# Why are there no English equivalents to these French words? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 7, 2000, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100 "2000-02-07T17:51:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2000, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/1 "2000-02-07T17:51:00Z")
Off the top of my head, there are at least three French words or phrases in common use in the USoA that relate to very common things. Among them: _fiancé_, _cul-de-sac_, and _hors d’oeuvres_. Golly, folks, can’t the creative English speakers come up with and use English words for these? After all, _cul-de-sac_ literally means “bottom of the bag”…it certainly doesn’t paint a pretty picture of what many house-seekers look for. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2000, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/2 "2000-02-07T17:53:00Z")
hors d’oeuvres = appetizers ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2000, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/3 "2000-02-07T17:54:00Z")
Fiance=betrothed Cul-de-sac=dead end hors d’oeuvres=finger food * * * Lord Flasheart to Nursie: I like it firm and fruity. Am I glad to see you or did I just put a canoe in my pocket? Lord Flasheart: She’s got a tongue like an electric eel and she likes the taste of a man’s tonsils. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2000, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/4 "2000-02-07T17:55:00Z")
Those wacky French; they’ve got a word for everything. -Homer Simpson- ---
**Author:** ![Kepi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kepi/32/7251_2.png) [@Kepi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepi)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2000, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/5 "2000-02-07T17:59:00Z")
How about: _fiancé_ = betrothed _hors d’oeuvres_ = appetizer Can’t really think of and equivalent for _cul-de-sac_, but those types of streets are usually named _circle_ or _court_. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/6 "2000-02-08T06:08:00Z")
Yes, folks, I know what the words _mean_. The question (stated another way) is: Why don’t we commonly use English words for these? Why are we content to use the French, especially such atrocities as _hors d’oeuvres_? * * * “go away, or I shall taunt you a second time!” ---
**Author:** ![MidnightRambler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@MidnightRambler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MidnightRambler)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/7 "2000-02-08T06:14:00Z")
2 corrections: 1: litteral translation of cul-de-sac is ASS of the bag 2: Simpsons quote is “… they have a different word for everything.” ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/8 "2000-02-08T06:26:00Z")
> [@](#): > > 1: litteral translation of cul-de-sac is ASS of the bag Assuming you are serious, this from Merriam Webster: > [@](#): > > Etymology: French, literally, bottom of the bag > Date: 1738 * * * “Stupid bird! I should never have put you in charge!” ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/9 "2000-02-08T06:31:00Z")
Actually, this is kind of a silly question – since English is an amalgam anyway. That is, many English words are French (or German, or another language), it’s just that they became part of English long enough ago that we don’t think of them as French. So, for example, you might say we could use “court” instead of “cul-de-sac”, but “court” is French, too, I’m guessing via the Latin _curia_. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/10 "2000-02-08T06:33:00Z")
\*Raza: Off the top of my head, there are at least three French words or phrases in common use in the USoA that relate to very common things. Among them: fiancé, cul-de-sac, and hors d’oeuvres. Golly, folks, can’t the creative English speakers come up with and use English words for these? \* Nope. That’s the nature of English. It’s the Borg of languages: assimilate. In another 100 years, these words won’t seem foreign at all. “Resume” (as in career summary) is almost there. “Beef” and “mutton” are definately in. There’s also a plethora of Native American words that are now English words. ## And don’t forget that English started out as Anglo-Saxon, from Germany. Wrong thinking is punished, right thinking is just as swiftly rewarded. You’ll find it an effective combination. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/11 "2000-02-08T06:34:00Z")
And “appetizer” also is of French origin, albeit carrying a modern ending. _Bon appetit_ ---
**Author:** ![TomH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@TomH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TomH)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/12 "2000-02-08T06:37:00Z")
_Cul_ has both meanings: > [@](#): > > 1. TRÈS FAM Derrière, postérieur de l’homme et de divers animaux. > > 2. Partie postérieure ou inférieure de certains objets. –_Le Larousse de Poche_ (Paris, 1998) What’s interesting is that the French term, _cul-de-sac_ is rarely used in France. They tend to say _impasse_. This will always be carved in my memory as, once when I was in France during the 1980s, I came across a road sign that said: “RUE THATCHER - IMPASSE”. ---
