Words of French origin have entered other languages. Many of those words in turn have their origins in Latin, and sometimes in Greek. It is via French that many Latin words have come to the English language. Most of the French vocabulary in English was imported in the centuries following the Norman Conquest of 1066, when England began to be administered by Norman-speaking Normans. According to different sources, from one third to two third of English words have a French origin. This implies a minima that 30.000 words should be reported in this list.

Some words may have a complex origin, as French comes partially from the group of Germanic languages, as English does.

A

• abandon
• abase, from Old French, compare modern Fr. abaisser
• abash
• abatis
• abattoir, from abattre to kill [an animal] or cut down [a tree]
• abbatial (Fr. abbatial)
• abbey
• abbreviation, from abréviation
• abet
• abhor (Old Fr. abhorrer)
• ability
• abjection
• ablation (Fr. ablation)
• ablative
• able, from Old French, compare modern Fr. habile
• ablution
• abnormal compare anormal
• aboard (Fr. à bord)
• abolish, compare abolir
• abomination
• abortive
• abound
• abridge
• absence
• absolute, from Middle French, compare modern Fr. absolu
• absorb (Fr. absorber)
• abstain (Old Fr. abstenir)
• abstinence
• abstract
• abstruse
• absurd (Fr. absurde)
• abundance (Old Fr. abundance)
• abuse
• academic (Fr. académique)
• academy, compare académie
• Acadia (Fr. Acadie)
• acceleration (Fr. accélération)
• accent (Fr. accent)
• accept
• access (Fr. accès)
• accession
• accident
• acclimate (Fr. acclimater)
• accolade (Fr. accolade)
• accommodation
• accompany (Fr. accompagner)
• accomplice (Fr. complice)
• accomplish (Fr. accomplir)
• accord
• accost
• account
• accoutre
• accoutrement (Fr. accoutrement)
• accredit
• accrue
• accusation
• accusative (Old Fr. accusatif)
• accuse
• accustom (Old Fr. acostumer, now accoutumer)
• ace, compare as
• acid, compare acide
• acoustic, compare acoustique
• aquisitive
• acquit
• acrobat
• acrostic, compare acrostiche
• action
• activity, compare activité
• adaptation
• adhesive, compare adhésif or feminine form adhésive
• adieu, which literally means "to God" (à Dieu), farewell
• adjective, compare adjectif
• administer
• admire, compare admirer
• adolescence
• adopt, compare adopter
• adore, from Old French, compare modern Fr. adorer
• adroit
• advantage, compare avantage
• adventure, from Old French, compare modern Fr. aventure
• adverb, compare adverbe
• adversary, from Old French, compare modern Fr. adversaire
• advertisement, compare avertissement (warning)
• advise, compare aviser (to assess [a situation])
• advocate (noun), from Old French avocat - in modern French this means an attorney or lawyer
• affair, from Old French, compare modern Fr. affaire (business)
• affection
• affiliation
• affinity, compare affinité
• affliction
• affluence
• age
• agent provocateur
• aggression, compare agression
• à gogo, or a-go-go, in abundance
• agreeable, compare agréable
• aide-de-camp
• à la..., in the style of...
• alabaster, from Old French alabastre (>Latin> Greek> Ancient Egyptian a-labaste)
• à la carte
• alas, from Old French, compare modern Fr. hélas
• alert, compare alerte
• align, compare aligner
• allocation
• allure, look or air
• almond, from Old French, compare modern Fr. amande; compare also Spanish almandra
• altar, from autel
• amateur
• ambiguous, from ambigu
• ambition
• ambergris, from ambre gris
• ambulance
• amnesty, compare amnistie
• amorous, from Old French, compare modern Fr. amoureux
• ample
• amplitude
• amusement
• analyse, compare analyser
• anarchism
• anarchist (Fr. anarchiste)
• anatomy, compare anatomie
• ancestor, from Old French, compare modern Fr. ancêtre
• ancient, compare ancien
• angle
• Anglophobe, someone who fears England or the English
• anglophone, a speaker of English (Fr. anglophone)
• anguish (from Old French anguisse, now angoisse)
• anise
• annals
• annex, compare annexer
• annihilation
• announce
• annoy, from Old French ennuyer or anoier, compare modern French ennui
• annual
• annuity
• annular
• anoint, compare oindre
• anomie
• antecedent, compare antécédent
• anther, compare anthère
• antique
• apartment, compare appartement
• apathy, compare apathie
• aplomb
• apostrophe
• apparel, from Old French, compare modern Fr. appareil
• application
• appliqué
• apprehend, compare appréhender
• après-ski
• apropos, compare à propos
• arcade
• archetype
• area, from aire
• arête, a mountainous ridge
• argent (Fr. argent)
• argue, from Old French, compare modern Fr. arguer
• army, compare armée
• artificial, from artificiel
• artist
• assembly
• assume, from assumer (old meaning : to suppose)
• assurance
• attack
• attaché
• attorney
• attitude
• aubergine, British name for eggplant
• au naturel
• authority
• avenue (Fr. avenue)
• average
• averment
• aversion (Fr. aversion)
• avert
• aviation (Fr. aviation)
• avid
• avocet
• avoid (Old Fr. evuider)
• avoirdupois
• avouch
• avow
• axiom (Fr. axiome)
• aye-aye
• azimuth (from Old French, from Arabic as-sumut)
• azure (Old Fr. azur, from Old Spanish azur, from Arabic, in turn from Persian)

