Foreign Words & Phrases

(Latin) from prior reasoning or theory

"She rejected the claim a priori, before looking at the data."

(Latin) and others

"The article was written by Chen et al. and appeared in a leading journal."

(Latin) from the library of

"The flyleaf bore the inscription ex libris Margaret Ellis."

(Latin) by virtue of office

"The dean served ex officio on the admissions committee."

(French) pen name

"The poet published her early essays under a nom de plume."

(French) reason for existence

"For the small press, supporting new writers was its raison d'etre."

(Latin) blank slate

"The new curriculum treated first-year students as a tabula rasa."

(Latin) into the middle of things

"The essay opens in medias res, with the argument already underway."

(French) allowing free action, little interference

"The professor had a laissez-faire approach to seminar discussion."

(French) an overused expression or idea

"The ending avoided cliche and felt surprisingly fresh."

(French) for want of something better

"Faute de mieux, the editor chose the shorter title."

(French) required by custom or etiquette

"At the conference, formal citations were de rigueur."

(Latin) endlessly, without limit

"The argument went on ad infinitum and never reached a conclusion."

(Italian) at a slow tempo

"The second movement was played adagio, giving the melody a gentle, reflective quality."

(Italian) at a brisk tempo

"The conductor asked for a more lively allegro in the finale."

(Italian) sung without instrumental accompaniment

"The choir opened the concert with a soaring a cappella arrangement."

(French) a decorative, flowing design

"The ballet featured an elegant arabesque that drew applause from the audience."

(Italian) a song or piece in the style of a boat song

"The pianist played a barcarolle that suggested the motion of water."

(Italian) a continuous bass accompaniment

"The ensemble used basso continuo to support the harmonies in the Baroque piece."

(Italian) showy technical brilliance

"The violin solo was full of bravura and dazzled the audience."

(Italian) a solo flourish in a concerto

"The pianist improvised a long cadenza before the final cadence."

(Italian) a lively, free-formed composition

"The composer wrote a capriccio that moved quickly from one idea to another."

(Italian) a composition for soloist and orchestra

"He performed the concerto with remarkable confidence and control."

(Italian) the lowest female voice

"Her contralto gave the chorus a rich, dark color."

(Italian) a light instrumental work

"The string quartet ended with a cheerful divertimento."

(German) a double or lookalike

"The photographer was struck by the doppelganger in the painting's background."

(French) outdoors, in the open air

"The painter preferred to work en plein air whenever the weather allowed."

(French) a contrapuntal composition with repeated themes

"The final movement unfolds like a fugue, with each instrument entering in turn."

(Italian) a slide between notes

"The harpist finished with a shimmering glissando."

(Italian) a short piece between larger sections

"An intermezzo provided a calm pause before the opera resumed."

(Italian) a vocal composition with instrumental accompaniment

"The program included a sacred kantata by Bach."

(German) a recurring musical theme

"The film score uses a leitmotif to signal the hero's arrival."

(Italian) a master musician or conductor

"The orchestra waited for the maestro to give the downbeat."

(French) a work imitating another style

"The album is a playful pastiche of 1980s pop and disco."

(Italian) a light, playful composition

"The symphony's scherzo leapt forward with wit and energy."

(Italian) an instrumental composition in several movements

"She practiced the sonata until every passage felt secure."

(Italian) a performance by one person

"The guitarist took a solo that brought the crowd to its feet."

(Italian) the speed of a piece of music

"The drummer kept a steady tempo throughout the set."

(Italian) all performers together

"After the quiet passage, the orchestra returned tutti for the climax."

(Italian) the leading female singer; a temperamental star

"The critics praised her as a prima donna with extraordinary control."

(Italian) a highly skilled performer

"The young cellist played like a true virtuoso."

(French) a person who enjoys good food and drink and social life

"My uncle is a true bon vivant who loves long dinners and lively conversation."

(French) joy of living

"Her joie de vivre made every room feel brighter."

(French) tact and social skill

"He handled the tense meeting with remarkable savoir faire."

(French) boredom or listless weariness

"A rainy weekend trapped indoors left her with a sense of ennui."

