yiddish as often as I can. It’s a beautiful language in which you can say things that you can’t use in English. Just last night I got _verklempt_ at a really touching commercial. > > FWIW, I’m in no way connected to Judaism. There are many Yiddish words that entered High German like Chuzpe, meschugge or Schickse. So I also often use Yiddish words, though they are not really foreign words but lean words that have entered German long ago. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/14 "2019-12-15T17:42:21Z")
I use foreign words when there isn’t an English version. But the other day I caught myself about to exclaim _[Kawaii!](https://www.google.com/search?q=Kawaii&safe=off&sxsrf=ACYBGNSLflDbcW9bWdfdasY-ly-s8AENsA:1576430982726&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=czTsiUvmyQYcXM%253A%252CSxXzDu7waNw_NM%252C%252Fm%252F01195j18&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kS6lkuOd592bwSjuXragmHxOiXFDw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj20fOFl7jmAhVQeawKHX1UDz0Q_B0wRHoECDMQAw#imgrc=czTsiUvmyQYcXM:)_ (cute) about something that isn’t a manga puppy with huge eyes. I stopped myself and said “Aww, cute!”… it’s better communication with English-speakers. And it keeps me from being a linguistic show-off (“Look at me, I’m so creative that I use words from other cultures…”), which I could be; I love language and my radar’s always on high alert for fun foreign words, so I’ve picked up hundreds… and besides, Japanese and French and Italian just sound so beautiful. It’s like stopping myself from using a long, convoluted word where a succinct one would work better… it’s my attempt to not be full of myself and fit in with normals. Moshi-moshi! Desolato, but gotta \*allez-y…\*No te rindas! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/15 "2019-12-15T18:06:31Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I use _bueno_ (Spanish for ‘good’) while texting, and a lot spoken (altho not exclusively). This, and I also will say “uno momento por favor” if a co-worker is instant-messaging me a request and I’m in the middle of something else. I figure it sounds better than “hold your horses”. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/16 "2019-12-15T18:12:13Z")
I use toot sweet, which is the anglicised form of tout de suite. I rarely use as soon as possible when speaking, but I will use ASAP when writing. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/17 "2019-12-15T19:21:37Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I use foreign words when there isn’t an English version. But the other day I caught myself about to exclaim _[Kawaii!](https://www.google.com/search?q=Kawaii&safe=off&sxsrf=ACYBGNSLflDbcW9bWdfdasY-ly-s8AENsA:1576430982726&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=czTsiUvmyQYcXM%253A%252CSxXzDu7waNw_NM%252C%252Fm%252F01195j18&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kS6lkuOd592bwSjuXragmHxOiXFDw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj20fOFl7jmAhVQeawKHX1UDz0Q_B0wRHoECDMQAw#imgrc=czTsiUvmyQYcXM:)_ (cute) about something that isn’t a manga puppy with huge eyes. I stopped myself and said “Aww, cute!”… it’s better communication with English-speakers. > > And it keeps me from being a linguistic show-off (“Look at me, I’m so creative that I use words from other cultures…”), which I could be; I love language and my radar’s always on high alert for fun foreign words, so I’ve picked up hundreds… and besides, Japanese and French and Italian just sound so beautiful. > > It’s like stopping myself from using a long, convoluted word where a succinct one would work better… it’s my attempt to not be full of myself and fit in with normals. > > Moshi-moshi! Desolato, but gotta \*allez-y…\*No te rindas! Meh. Fitting in with normals is overrated. If ya got something to show off, I say show off! Don’t hold back to protect other people from your wonderfulness, kwim? ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/18 "2019-12-15T19:47:34Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I use foreign words when there isn’t an English version. But the other day I caught myself about to exclaim _[Kawaii!](https://www.google.com/search?q=Kawaii&safe=off&sxsrf=ACYBGNSLflDbcW9bWdfdasY-ly-s8AENsA:1576430982726&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=czTsiUvmyQYcXM%253A%252CSxXzDu7waNw_NM%252C%252Fm%252F01195j18&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kS6lkuOd592bwSjuXragmHxOiXFDw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj20fOFl7jmAhVQeawKHX1UDz0Q_B0wRHoECDMQAw#imgrc=czTsiUvmyQYcXM:)_ (cute) about something that isn’t a manga puppy with huge eyes. I stopped myself and said “Aww, cute!”… it’s better communication with English-speakers. > > And it keeps me from being a linguistic show-off (“Look at me, I’m so creative that I use words from other cultures…”), which I could be; I love language and my radar’s always on high alert for fun foreign words, so I’ve picked up hundreds… and besides, Japanese and French and Italian just sound so beautiful. > > It’s like stopping myself from using a long, convoluted word where a succinct one would work better… it’s my attempt to not be full of myself and fit in with normals. > > Moshi-moshi! Desolato, but gotta \*allez-y…\*No te rindas! Since I watch a lot of Japanese, Chinese (both Cantonese and Mandarin) and Korean movies/shows, I tend to use subconciously use that language’s phrases when talking to myself. I have to consciously stop myself when I’m speaking to a native speaker. Cute: _kawaii_ - Japanese as mentioned _gwiyeo/gwiyeobda_ - Korean _ke ai_ - Mandarin Surprise/distress _Ai ya!_ - Cantonese, Mandarin and most Chinese dialects _Aigoo!_ - Korean Ironically, I can’t think of any Japanese word except _Oi!_ ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/19 "2019-12-16T00:22:36Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Meh. Fitting in with normals is overrated. If ya got something to show off, I say show off! Don’t hold back to protect other people from your wonderfulness, kwim? I think I’ll start saying “Kwim?”… Maybe people will assume it’s a foreign word with many layers of meaning. Used by globe-trotting femme fatales and men of mystery. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883/20 "2019-12-16T00:27:11Z")
Although there are many foreign words I like, I wouldn’t use them exclusively. For the sake of clarity. And because the world has enough pretentiousness. But some words are too good to never use, and a lot of words don’t have an easy and exact equivalent. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-certain-foreign-words-phrases-exclusively-rather-your-native-languages-words/844883.md?page=2)