B

• baggage, from Old French bagage
• ballet
• band, from bande
• bandeau, a type of headdress
• banquet
• barge
• baron
• baroque
• barren, from Old French
• base
• Bâton Rouge
• battle
• bay, compare baie
• bayonet, compare baïonnette
• beagle
• beak, compare bec
• Béarnaise, a type of sauce
• beau, a lover or a dandy
• beauty
• beast
• beaux arts, fine arts
• beef
• beret, compare béret
• bête noire
• bicycle, compare bicyclette
• bidet
• bikini
• billet
• billet-doux, a love letter
• biscuit
• bistro
• bivouac
• bizarre
• blanket, from Old French blankete
• blasé
• bloc
• blonde
• boast
• boil (Old Fr. boilir)
• Boise
• bomb
• bombard
• bombe
• bon appétit
• bon mot
• bonnet, from Old French, compare modern Fr. bonnet
• bon-vivant
• bon voyage
• bon-bon
• bouillabaisse
• boule
• boulevard
• bound (leap), from bond
• bouquet
• bourgeoisie
• boy (may be from Norman French 'embuier'="in chains", meaning 'a slave')
• bracelet
• bran, from Old French bran or bren
• brandish, compare brandir
• brasserie
• brassiere, compare brassière, although the modern French for this is soutien-gorge
• brave
• bravery
• bravo
• bric-à-brac or bric-a-brac
• brigade
• brilliant, compare brillant
• brioche
• briquette
• brochure, from brocher - to stitch
• broderie anglaise, a type of embroidery
• brunette
• buckle, compare boucle
• budget, from Old Fr. bougette (a little purse)
• buffet
• bullet, from boulette, although the modern French for this is balle
• bureau
• button, from bouton