(French) reason for being

"Helping patients is the hospitals raison d etre."

(French) the ability to recover from difficulty

"Her resilience helped her through a very painful year."

(German) good day

"He greeted the shopkeeper with a cheerful guten tag."

(German) sadness about the world

"The novel is full of weltschmerz and longing."

(German) spirit of the times

"The film captured the rebellious zeitgeist of the decade."

(Latin) remember that you must die

"The old painting felt like a quiet memento mori."

(Latin) at the point of death or in extreme difficulty

"The doctor made the decision in extremis."

(British English phrase from older custom) said to avoid jinxing good luck

"Touch wood, we have all stayed healthy this winter."

(Spanish) until the sight of you; goodbye

"He waved and said, hasta la vista, before heading home."

(Latin) love of ones fate

"Her calm acceptance of setbacks reflected a kind of amor fati."

(Latin) in wine there is truth

"At the reunion, he muttered in vino veritas after a few drinks."

(Yiddish) a person of integrity and kindness

"When no one else helped, she proved herself a real mensch."

(Yiddish) an expression of distress or dismay

"Oy vey, he sighed, when he saw the repair bill."

(French) self esteem or self respect

"She defended her work partly out of amour propre."

(Latin) genuine, in good faith

"The committee checked that the applicant was a bona fide resident before approving the grant."

(French) sudden overthrow of a government

"The country fell into chaos after the coup d etat."

(French) business founder or operator

"She became an entrepreneur after launching her own design studio."

(French) coffee shop or small restaurant

"We met at a cafe near the station for breakfast."

(French) category or type

"Mystery is my favorite genre of fiction."

(French) ordered from a menu by individual items

"The restaurant offers an a la carte menu in addition to the buffet."

(French) a man engaged to be married

"Her fiance moved to the city to be closer to her office."

(French) a woman engaged to be married

"His fiancee is finishing medical school this spring."

(French) the feeling of having experienced something before

"When I walked into the old theater, I had a strange sense of deja vu."

(French) a meeting place or appointment

"We set a rendezvous at the bookstore at noon."

(French) a brief summary of qualifications and experience

"Please send your resume and cover letter by Friday."

(Italian) flat baked bread with toppings

"We ordered pizza for the game night."

(Italian) noodle dish

"She cooked pasta with tomatoes and basil."

(Italian) stuffed pasta

"For dinner, we had ravioli in a light cream sauce."

(Italian) outdoors

"We ate al fresco because the weather was perfect."

(Italian) writings or drawings on walls

"The train bridge was covered in colorful graffiti."

(Italian) dramatic musical performance

"They booked tickets to the opera for Saturday night."

(Italian) complete failure or mess

"The product launch turned into a public fiasco."

(French) strong point or skill

"Writing clear reports is her forte."

(German) school for young children

"Her youngest started kindergarten this fall."

(German) anxiety or dread

"The novel captures the angst of adolescence very well."

(German) strong desire to travel

"After college, his wanderlust took him across South America."

(German) pleasure at another persons misfortune

"He felt guilty for his brief schadenfreude when his rival missed the deadline."

(Japanese) giant sea wave caused by an underwater disturbance

"The warning system helped people evacuate before the tsunami arrived."

(Japanese) wealthy and powerful business leader

"The media tycoon invested in several streaming companies."

(Japanese) digital pictograph used in messages

"She sent a smiley emoji after reading the good news."

(Japanese) woven mat used as floor covering

"We slept on tatami mats in the guest room."

(Japanese) vinegared rice with fish or vegetables

"He ordered sushi and miso soup for lunch."

(Italian) highest female singing voice

"The soprano sang the final note beautifully."

(French) classical dance

"Their daughter takes ballet lessons every Tuesday."

(French) enjoy your meal

"The waiter set down the plates and said, Bon appetit."

(Italian) cooked until firm to the bite

"Cook the pasta al dente so it does not turn mushy."

(French) a meal where guests serve themselves from a table

"We skipped the menu and went to the buffet."

(French) highly refined, elaborate cooking

"The chef is known for his elegant haute cuisine."

