50 Foreign Terms That Aren’t Foreign

English is a very welcoming language, adopting terms indiscriminately from other tongues. Many publishers observe a distinction between naturalized words and those still considered foreign, honoring the assimilation of the former by refraining from using any visual emphasis and italicizing those in the latter category.

The careful writer will honor this distinction, but how is one to know to which class a particular word or phrase belongs? Adopted words will appear in the dictionary, while words or phrases that have not received a green card remain relegated to a print dictionary’s appendix, if any. Or, check out this virtual cheat sheet, which lists words and phrases (with brief definitions) that do not merit italicization.

1. à la carte: priced separately

2. à la mode: fashionable; topped with ice cream

3. a priori: presumptive, presupposed

4. ad hoc: formed for a special purpose

5. ad infinitum: without end or limit

6. ad nauseam: to an excessive or sickening degree

7. apropos: opportune or relevant

8. attaché: a diplomatic technical expert; a briefcase

9. avant-garde: innovative

10. belles lettres: artistic literature

11. bon voyage: have a good trip

12. bona fide: genuine, sincere

13. carte blanche: full permission

14. caveat emptor: let the buyer beware

15. chargé d’affaires: a deputy ambassador or minister

16. coup d’état: a violent government overthrow

17. cul-de-sac: a dead end

18. de facto: in practice

19. doppelgänger: an alter ego, double, or ghost; someone with the same name as someone else

20. en masse: as a whole, in one body

21. en route: along or on the way

22. ex officio: because of or by virtue of an office

23. fait accompli: something already done and irreversible

24. faux pas: an error

25. fete: a celebration; celebrate

26. habeas corpus: an order to bring a jailed person before a judge to determine whether the person should be jailed; the right of a person against illegal imprisonment

27. hors d’oeuvre: appetizers

28. ipso facto: by the fact itself

29. machismo: an exaggerated masculinity or show of strength

30. maître d’: a headwaiter or steward

31. ménage: a household; housekeeping

32. modus operandi: a way of doing things

33. nom de plume: a pen name

34. non sequitur: a statement that does not logically follow what was previously said

35. papier-mâché: paper mixed with glue and water to harden for molding for artistic projects

36. per capita: per person

37. per diem: per day, paid by the day; a daily allowance or fee

38. per se: by itself

39. persona non grata: an unacceptable person

40. précis: a concise summary

41. prima donna: a conceited person

42. prima facie: apparent, self-evident, or at first view

43. pro bono: donated

44. realpolitik: practical rather than theoretical politics

45. soiree: an evening party or reception

46. status quo: the current state

47. tête-à-tête: a private conversation; a piece of furniture designed to facilitate one

48. tour de force: an impressive display or feat

49. vice versa: with the order changed

50. vis-à-vis: in relation to

Categories: English, IBPS, railway, SSC, SSC CGL 2017