This is a list of French words, terms and phrases of English language origin, some of a specialist nature, in common usage in the French language or at least within their specialist area.
Modern English is rarely considered a source language as it is itself a mixture of other languages. Culturally, the creation of new words is widely accepted and there is no official body that is treated as the guardian of the language. Each dictionary producer makes their own editorial decisions and there is a slight impetus towards adding new words as this often results in media coverage and public discussion.
Conversely, the Académie française as an institution absolutely guards the French language. This hurdle in the creation of new words allows time and space for English neologisms to enter common usage in the French language. In many cases, l'Académie publishes French alternatives or creates French neologisms, however these words often fail to achieve the public traction which, by definition has to have been achieved by the English word for it to be noticed by l'Académie in the first place.
In nearly all cases the words in this list are not sanctioned by the Académie française.
Words in accepted use
The following words are commonly used and included in French dictionaries.
le pull: pullover, sweater, jersey le shampooing: shampoo le scoop, in the context of a news story or as a simile based on that context; while the word is in common use, the Académie française recommends a French synonym, "exclusivité" le selfie: included in French dictionary Le Petit Robert in 2015, along with "hashtag" le sandwich le bulldozer l'email / le mail (le courriel is usually preferred) cool: great, cool (expression of approval) le dressing: dressing room or walk-in closet fun: amusing, entertaining, bon vivant le hashtag l'after-shave le blog le chewing-gum: chewing gum (American) le lifting: facelift, plastic surgery le parking: car park le weekend le tee-shirt le sweat-shirt le casting: casting call people: c'est très people... ("it's very popular/about personalities") versatile: the English meaning 'with a variety of uses' is creeping into common French usage , creating a 'faux-ami' with the French meaning of versatile, 'inconsistant,' which is used in a negative way. However, the French word 'versatile' dates from the 14th century. Citation from the Académie Française: 'Borrowed from the Latin versatilis, 'that which turns easily; that which bends to everything', itself derived from versare, 'to turn often; to upset, to overturn; to stir in all directions.'
Pseudo-anglicisms Source: le zapping: channel surfing on a television le rugbyman, le tennisman: rugby and tennis player les baskets: sports shoes babyfoot: table football (foosball) le flipper: pinball machine le smoking: dinner suit / tuxedo le footing: running or jogging la redingote: a type of coat, from the English "riding coat"
Colloquialisms and neologisms
Technology Tweeter: to tweet Forwarder: to forward an email Liker: to like an update or posting, typically on Facebook Skyper Le buzz La box: modem provided by most Internet providers Le hot spot: in terms of Wi-Fi availability
Business Au black: in reference to the black market or black economy L'open space Booster: to boost, as in "booster ma carriere" Voyager low-cost: low-cost travel Le drive: drive-through food takeaway services High tech Le challenge: an example of an English word of French origin being reborrowed into French, with the English spelling and pronunciation
Sports Le corner: corner kick Le coach: sports coach, not transportation Le penalty: penalty kick Le goal: goal keeper
Arts and entertainment La punch line Le biopic L'Infotainment Le come back: (of a celebrity, sportsperson or entertainer) Le one-man-show
Others Un Black: A black person Le box: Typically a room-sized storage unit Le relooking: a makeover Bruncher: to eat brunch Le lifting: facelift, plastic surgery La success story: an example of an English phrase made up of words of French origin that has been reborrowed into French Le dealer: of illegal drugs Le cheese: In the context of "le Royale Cheese" at McDonald's, "un cheese" is a cheeseburger Le Brexit No stress Switcher: To change or swap Le wokisme Le leader: (in a contest or of a group, organization, or business)
See also Joual#English loanwords (Anglicisms) Anglicism#French Franglais
References