(French) raw vegetables served as an appetizer

"She served crudites with hummus before dinner."

(French) a light baked dish made with beaten egg whites

"For dessert, we ordered a chocolate souffle."

(French) custard topped with a layer of caramelized sugar

"The creme brulee arrived with a crackling sugar top."

(French) the main dish of a meal in American English

"For my entree, I chose the roast chicken."

(French) of very high skill, especially in cooking

"He trained at a cordon bleu school in Paris."

(French) a mixed assortment

"The menu was a potpourri of dishes from different regions."

(French) attached or connected, especially a bathroom to a bedroom

"The hotel room came with an en suite bath."

(French) a private conversation between two people

"They had a tete a tete over coffee after dinner."

(Italian) in a quiet voice

"He asked for extra bread sotto voce so no one else would hear."

(Italian) an omelet made with eggs and other ingredients

"We had a vegetable frittata for brunch."

(Italian) grilled bread rubbed with garlic and topped with olive oil, tomatoes, or other ingredients

"The bruschetta was topped with tomatoes and basil."

(Italian) grilled sandwich or sandwiches

"I ordered a turkey panini and a salad."

(Italian) strong coffee brewed by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee

"After dinner, she asked for an espresso."

(Italian) Italian style ice cream

"We shared a pistachio gelato on the boardwalk."

(Italian) a creamy rice dish

"The mushroom risotto was rich and comforting."

(Italian) a crusty white bread loaf

"He used ciabatta to make toasted sandwiches."

(Spanish) small savory dishes or appetizers

"We ordered several tapas and shared them at the table."

(Spanish) a rice dish cooked with seafood, meat, or vegetables

"The restaurant is famous for its seafood paella."

(Spanish) wine mixed with fruit and often juice or soda

"In summer, we like to drink chilled sangria."

(Spanish) a tortilla filled with cheese and sometimes other ingredients

"She had a chicken quesadilla for lunch."

(Spanish) a marinade or seasoning mixture

"The pork was rubbed with adobo before roasting."

(Spanish) a sweet milk caramel spread or sauce

"He spooned dulce de leche over the ice cream."

(Cantonese) small dishes served with tea

"On Sundays, the family goes out for dim sum."

(French) in style; with ice cream

"The apple pie was served a la mode."

(French) have a good trip

"Everyone gathered at the station to wish him bon voyage."

(French) complete freedom to act

"The director gave her carte blanche to redesign the campaign."

(French) thats life

"We missed the train, but cest la vie."

(French) the very best

"The guest list included the crme de la crme of the citys arts scene."

(French) on the way

"We are en route to the airport now."

(French) again; an additional performance

"The crowd shouted for an encore after the final song."

(French) a social blunder

"Forgetting the hosts name was a terrible faux pas."

(French) a thing already done

"By the time we were asked, the deal was a fait accompli."

(French) an appetizer

"The hors doeuvre platter disappeared before dinner started."

(French) an indefinable quality

"Her confidence has a je ne sais quoi that draws people in."

(French) let it be; hands off policy

"His laissez faire approach worked well with experienced staff."

(French) everything in its place, kitchen prep

"The chef insisted on perfect mise en place before service began."

(French) newly rich

"The novel satirizes the manners of the nouveau riche."

(French) preeminent, by definition

"She is the teacher par excellence in our department."

(French) the best or most impressive part

"The piec de rsistance of the tour was the rooftop garden."

(French) a person under the care or protection of another

"The young violinist was the maestros protg."

(French) a summary, especially a job summary

"Please send your rsum and cover letter by Friday."

(French) social skill and tact

"His savoir-faire helped him handle the tense meeting calmly."

(French) a light baked dish

"For dessert we had chocolate souffl with cream."

(French) a private conversation between two people

"The two leaders met tete a tete after the conference."

(French) in relation to; face to face with

"We discussed the policy vis a vis the new regulations."

(French) innovative, ahead of its time

"The gallery specializes in avant-garde sculpture."

(French) middle class; conventional

"The film critiques bourgeois values and suburban comfort."

(French) stylish, elegant

"Her outfit looked simple but very chic."