C

• cabal, compare cabale
• cabaret
• cadet
• café
• cafetière
• cagoule
• cajole, compare cajoler
• calque
• camaraderie
• camouflage
• camp
• campaign, compare campagne
• canapé
• canard, aeronautical term
• to cancel, from canceller, evolution of chanceler (1293) (to cross out)
• capacity
• cape, compare cap, land jutting into the sea, as in Cape Horn
• captain
• car
• card, compare carte
• career, compare carrière
• casserole
• cassette
• castle
• castor
• casual, compare casuel
• casuist, compare casuiste
• cataclysm
• catalogue
• catch
• category
• caterpillar
• catholic
• cattle
• cause
• cavalry, compare cavalerie
• celebrate, from célébrer
• cement (Old Fr. ciment)
• cense, compare encenser
• censer (Old Fr. censier)
• centime (Fr. centime)
• centre (Old Fr. centre)
• chaise longue or sometimes chaise lounge
• chalet
• chalice, from calice
• chance
• change
• character, from caractère
• chase, compare chasse
• château
• chatelaine
• chattel
• chauffeur
• chauvinism
• cheat
• check (Old Fr. eschec)
• checkmate, compare échec et mat
• cheer
• chef
• chemise
• chemist, from chimiste
• cherish, from chérir
• cherry, from cerise
• cheval de frise, a military term
• cheval-glass, from cheval - horse
• chiffon
• chivalry
• cinema, compare cinéma
• city, from cité
• claim, from clamer
• clairvoyance
• clarinet, compare clarinette
• classic
• cliché
• cloche, a kind of hat
• closet, from Old French closet
• Coeur d'Alene
• coiffeuse
• collage
• collar, from collier, from cou (neck)
• colonel, compare modern Fr. colonel
• combustible
• comedian and comedienne, compare comédien and comédienne
• comic, from comique (funny)
• commandant, commanding officer
• commendation
• commode
• common
• communion
• communiqué
• communism (Fr. communisme)
• community, from Old Fr. comunalté, modern Fr. communauté
• company (milit.), from compagnie
• competent
• competitor
• complete
• comrade, from camarade
• concede, from concéder
• congratulations
• convenient, from convenant, convenable
• cordon
• cormorant, compare cormoran
• cornet
• corniche
• corps
• corset
• costume
• cotton (Old Fr. 'coton')
• council
• count
• county (Old Fr. cunte)
• counter
• counterfeit, from Old French, compare modern Fr. contrefaire
• country (Old Fr. cuntree)
• coup
• couple
• coupon
• courage (Old Fr. corage)
• courageous
• courgette, in the UK, but called zuchinni in the US
• courier
• course
• court
• courtesy
• couscous
• cousin (Old Fr. cosin)
• couture
• couturier
• cover (Old Fr. covrir)
• crème brûlée
• crème caramel
• crème de menthe
• crêpe
• croupier
• crouton
• crown, from couronne
• cuisine
• cul-de-sac
• culotte
• cult (Fr. culte)
• culture (Fr. culture)
• custom, from Old French, compare modern Fr. coutume

D

• dais, from Old French deis
• dalmatic (Old Fr. dalmatique)
• dame
• damage
• damn (Fr. damner)
• déclassé
• décolletage
• décor or decor
• découpage
• defamation, from diffamation
• default, from Old French, compare modern Fr. défaut
• defeat
• déjà vu
• de luxe
• demi-monde
• démodé
• denouement
• dépanneur
• deploy, from Old French, compare modern Fr. déployer
• derail, compare dérailler
• derive
• derogation (Fr. dérogation)
• derrière
• descend
• desert
• Des Moines (Fr. des moines of the monks)
• dessert
• detachment
• detail
• detain
• détente
• determine
• detonation
• detriment
• Detroit (Fr. détroit = strait)
• deuce, from deux (two)
• develop[ment]
• deviation
• device (Old Fr. devis)
• devise
• devoid
• devotion
• devour (Old Fr. devorer)
• devout
• diabolical
• diadem
• diamanté
• diet
• digestion
• dignity (Old Fr. dignete)
• dilate
• diligence
• dime (Old Fr. disme)
• diplomacy, compare diplomatie
• direction (Fr. direction)
• disadvantage
• disappoint
• disarm (Old Fr. desarmer)
• discothèque or discotheque, thus disco
• disguise
• disport (Old Fr. desporter)
• diverse
• divinity
• division
• Dixie (Fr. dix ten)
• double entendre
• dozen, from Old French, compare modern Fr. douzaine
• dressage
• duvet

