# 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:** 2
**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, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/21 "2000-02-08T00:06:00Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilgore_Trout_1)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/22 "2000-02-08T00:11:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Erm, french for “weekend” is fin de la semaine. ## _fin de la semaine_ is not a word, just as _end of the week_ is not a word. _what is essential is invisible to the eye -the fox_ ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/23 "2000-02-08T01:42:00Z")
> [@](#): > > I think the word you’re looking for, Ubermensch, is Schadenfreude. It’s one of my very favorite words. Funny you should mention that. I was just about to correct a Simpson’s misquote from this thread. > [@](#): > > **Lisa** Do you know what Schadenfreude is? > **Homer** No, I do not know what Schadenfreude is. Please tell me, because I’m dying to know. > **Lisa** It’s a German term for “shameful joy,” taking pleasure in the suffering of others. > **Homer** Oh come on, Lisa. I’m just glad to see him fall flat on his butt!" > > later… > > **Homer** What’s the opposite of that “shameful joy” thing of yours? > **Lisa** Sour grapes. > **Homer** Boy, those Germans have a word for everything. Episode 7F23. “When Flanders Failed”. Cripes, people. Get your quotes straight! 😃 * * * I used to rock and roll all night and party every day. Then it was every other day. Now I’m lucky if I can find a half an hour a week in which to get funky. ---
**Author:** ![Lawrence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@Lawrence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lawrence)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/24 "2000-02-08T02:01:00Z")
All languages borrow words from other languages. Language A will take a word from language B when the speakers of language A feel they have a need to express a concept that their language has no word for but that language B does. An example would be English’s borrowing of Spanish cowboy words like lasso, lariat, remuda, pinto, etc. Another example is our borrowing of terms like zeitgeist, deja vu, coup d’etat, schadenfreunde, etc. that our language cannot express exactly, even in a phrase. Another example would be Spanish’s borrowing of English business/high-tech words like software, marketing, cashflow, etc. Borrowing is also done to seem trendy or fashionable; English imported high-class-sounding words like hors d’oeuvres and fiancee, as well as matinee and decolletage, dating back to a time when things French were fashionable. Now that things American are fashionable, Spanish has imported words like cocktail, brunch, party, rave, disk-jockey, and delicatessen. Some of them express new concepts; some just sound cool, hip, and with-it. One thing that English-speakers find funny when living abroad are the distortions of English words in foreign countries. For example, in Spain un camping is a campground, un parking is a parking garage or parking place, un smoking is a dinner jacket, un piso de alto standing is an expensive apartment, un cocktail (as well as a drink) is a cocktail party, un meeting is a political rally, un showman is an entertainer, los jet or los beautiful are celebrities, un ticket is any sort of receipt (but never what we would call a ticket: that’s una entrada for a movie or soccer game and un billete for the train or bus), un crack is both a star athlete and a stock market crash, un bomber is a vinyl windbreaker, un pull or un jersey is a sweater, un recordman is a world-record holder, un panty is a pair of pantyhose, un sexy-girl or sexy-boy is a stripper, and, my favorite, el footing is jogging. ---
**Author:** ![Lawrence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@Lawrence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lawrence)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/25 "2000-02-08T02:04:00Z")
Of course, that should be una sexy-girl or un sexy-boy. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/26 "2000-02-08T04:22:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Kilgore Trout: > \*\* _fin de la semaine_ is not a word, just as _end of the week_ is not a word. > \*\* And it’s _la fin de semaine_ anyway 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/27 "2000-02-08T05:04:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Why are we content to use the > French, especially such atrocities as hors > d’oeuvres? Well, I ain’t eatin’ none of them there horse doovers, I don’t care if you call 'em ‘ordervs’ or stick them little toothpickies in ‘em, I done read all about ‘em and I know they are nothin’ but horse doovers and I just plum ain’t eatin’ em! * * * Designated Optional Signature at Bottom of Post ---
**Author:** ![dp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecd19e/32.png) [@dp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dp)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/28 "2000-02-08T06:05:00Z")
The french have a clever term that roughly translates to “wit of the stairs”. It describes a situation where you think of the perfect comeback to someone who has insulted you, but you think of it too late. I cannot remember the french phrase though. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/29 "2000-02-08T06:30:00Z")
dp, the phrase is _avoir l’esprit de l’escalier_. ---