(French) the best, select group

"The school has an elite team of debaters."

(Latin) for this purpose; created for a specific case

"The committee formed an ad hoc group to solve the problem quickly."

(Latin) nourishing mother; one's school, college, or university

"She returned to her alma mater to give the graduation speech."

(Latin) seize the day; make the most of the present moment

"His favorite motto is carpe diem."

(Latin) in fact; in reality, though not officially

"She was the de facto leader of the team."

(Latin) by law; officially

"The country was de jure independent, but foreign troops still remained."

(Latin) and the rest; and so on

"The list included pens, paper, notebooks, et cetera."

(Latin) after the fact; based on something done later

"The law was criticized as an ex post facto measure."

(Latin) for example

"Many fruits, exempli gratia apples and pears, are rich in fiber."

(Latin) that is; in other words

"He prefers indoor sports, i.e. activities played in a gym or arena."

(Latin) in the absence of the person concerned

"The defendant was tried in absentia."

(Latin) in private; in a closed session

"The judge heard the sensitive testimony in camera."

(Latin) in its original place

"The artifact was left in situ for further study."

(Latin) entirely; as a whole

"The proposal was rejected in toto."

(Latin) by the fact itself; therefore

"If you break the contract, you are ipso facto in breach of the agreement."

(Latin) great work; a person's most important achievement

"Many critics consider the novel his magnum opus."

(Latin) with the necessary changes made

"The same rule applies to other departments, mutatis mutandis."

(Latin) it does not follow; a statement that is unrelated

"Her comment about the weather was a complete non sequitur."

(Latin) note well; take careful note

"Nota bene, the deadline has been moved to Friday."

(Latin) by itself; in itself

"The exercise is not harmful per se."

(Latin) at first sight; based on what seems true

"There is prima facie evidence that the contract was violated."

(Latin) for the public good; done without charge

"She spends one day a week doing pro bono legal work."

(Latin) something for something; an exchange

"The deal was a quid pro quo arrangement."

(Latin) an essential condition; something indispensable

"Trust is the sine qua non of any lasting partnership."

(Latin) the existing state of affairs

"The protesters wanted to change the status quo."

(Latin) under the rose; secretly

"The negotiations were held sub rosa."

(Latin) of its own kind; unique

"Her style is sui generis and impossible to imitate."

(Latin) the other way around

"He helps her with math, and vice versa, she helps him with writing."

(Latin) by word of mouth; oral

"The final exam included a viva voce component."

(Latin) guilty mind; criminal intent

"The prosecution had to prove mens rea to secure a conviction."

(Latin) produce the body, a legal right to challenge detention

"Her lawyer filed a habeas corpus petition immediately."

(Latin) under judgment, still being decided

"Because the case was sub judice, the minister refused to comment."

(Latin) among other things

"The contract requires, inter alia, prompt delivery and full disclosure."

(Latin) let the buyer beware

"In that market, caveat emptor still applies to used property sales."

(English legal term from Latin usage) careful investigation before a deal

"The buyers did their due diligence before signing the merger agreement."

(French) superior force, an unavoidable event

"The contract included a force majeure clause for floods and war."

(Latin) superior force, an overwhelming unavoidable event

"The insurer argued that the damage was caused by vis major."

(Latin) agreements must be kept

"The arbitrator reminded both sides that pacta sunt servanda still governs contracts."

(Latin) a matter already judged, a final decision

"The court dismissed the claim on the ground of res judicata."

(Latin) beyond the powers granted

"The lawyer said the board's action was ultra vires and therefore invalid."

(Latin) on one side only, without the other party present

"The judge granted an ex parte order to prevent the evidence from being destroyed."

(Latin) an unwelcome person

"After the scandal, the diplomat was declared persona non grata."

(Latin) word for word, exactly

"Please quote the witness verbatim in your report."

(French) finishing blow, final decisive act

"The audit findings delivered the coup de grace to the deal."

(French) war name, assumed name

"The witness was listed under a nom de guerre for security reasons."

(Latin) with stronger reason, all the more

"If the junior staff were consulted, a fortiori the directors should have been informed."