E

• eager, from Old French aigre
• eagle, from Old French, compare modern Fr. aigle
• easy, from Old French, compare modern Fr. aisé
• echelon, compare échelon
• éclair
• ecstasy, from Old French, compare modern Fr. extase
• eloquence, compare éloquence
• emigré
• emperor (Old Fr. emperere)
• empire
• emplacement
• employ (Old Fr. employer)
• empress
• enclave
• encore
• encourage, from Old French, compare modern Fr. encourager
• endive
• endue
• endure
• endurance
• enfranchise
• engage
• enemy, from Old French, compare modern Fr. ennemi
• energy (Fr. énergie)
• engage, compare engager
• enmity, from Old French, compare modern Fr. inimitié
• ennui
• enrage, compare enrager
• enrich, compare enrichir
• ensemble
• en suite
• ensure, from 'assurer
• entente
• enter, compare entrer
• entomb, from Old French, compare modern Fr. entomber
• entrant
• entrée (but is first part of the meal in French)
• entrepreneur (Fr. from entreprendre undertake)
• envelope, compare enveloppe
• environ, from Old French, compare modern Fr. environs
• environment[al]
• envisage, compare envisager
• envoy, compare envoyé
• envy, compare envier
• epaulet or epaulette, compare épaulette
• épée
• ephebe, from éphèbe
• ephemeral, from "éphémère
• epic, from épique
• epicurean, from épicurien
• epidemic, from épidémie
• epilogue
• episcopal
• episode
• epithet, from épithète
• épris
• equal, from égal
• equality, from Old French, compare modern Fr. égalité
• equation
• equilibrate, from équilibrer
• equipage, compare équipage
• équipe
• equipment, from équipement
• equitable
• equity, from équité
• eradicate, compare éradiquer
• erase, from araser
• erect, from ériger (to build)
• ermine
• erode, compare éroder
• escapade
• escargot
• escarpment
• essence
• establish (Old Fr. establisse)
• estate (Old Fr. estat)
• ether
• etiquette, étiquette
• Eucharist (Old Fr. eucariste)
• European, compare européen
• evangelist, compare évangéliste
• evaporation, compare évaporation
• evasion, compare évasion
• example
• exclamation
• exhibition, from Old French exhibicion
• expire, compare expirer
• exploit, compare exploiter
• exposé or expose
• extraction (Fr. extraction)
• extraordinaire
• extravagance

F

• fabric, compare fabrique
• fabulous
• face
• facile
• factor
• faience, compare faïence
• failure
• fanfare
• fantastic
• fantasy, compare fantaisie
• farce
• farm
• fashion, from Old French façon
• fatigue
• fault, from faute
• faux pas
• feast
• feint, compare feinte
• felicity, from Old French, compare modern Fr. félicité
• felon, from Old French, compare modern Fr. félon
• feminine, compare féminin
• fertility, compare fertilité
• fête
• figure
• fillet, compare filet
• film noir
• finance
• fine, compare fin
• flageolet
• flambé
• flan
• flèche
• fleur-de-lis
• flexible
• flirt, from fleuretter, conter fleurette
• floret, from Old French, compare modern Fr. fleurette
• florin
• floss
• flourish
• flower (Old Fr. flour)
• fluid, compare fluide
• folly, from Old French, compare modern Fr. folie
• fondant
• font (Fr. fonte)
• fool (Old Fr. fol)
• force majeure
• fork, from fourche and diminutive fourchette
• foreign
• forest, from Old French, compare modern Fr. forêt
• foyer
• fracas
• fraction, from Old French, compare modern Fr. fraction
• francophone, a speaker of French (Fr. francophone)
• frappé
• frigate, compare frégate
• frisson
• fritter, compare friture
• frontier
• fuselage
• fusible
• fusion
• futile
• future, from futur

G

• gabardine
• gaffe
• gallant, compare galant
• gallop, from galop
• galvanize
• ganache
• gangrene
• gangue
• garage
• garter, from Old French, compare modern Fr. jarretière
• gasket
• gâteau or gateau
• gauche
• gay, from gai (merry, with no sexual meaning)
• gel
• gelatin(e), from gélatine
• gem, from gemme
• general
• generic
• generozity
• generous
• gender, from genre
• genial
• genius, from génie
• gent
• gentle, from Old Fr. gentil (both noble and sweet)
• genteel
• gently, from gentiment
• gesticulation
• gesture, from geste (movement)
• giant
• gigantism
• gigolo
• gleet (Old Fr. glette)
• glissade
• globe (Fr. globe)
• global
• goblet, from Old Fr. gobelet (a deep cup)
• gondolier
• gorge
• gorgeous
• gouache
• gourmet
• govern, governance, government, governor
• grace
• gracious, from Old French, compare modern Fr. gracieux
• grammar, from Old French, compare modern Fr. grammaire
• grand
• grant
• gratin
• grief
• group
• gruel, from gruau
• guard, from garde
• guide
• guild, from guilde
• guillotine
• gulf, from Old French, compare modern Fr. golfe

H

• harlequin, from Arlequin, a character from the Italian comedy
• haste, from OF. (Compare contemporary French hâte)
• haute couture high sewing
• hazard (Old Fr. hasard)
• Hollandaise
• honour or honor, Old French, compare modern Fr. honneur
• hors d'œuvre
• hotel, compare hôtel
• huge (Old Fr. ahuge)
• humanity (Old Fr. humanité)

