French words used in English

The French language has given the English language many words and expressions. Here are just a few.

Food: a la carte, prêt-a-porter, crepe, croissant, éclair, hors d’oeuvre, sauté, bon appétit, café

Personal: nee, fiancé

Fashion: chic, haute couture

Jobs: au pair, chauffeur, entrepreneur, concierge

Others: avant-garde, ballet, blasé, bon voyage, bourgeois, bric-a-brac, bureau, cliché, clique, critique, décor, façade, déjà vu, en route, femme fatale, Grand Prix, liaison, nouveau, papier-mâché, par avion, poseur, rapport, sabotage, unique

Italian words used in English

Many words of Italian origin have entered the English language.

House: balcony (from balcone), dome (duomo), mezzanine (mezzanino), studio, villa

Drinks: cappuccino, espresso, latte, etc.

Food: pasta, spaghetti, macaroni, pizza, ravioli, broccoli (broccolo)

Art: graffiti, sketch (schizzo), gallery (galleria), novel (novella), scenario, concert (concerto), piano, carnival (carnevale), magazine (magazzino), portfolio (portafoglio)

Other: casino, mafia, nostalgia, pants (pantalone), umbrella (ombrello), bravo

'See', 'look' and 'watch'

'See', 'look' and 'watch' are different ways of using our eyes.

See = you just happened to see something.

Look = you look at something for a reason.

Watch = you look at something for a reason and carefully, usually because it is moving.

Culture file (a Chinese game) - mahjong

Mahjong is usually played by the elderly in groups to exercise the mind.

Culture file (a Chinese game) - ti jian zi

You'll find Chinese from all age groups playing this simple game in parks and squares all over China as early as 7am. Players stand in a circle and kick the toy to each other as a form of exercise.

Young animals

We call our young 'babies', 'infants' or 'toddlers'. In the animal kingdom, adults and their young have a different name. For example, 'calf' is used to refer to a young elephant, cow, whale, rhino, camel and giraffe. Tigers, pandas, wolves, foxes, lions and bears have 'cubs'. Here are a few more:

cat - kitten
dog - puppy

duck - duckling
eagle - eaglet
goat - kid
hen, penguin, ostrich - chick
horse - foal
pig - piglet
sheep - lamb

Student Profile - China