**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, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/30 "2000-02-08T08:51:00Z")
The French do have the Acadamie Francaise which attempts to eliminate foreign influences on the language. For example the (Sony) “Walkman” is a “balladeur”. As a bit of humor: In the early 80’s I was a teenage American living in France, the Minister of Culture, a man by the the name “Jack Lang” (sic) gave a 20 miniute speach on french T.V. about the evils of “franglais” (english words adopted by the french). He ended the speach with “…merci et bon week-end” (no kidding) ---
**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, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/31 "2000-02-08T09:07:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by TomH: > \*\*_Cul_ has both meanings: > > –_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”.\*\* Je vous remercie pour la verification. ---
**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, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/32 "2000-02-08T10:31:00Z")
Pointless trivia: Jack Lang is still around. I think he’s now Chairman of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/33 "2000-02-08T12:55:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Banks: > **Cul-de-sac=dead end** FYI: A cul-de-sac is NOT a dead end, but a court. Actually, it is special type of court where the entrance has a neck to it. If you can picture one holding a sack of coal, that is the shape implied when speaking of a cul-de-sac. ---
**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, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/34 "2000-02-08T13:10:00Z")
Jinx, from the OED > [@](#): > > A street, lane, or passage closed at one end, a blind alley; a place having no outlet except by the entrance Sounds like a dead end to me. ---
**Author:** ![aschrott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@aschrott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aschrott)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/35 "2000-02-08T14:33:00Z")
Perhaps someone has already pointed this out, but the French tend to use just as many English words as we do French. And on the subject of “weekend”…my French acquiantances tell me that the friday afternoon phrase-of-choice is “bon weekend.” ---
**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, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/36 "2000-02-08T15:30:00Z")
This might be regional, or even just among my friends growing up: we called cul-de-sacs or courts “keyholes”, their shape being somewhat reminiscent of old-style door lock key holes. _“The Keyhole”_ in our parlance was one cul-de-sac in particular where the street had been paved but no houses had been constructed. It was our launchsite for our Estes Rockets. * * * Wrong thinking is punished, right thinking is just as swiftly rewarded. You’ll find it an effective combination. ---
**Author:** ![ignatiusjreilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@ignatiusjreilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ignatiusjreilly)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/37 "2000-02-08T16:55:00Z")
[hijack] Russians are also really bad for this. Television is “televeezor”. Radio is “radio”. Computer is… Another funny thing they do is make russian verbs out of English verbs. Park (your car) becomes “Parkovat” and is declined like a normal Russian verb. Kind of funny too- the most accepted way to get a bus to stop at your stop nowaydays: yell “Stop!” (use a Russian accent of course) [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/38 "2000-02-08T17:03:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Funny you should mention that. I was just about to correct a Simpson’s misquote from this thread. The French version of the quote, predating the Simpsons version by a couple of decades, is from a Steve Martin routine. He talks about going to France and learning that “oeuf means egg. Chapeau means hat. It’s like those French have a different word for everything!” And he goes on to discuss ordering a shoe with cheese and having it forced down his throat and having a waiter massage his grandmother. Apologies for any and all French misspellings. ---
**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, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/39 "2000-02-08T19:10:00Z")
> [@](#): > > All languages borrow words from other languages A minor quibble, but I think “borrow” is not the correct term. We’re not giving them back. Steal and incorporate" is perhaps more descriptive of the process. How many of you actually think of the word “fiance” as “French”? The English language cares little for the derivation of words in everyday use. Is using words like cul-de-sac or hors d’oeuvres “speaking French”? Of course not. Those words are part of the English language just as surely as “weekend” or “cheeseburger.” The OP errs in asking why there are no English equivalents to perfectly servicable English words. ---
**Author:** ![Bobby\_O](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bobby\_O](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobby_O)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100/40 "2000-02-08T20:54:00Z")
I know this is off-post, but Steve Martin was the one who said “Those French have a different word for everything.” Homer stole it. Just like we steal from other languages. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-english-equivalents-to-these-french-words/7100.md?page=3)