I

• illustration
• ignore
• ignorance
• ignorant
• imagine
• imaginative
• immediate
• imbecile, compare imbécile
• indictment
• infant
• influence
• influx
• inform
• information (Old Fr. information)
• infrastructure
• infusion
• ingénue
• injustice (from injustice)
• insurance, from assurance
• insurgent, from insurgé
• insurmountable, from insurmontable
• insurrection
• intact
• integer, from entier ,intègre
• integrate, from intégrer
• integrity
• integrant
• intellect[ual]
• intelligence
• intention
• intercession
• interchange
• intercourse
• interdict
• interest
• interfere
• interlace
• intense
• intrinsic, compare intrinsèque
• ivory, from Old French, compare modern Fr. ivoire

J

• jack, Old Fr. jaque or jacque, a garment, from Jacques, general nickname for peasants who used to wear this garment (see jacket)
• jacket, Old Fr. jaquette, diminutive form of jaque
• jade
• j'adoube
• jargon
• jelly
• je ne sais quoi
• jet
• jetty
• jew, from Old French giu
• jewel, from joyau
• joie de vivre
• join, from joindre
• joint
• journey, from la journée [the day] (the distance you may walk or ride within one day)
• judge, from juge
• juggle , from jongler
• juggler
• justice, from Old French, compare modern Fr. justice

K

• kepi, compare képi
• kilo
• kilogram (Fr. kilogramme)
• kilometre (Fr. kilomètre)

L

• label
• labour or labor, compare labourer
• lace
• lackey, compare laquais
• laissez-faire
• lamé
• lancer
• lancet
• language (Old Fr. langage)
• L'Anse aux Meadows (Fr. L'anse aux méduses)
• large
• largess
• latrine
• launder
• laundry
• laurel
• lave
• laver (Fr. laveoir)
• lay, literary sense
• leisure, from Old French, compare modern Fr. loisir
• liaison
• lias
• libel, from Old Fr. un libelle (short memorandum)
• liberal
• liberty (from Old Fr . liberté)
• library
• license
• licorice
• lieu
• lieutenant
• limousine
• lingerie
• liquor, from liqueur
• litre
• lorgnette
• Louisiana (Fr. Louisiane land of Louis XIV)
• Louisville (named after Louis XVI)
• loupe
• love (as used in tennis)
• lozenge, from Old French, compare modern Fr. losange
• luminary, compare luminaire
• lustre

M

• machine
• madam, from Old French ma dame, my lady
• mail
• Maine (name of a former French province)
• maintain
• maintenance
• maisonette, compare maisonnette
• maître d'hôtel, also maitre d' or maitre dee
• majesty
• majority
• maladroit
• malinger
• mange-tout
• manger
• mannequin
• manœuvre or manœuver, compare manœuvre
• mannequin
• maquis
• mardi gras
• marine, compare marin
• marmalade, compare marmelade
• marriage, compare mariage
• marshal, from Old French, compare modern Fr. maréchal
• marvel
• marvelous, from merveilleux
• mascot
• masculine
• mask, compare masque
• masque
• mass (Old Fr. masse)
• massacre, compare massacrer
• massage
• masseuse
• mathematics
• matron
• mattress, from Old French, compare modern Fr. matelas
• May, compare mai
• Mayday, from m'aider which means literally to help me
• medal, compare médaille
• mediocre, compare médiocre
• mêlée
• memory
• ménage à trois
• mercy
• meridian
• merit
• merle
• merlin
• merlon
• meringue
• mésalliance
• mesclun
• mess
• message
• messenger
• Messiah (Old Fr. Messie)
• messianic (Fr. messianique)
• military
• mille-feuille
• Mille Lacs (USA), means thousand lakes
• milliard (Fr. milliard)
• million
• miniature
• mine, as in a coal mine
• minister (Old Fr. ministre)
• minstrel
• mitten, compare mitaine
• modern
• modify
• module
• moi
• moil
• moist (Old Fr. moiste)
• moment (Old Fr. moment)
• monad
• monarch
• monarchism
• monarchy (from monarchie)
• monetary
• money (Old Fr moneie)
• monition
• monobloc
• monocle
• monogamy (Fr. monogamie)
• monogram
• monolith
• monologue (Fr. monologue)
• montage
• morgue
• mortality
• mosaic (Fr. mosaïque)
• motif
• mot juste
• mount
• mousse
• moustache or mustache, compare moustache
• move (Old Fr. moveir)
• movement
• muffle
• mule, as a type of footwear
• murder (Old Fr. murdre)
• muscle
• mustard, from Old French, compare modern Fr. moutarde
• mutton
• mystery (Old Fr. mistere)
• mystic
• mystique

