It’s French, not Latin. And although it may translate literally as “false step”, it means a “social blunder”.
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.
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?
It’s French in origin , 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.
oh…so my dictionary wasn’t incorrect? It said “origin” of word?
Can you tell us what your dictionary says, fauxpas? I’d be interested in getting to the bottom of the mystery.
And by that, I mean a quote, as DDG did. 
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.
Ok hers my dictionaries query:
quote: a false step;esp.a breach of propriety’ origin French…derived from Latin
What part of “origin French” did you not understand, then?
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.
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.
Not you Ice Wolf, the other girl.
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::
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.
Argh. Foiled again. Damn smiley.
look im sorry racin…i didnt mean to…i hate being fooled by a stupid dictionary…Ice…ill follow your advice…
lol
Ice Wolf - what bugger off be better ? *special wink *
what = would
If ya don’t want th’ bannin’ – keep it clean in GQ, trader.