# System of a Down **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 26, 2002, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924 "2002-12-26T03:01:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/41 "2002-12-27T23:36:37Z")
It’s French, not Latin. And although it may translate literally as “false step”, it _means_ a “social blunder”. > **[Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: America's most-trusted online dictionary](https://www.merriam-webster.com/)** > > The dictionary by Merriam-Webster is America's most trusted online dictionary for English word definitions, meanings, and pronunciation. #wordsmatter > [@](#): > > Main Entry: faux pas > Pronunciation: ‘fO-"pä, fO-’ > Function: noun > Inflected Form(s): plural faux pas /-"pä(z), -'pä(z)/ > Etymology: French, literally, false step > Date: 1676 > : BLUNDER; especially : a social blunder ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/42 "2002-12-27T23:51:21Z")
Whoever told you _faux pas_ was Latin was really pulling your leg, **fauxpas**. And yes, it does mean a social blunder, a slip in speech or manners. ---
**Author:** ![fauxpas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e480ec/32.png) [@fauxpas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fauxpas)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/43 "2002-12-28T00:48:17Z")
ahh…this is too strange!! In my culture its LATIN!! Why? I speak spanish and Portuguesse’ so how can it be still pronounced correctly in Latin? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/44 "2002-12-28T01:01:42Z")
It’s [French in origin](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=faux%20pas) , **fauxpas**. But remember that French, like most of the Mediterranean tongues, is a Romance, or Latin-derived, language. We’re simply saying that “faux pas” is not a phrase from Latin (the Roman language), but it comes directly into languages such as English from the French. ---
**Author:** ![fauxpas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e480ec/32.png) [@fauxpas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fauxpas)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/45 "2002-12-28T01:05:52Z")
oh…so my dictionary wasn’t incorrect? It said “origin” of word? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/46 "2002-12-28T01:08:27Z")
Can you tell us what your dictionary says, **fauxpas**? I’d be interested in getting to the bottom of the mystery. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/47 "2002-12-28T01:09:49Z")
And by that, I mean a quote, as **DDG** did. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/48 "2002-12-28T07:03:25Z")
French is directly derived from the Vulgate Latin brought to the region by Roman conquerors who edged out the native Celtic tribes. A lot of French is easily traceable to Latin, but that does _not_ mean all French phrases could be said to be Latin phrases. _Faux pas_ is one of them: One can easily trace both words to Latin roots, but the phrase itself is French and it entered our language from French. Saying it is Latin is simply wrong, no matter what culture you are from. ---
**Author:** ![fauxpas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e480ec/32.png) [@fauxpas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fauxpas)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/49 "2002-12-28T07:18:47Z")
Ok hers my dictionaries query: quote: a false step;esp.a breach of propriety’ origin French…derived from Latin ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/50 "2002-12-28T07:24:56Z")
What part of “origin French” did you not understand, then? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/51 "2002-12-28T07:25:45Z")
Yup. Looks like your dictionary there just isn’t too clear. The “breach of propriety” would be the equivalent of a social blunder. **Derleth’s** post is on th’ button, **fauxpas**. ---
**Author:** ![fauxpas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e480ec/32.png) [@fauxpas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fauxpas)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/52 "2002-12-28T07:28:55Z")
sod off! PLEASE! YOu havent been here before…sorry…sorry. The other guys may say that but you, no, you just got here to read this. ---
**Author:** ![fauxpas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e480ec/32.png) [@fauxpas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fauxpas)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/53 "2002-12-28T07:30:57Z")
Not you Ice Wolf, the other girl. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/54 "2002-12-28T07:37:00Z")
I’m sorry. I didn’t know I needed to ask permission to post in your thread. Please accept my apologies. ::prostrates self before thee:: ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/55 "2002-12-28T07:38:12Z")
S’okay. I know. Word of advice, tho’ – don’t go telling other posters here in GQ to “sod off”, okay? You leave stuff like that for the BBQ Pit, trust me. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/56 "2002-12-28T07:38:18Z")
Argh. Foiled again. Damn smiley. ---
**Author:** ![fauxpas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e480ec/32.png) [@fauxpas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fauxpas)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/57 "2002-12-28T07:39:59Z")
look im sorry racin…i didnt mean to…i hate being fooled by a stupid dictionary…Ice…ill follow your advice…😃 lol ---
**Author:** ![trader\_of\_shots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trader\_of\_shots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trader_of_shots)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/58 "2002-12-28T07:56:36Z")
Ice Wolf - what bugger off be better ? \*special wink \* ---
**Author:** ![trader\_of\_shots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trader\_of\_shots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trader_of_shots)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/59 "2002-12-28T07:57:52Z")
what = would ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924/60 "2002-12-28T08:02:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by trader\_of\_shots \* > \*\*Ice Wolf - what bugger off be better ? \*special wink \* \*\* If ya don’t want th’ bannin’ – keep it clean in GQ, **trader**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/system-of-a-down/144924.md?page=4)