N

• nacelle
• naïve
• née or nee, feminine past participle of naître to be born
• Nez perce (Fr. Nez percés = Pierced noses)
• niche
• nicotine, from Jean Nicot
• noble
• noblesse oblige
• nonpareil
• nouveau
• nouveau riche
• nouveau roman
• nouvelle cuisine
• nouvelle vague
• novel
• novelty
• november
• novice (Old Fr. novice)
• nuance
• nuisance
• null
• nullity (Fr. nullité)
• number (Old Fr. nombre)
• numerator
• numismatic
• nun (Old Fr. nonne)
• nurse
• nurture
• nutrition (Fr. nutrition)
• nutritive
• nymph (Old Fr. nimphe)

O

• object, from objet
• oboe (via Italian)
• œuvre
• offend
• offense (Fr. offense)
• office
• officer (Old Fr. officier)
• official
• ogive (Fr. ogive)
• ogre
• oil
• ointment (Old Fr. oignement)
• olive
• omelet or omelette, compare omelette
• omission
• omnibus
• opacity
• opal
• operation
• opinion
• opportune
• opportunism (Fr.opportunisme)
• opportunity
• oppose
• opposite
• opposition (Old Fr. opposition)
• oppress
• oppressive
• optative (Fr. optatif)
• optician
• optimism (Fr. optimisme)
• option
• oracle (Old Fr. oracle)
• orange (Old Fr. orenge)
• ordain, from Old French, compare modern Fr. ordonner
• order
• organic
• organism
• organize
• orgy
• origin
• original
• ornament
• ornithopter
• orpine
• orthography, from Old French, compare modern Fr. orthographe
• oubliette

P

• pachyderm, compare pachyderme
• palace, from palais
• palm, from paume
• pansy (Fr. pensée)
• pant (Old Fr. pantaisier)
• pantaloon (Fr. pantalon)
• panther (Old Fr. pantère)
• papier mâché
• parade
• paragon, from Old French, compare modern Fr. parangon
• parent
• parentage
• parfait
• parley
• parliament
• part
• partial, from Old French, compare modern Fr. partial
• partisan
• passion
• passive
• passport
• paste
• pastel
• pastiche
• pastille
• pastor
• pasture
• pasturage
• pasty
• pastry
• patch
• pâté
• patent
• paternity
• pathetic
• pathology
• patience
• patient
• patisserie
• pause (Old Fr. pause)
• pawn
• peace
• pell-mell
• pelt
• pen, from penne (long feather)
• penal
• pencil
• pension
• pensive
• penthouse (Old Fr. apentis)
• people
• perchance
• perceiver
• perch
• perdition
• perfect
• perfection
• person
• petite
• petulant, compare pétulant
• phial
• philanthropic (Fr. philanthropique)
• philately (Fr. philatélie)
• philharmonic
• philosophize (Fr. philosopher)
• philosophy (Old Fr. filosofie)
• philtre (Fr. philtre)
• phlebotomy
• phlegm
• pied à terre
• piety from Old French, compare modern Fr. piété
• pipe
• pipette
• piquant
• piqué
• piss (Old Fr. pisser)
• pistol
• pistole
• plantation (Old Fr. plantation)
• plaque
• plash
• plastic (Fr. plastique)
• plat du jour
• plate
• plateau
• platform (Fr. plateforme)
• platoon (Fr. peloton)
• platter
• plebiscite (Fr. plébiscite)
• plea (Old Fr. plait)
• please (Old Fr. plaisir)
• pleasant (Old Fr. plaisant)
• pleasantry (Old Fr. plaisanterie)
• pleasure (Old Fr. plesir)
• plead
• pledge (Old Fr. plege)
• plié
• plumage
• plumb
• plumber (Old Fr. plommier)
• plume, nom de plume
• plural (Old Fr. pluriel)
• plurality
• plus ça change
• plush
• pneumatic
• poach, as in cookery, from Old French, compare modern Fr. pocher
• poem (Fr. poème)
• poesy (Old Fr. poesie)
• poetic (Fr. poétique)
• policy, from police (as a contract)
• populace (Fr. populace)
• popular
• pork
• porous
• porpoise
• port (Old Fr. port)
• portage
• porter
• portion
• portmanteau
• pose, compare poser
• position (Old Fr. position)
• positive (Old Fr. positif)
• posology
• possess (Old Fr. possesser)
• possibility
• possible (Old Fr. possible)
• post, compare poste
• poultry
• poutine
• power (Old Fr. poeir)
• practical (Old Fr. practique)
• practise
• precious
• pregnant
• prejudice
• premier (Fr. = first)
• premiere (Fr. première)
• prepare
• prerogative
• presence
• present
• prêt-à-porter
• pretend
• pretense
• prince
• princess
• princical
• principality (Old Fr. principalité)
• principle
• print
• prison
• prize
• proof (Old Fr. proeve)
• pronoun (Fr. pronom)
• pronounce
• pronunciation
• proper (Old Fr. propre)
• property
• prophecy (Old Fr. profecie)
• prophesy
• proportion (Old Fr. proportion)
• propose, from proposer
• proposition (Old Fr. proposition)
• prorogue
• prosaic
• prose (Old Fr. prose)
• prosecution
• protection (Old Fr. protection)
• protein
• protestation
• protocol (Old Fr. prothocole)
• proud (Old Fr. prud)
• province (Old Fr. province)
• provincial
• purify
• purification (Old Fr. purification)
• purpose, form propos
• putty