**Author:** ![Nickrz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@Nickrz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nickrz)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/13 "2000-02-08T06:49:00Z")
That’s why English is such a viable, living language. We can take other emminently suitable words from other languages and incorporate them into our vocabulary, and do it with glee and mad debauch and thank thee very much. Languages like French which are spoken by snobs who resent any intrusion or improvement will die a painful slow death because they refuse to evolve. I might ask why the frogs have no word for “weekend,” yet hate it when people use ours? ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2000, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/14 "2000-02-07T19:27:00Z")
Erm, french for “weekend” is _fin de la semaine_. Not surprisingly, many of the French have abandoned this thyroidal construction in favor of _le week-end_ (pronounced “luh vick-end”) instead. * * * Live a Lush Life Da Chef ---
**Author:** ![ubermensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bcef8e/32.png) [@ubermensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ubermensch)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2000, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/15 "2000-02-07T19:49:00Z")
isn’t there a german word that means “deriving pleasure from another’s misfortune”? or something like that? i know dennis miller brought it up in a rant, and i’ve seen it elsewhere… we need an english word like that, or else an easier pronunciation… ---
**Author:** ![tatertot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@tatertot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tatertot)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2000, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/16 "2000-02-07T20:21:00Z")
I think the word you’re looking for, Ubermensch, is Schadenfreude. It’s one of my very favorite words. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2000, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/17 "2000-02-07T21:53:00Z")
Raza asked: > [@](#): > > Why don’t we commonly use English words for these? Why are we content to use the French, especially such atrocities as hors d’oeuvres? Because the French is exotic and therefore more beautiful than the English. Why say appetizer, when you can sound culturally important and say “or dervs”? I suspect this is due in part to the fashion of serving them coming from France, and thus the uppity - er, cultural elite who started this practice in English countries adopted the snooty French over the banal English. Betrothed. Hard to say (if you don’t pronounce the “ed” as a separate syllable). “Fee ahn say” - easy to say (hard to spell right). Cul-de-sac sounds more elegant than “dead-end street”. ubermensch asked: > [@](#): > > isn’t there a german word that means “deriving pleasure from another’s misfortune”? or something like that? In English that’s called “sadism”. ---
**Author:** ![Cap\_n\_Crude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Cap\_n\_Crude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cap_n_Crude)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2000, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/18 "2000-02-07T22:11:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Why don’t we commonly use English words for these? Why are we content to use the French, especially such atrocities as hors d’oeuvres? The reason is the Battle of Hastings. When the Norman French conquered England in 1066, there was a great influx of nobles who spoke French as their primary/sole language. The ability to speak French became tied to one’s ability to advance in society, and French became a “prestige language.” This lasted for about 400-500 years, after which the expansion of the middle class enabled English (with its Germanic and Latin roots) to resurface. We still use French words to indicate higher status or quality. I could give a list, but I won’t. As to why even vulgar-seeming French terms are used this way, there are two reasons: 1. the French have a knack for sarcasm and poetic reference to things. 2. A social climber would latch onto any term he could learn, even an improper one, thus inadvertently branding himself a churl. I knew my studies of linguistics and Old and Middle English would pay off someday! * * * –Da Cap’n “Playin’ solitaire 'til dawn With a deck of fifty-one.” ---
**Author:** ![TomH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@TomH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TomH)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2000, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/19 "2000-02-07T23:36:00Z")
> [@](#): > > the French have a knack for sarcasm Oh, and I suppose the English don’t? ---
**Author:** ![SINsApple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SINsApple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SINsApple)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/20 "2000-02-08T00:05:00Z")
Way to prove your point TomH!! 😃 * * * “I celebrate myself, and sing myself, and what I assume you shall assume, for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.” --Whitman [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100.md?page=2)