Americanized words to know

1. Americanized words to know Part of Speech Pronunciation Definition Language of origin Sentence that reflects proper usage

2. faux pas • Part of Speech: Noun • Pronunciation: foe – pah • Definition: a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion • Language: French • Sentence: Burping aloud at the seminar was a faux pas I would like to forget!

3. Déjà vu • Part of Speech: Noun • Pronunciation: dey-zhah voo • Definition: Psychology.the illusion of having previously experienced something actually being encountered for the first time. • Language: French • Sentence: The new television season had a sense of déjà vu about it—the same old plots and characters with new names.

4. du jour • Part of Speech: adjective • Pronunciation: du zhur • Definition: as prepared on the particular day; of the kind being served today • Language: French • Sentence: The soup du jour is potato soup.

5. bon voyage • Part of Speech: interjection • Pronunciation: bon voi-azh • Definition: good journey • Language: French • Sentence: “Bon voyage, my dear.”

6. Joie de vivre • Part of Speech: Noun • Pronunciation: zhwa – duh - veevr • Definition: keen or buoyant enjoyment of life • Language: French • Sentence: Ah, to keep the joie de vivre I felt as a young child swinging through the air!

7. Savoir faire • Part of Speech: noun • Pronunciation: sav– war- fer • Definition: capacity for appropriate action; polished sureness in social behavior • Synonym: tact • Language: French • Sentence: The thief moved around the bejeweled party guests with enough savoir faire to look like he belonged.

8. alma mater • Part of Speech: Noun • Pronunciation: ahl-muh mah-ter • Definition: 1. a school, college, or university at which one has studied and, usually, from which one has graduated. 2.the official anthem of a school, college, or university. • Language: Latin • Sentence: I am learning my alma mater, which will be sung at the pep rally next week!

9. cum laude • Part of Speech: Noun • Pronunciation: coom – loud - ay • Definition: with honor: used in diplomas to grant the lowest of three special honors for grades above the average. • Language: Latin • Sentence:Jerry graduated cum laude; his mother was SO PROUD!

10. status quo • Part of Speech: Noun • Pronunciation: status kwoh • Definition: the existing state or condition. • Language: Latin • Sentence: We don't want to admit more singers to the chorus; we like the status quo.

11. Femme fatale • Part of Speech: Noun • Pronunciation: fem fuh-tal • Definition: an irresistibly attractive woman, esp. one who leads men into difficult, dangerous, or disastrous situations; siren. • Language: French • Sentence: Catwoman was the femme fatale of the Batman series.

12. prima donna • Part of Speech: noun • Pronunciation: pree-muh don-uh • Definition: 1.a first or principal female singer of an opera company.2.a temperamental person; a person who takes adulation and privileged treatment as a right and reacts with petulance to criticism or inconvenience. • Synonym: diva • Language: Italian • Sentence: That Jenkins girl is a good gymnast, but she certainly is a prima donna.

13. magnum opus • Part of Speech: noun • Pronunciation: MAG-num OH-puhs • Definition: a great work, esp. the chief work of a writer, composer or artist • Language: from Latin, meaning “great work” • Sentence: Milton’s magnum opus isParadise Lost.

14. in absentia • Part of Speech: adverb • Pronunciation: in ab-sen-shuh • Definition: While or although not present; in absence • Language: Latin • Sentence: He was tried and convicted in absentia.

15. Alpha and omega • Part of Speech: noun • Pronunciation: (ok – you should know this one!) • Definition: the beginning and the end • Language: Greek • Sentence: “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last,” meaning that God remains from the beginning to the end of time.

16. carpe diem • Part of Speech: interjection, adjective • Pronunciation: kahr-pe dee-em • Definition: enjoy the present, as opposed to placing all hope in the future • Language: Latin • Sentence: Just before he jumped, he yelled, “Carpe diem!”

17. à propos • Adjective - appropriate, to the point: "That's true, but it's not apropos.“ • Adverb - at an appropriate time, opportunely: "Fortunately, he arrived apropos.“ • Preposition (may or may not be followed by of) - with regard to, speaking of: "Apropos our meeting, I'll be late"; "He told a funny story apropos of the new president.“ • Language: French

18. à la carte • Part of Speech: adjective or adverb • Pronunciation: a la kart • Definition: "on the menu" • Language: French • Sentence: He decided to order á la carte instead of getting the special.

19. au gratin • Part of speech: adjective • Pronunciation: oh grah tan • Definitions: • In French, au gratin refers to anything that is grated and put on top of a dish • In English, au gratin means "with cheese.” • Language: French • Sentence: He ordered the potatoes au gratin because he loved the sharp Cheddar cheese on top.

20. au jus • Part of speech: adjective • Pronunciation: oh zhoo • Definition: served with the meat's natural juices • Language: French - "in the juice“ • Sentence: He ordered the French dip sandwich with au jus for dipping.

21. bon appétit • Part of speech: interjection • Pronunciation: baw na-pey-tee • Definition: "Enjoy your meal • Language: French - "good appetite" • Sentence: The chef placed the gourmet dinner on the customer’s table and said, “Bon appétit.”