Q

• qualify
• quality
• quantity
• quarter
• quartet
• quartier
• quatrain
• quatrefoil
• quay
• queasy
• Québécois
• quest
• question
• questionnaire
• queue
• quiche
• quiet
• quilt
• quintessence
• quintuple
• quit
• quittance
• quotidian

R

• rabble (Fr. râble)
• raison d'être
• rare
• rarefy
• rarity
• ratatouille
• rat
• rate
• ration
• rave
• real, from réel
• realm
• reason
• reasonable
• rebound
• receipt, from un reçu, un récépissé
• receive (Old Fr. receivre, modern Fr. recevoir)
• reception
• receptor
• recitation
• recite
• reclaim
• regognize
• recognizance
• recoil
• recollection
• Récollet
• reconnoitre, compare reconnaître
• record
• recorder (Old Fr. recordeur)
• recover
• recovery
• recreation
• recruit
• rector
• rectory
• regret , from Old French, compare modern Fr. regretter
• reign, from régnier
• remain (Old. Fr. remaindre)
• remark
• remarkable
• rendezvous
• reservoir
• rest
• restaurant
• restauranteur, compare restaurateur
• resume
• résumé
• rime
• riposte
• risqué
• rock (Old Fr. ro(c)que)
• role, compare rôle
• roll
• Roman
• romantic
• rotisserie
• rouge
• roué
• roulette
• round
• roundel
• rouse
• rout (Old Fr. route)
• routine
• roux
• royal (Old Fr. roial)
• royalty
• rubble
• rubric
• rush (Old Fr. ruser)
• ruse
• russet
• rut

S

• sabot
• sabotage
• saboteur
• sachet
• sacrament, compare sacrement
• Saint Louis (named for Louis IX)
• salon
• saloon, compare salon
• satin
• sauce
• sauté
• savage
• sauve-qui-peut
• savant
• savate
• save (Anglo-fr. sa(u)ver, Old Fr. salver)
• savoir faire
• scepter
• scholar
• science
• screw (Old Fr. escroue)
• seal
• séance
• search (Old Fr. cerchier)
• season
• second
• sensitive
• sentence (Old Fr. sentence)
• sentiment, from Old French, compare modern Fr. sentiment
• sentinel
• sepal
• separable
• separation
• septilion (from sept seven)
• sepulchre
• sepulchral
• sequester
• serf (Old Fr. serf)
• sergeant or serjeant, from Old French, compare modern Fr. sergent
• servant
• sex
• shop (Old Fr. ashoppe)
• similitude (Old Fr. similitude)
• simple (Old Fr. simple)
• skate
• slice
• slot (Old Fr. esclot)
• snye
• sober
• sobriety
• sobriquet
• sociable (Fr. sociable)
• social (Fr. social)
• socialism (Fr. socialisme)
• society (Fr. société)
• socket
• soil
• soiree (Fr. soirée)
• sojourn (Old Fr. sojorn)
• solder
• sole
• solemnize
• solicit (Old Fr. solliciter)
• solicitor (Old Fr. solliciteur)
• solid
• solidarity (Fr. solidarité)
• soldier
• sombre (Fr. sombre)
• sort
• soufflé
• sound
• soupçon
• sovereign
• sovereignist (Fr. souverainiste)
• spirit (Old Fr. esprit)
• spiritual
• stage, from Old French, compare modern Fr. stage
• state
• stereotype, compare stéréotype
• story
• stray
• stress (Old Fr. estresse)
• structure (Old Fr. structure)
• study
• stuff (Old Fr. estoffe, modern Fr. étoffe)
• stupid
• sturgeon, from esturgeon
• subject, from sujet
• subtle
• subtlety
• succession
• successor
• succumb
• succour
• suffer
• sufficient
• suit, from Old Fr. seoir
• suitor
• superior
• superlative
• support
• suppose
• sure
• surety
• surface
• surgeon
• surgery
• surgical
• surmise
• surmount
• surname
• surpass
• surplus
• surprise
• surrender
• surrealism (Fr. surréalisme)
• suspend
• suspense (Fr. suspens)
• suspension
• sustain
• system

T

• tablature
• table
• tableau
• tablet
• tailor, from tailleur
• talc
• tally
• talon
• tambour
• tamp
• tampon
• tapestry
• tapis
• target
• tariff (Fr. tarif)
• tarot
• tarnish (Fr. ternir)
• Tartar (Old Fr. Tartare)
• tart, as in cookery, compare tarte
• task
• taste
• taupe
• tax (Old Fr. taxer)
• taximeter (Fr. taximètre)
• teat
• telegraph (Fr. télégraphe)
• temporal (Old Fr. temporel)
• temporize
• tempt (Old Fr. tempter)
• tenant
• tench (Old Fr. tenche)
• tend (Old Fr. tend)
• tender
• tendon (Fr. tendon)
• tennis (Old Fr. Tenez, to start the game)
• terrace, from terrasse
• terrible
• terror (from terrour)
• terrorism (first used during French Revolution)
• theatre
• theology (Old Fr. theologie)
• theorem (Fr. théorème)
• therapeutics (Fr. thérapeutique)
• thermal
• toilet, compare toilette
• tonne
• torrid
• tortuous
• torture
• touché
• tout de suite or toot sweet, compare tout de suite
• transparent
• trial
• triangle
• tribe
• trompe l'œil
• troop, from troupe
• tyrant (from Fr. tyran, through Latin tyrannus and Greek turannos)

U

• unique
• unity
• universal
• university
• universe
• usurp
• usurper

V

• veal, from veau
• ventre à terre
• verdigris, from vert de gris, the colour of the copper oxide
• verdict
• Vermont (from les verts monts the green mountains)
• versatile
• verse
• version
• vert
• vertical
• very
• vesper
• vest
• view
• victory
• vigour
• vile
• villain
• village
• vintage
• viol (Old Fr. viel(l)e)
• violence
• violent
• vin (vin blanc, vin rouge, vin rosé, etc)
• vintage
• virgin (Old Fr. virgine)
• virginal
• virtue
• vis-a-vis
• visible
• visibility
• viscount
• vogue
• voice
• voilà
• void
• volant
• volatile
• volley
• volte-face
• voluble
• volume
• voluntary
• volunteer
• voluptuous
• volute
• voodoo (from a West African language)
• voyeur

W

• wage
• wager
• war, from guerre
• warrant, from garantie

X

Y

• yogurt (Fr. yogourt, from Turkish yogurt)

Z

• zebu (the French word is of Tibetan origin)
• zone (Fr. zone, from Latin zona, from Greek zone)

See also

• French phrases used by English speakers.