8 MORE Foreign Words in English

[Music] Hi everyone. I'm Jennifer  from English with Jennifer  

Konichiwa. Здавствуйте! Bonjour!  ¡Hola! Dzień dobry! Oi! Tudo bem?

I don't speak all of those languages,  but I don't think it's unusual to know  

basic greetings in other languages. How many  ways can you say "hello" or "how are you?"  

Sadly, I can't say that many  Americans speak a foreign language,  

especially if their first language is  English, but there are a lot of foreign  

words we've borrowed in English, and we use  these words in conversation and in writing.  

Let me note that when we say these foreign  words, we often use our American pronunciation.  

I presented a set of eight words in a  previous vocabulary lesson. Let me offer  

another set of eight foreign words. Okay?  And be sure to stick around until the end  

of the lesson because I'd also like to share  some valuable learning tips. And by the way,  

now is a good time to subscribe if you haven't  already. Here are eight more foreign words used  

in American English. Can you guess their origin?  I'll give you a moment to study them and guess.

[Music]

Let's look at the French words first.  

Cliché. This refers to an overused phrase or  expression. It still has meaning, but people have  

used it so much that it isn't really effective  anymore. It doesn't have a strong impact.  

I hate clichés. I really just want him to  be happy, and I know that sounds cliché.  

A cliché could be an idiom like "a fish out of  water," which refers to someone being or feeling  

out of place. If you're writing, try to avoid  clichés and be more original, more specific.  

You can say, "I felt lost and uncertain  because I was in an unfamiliar place."  

A cliché can also be an overused  proverb like, "You can't win them all."  

Overused proverbs aren't appreciated because they  don't sound genuine. If someone is sad and crying,  

they may not want to hear "Time heals all  wounds." That's a cliché. That is such a cliché.  

You can also call someone or something cliché  if it's become too common. For example,  

you might criticize a new movie and say  there's nothing original. It's full of clichés.  

Right? That's right. You're cliché. You're  nowhere on your way to no place. Faux pas.  

"Faux pas" literally means "false  step" in English. "Faux pas" is  

another word for a mistake, but it's  in a social situation, for example,  

ignoring an extended hand at a business  interview when a handshake is expected.  

"Faux pas" is the singular and plural form. You  can make a faux pas. You can commit a faux pas.  

We can talk about a serious, huge, or major  faux pas. Faux pas? Big, hefty, stinky faux pas.

I'm sorry, Willis. I guess I just committed  another faux pas. Have you ever committed a faux  

pas? I once confused the best man with the groom  at a wedding, and I offered my congratulations to  

the wrong person. Obviously, I didn't know either  man very well, and I apologize for my faux pas.  

All right. We have one Spanish word on our  list: siesta. This refers to an afternoon  

nap or a period of rest, but we also might use  "siesta" to refer to a short nap in general.  

Usually, you take a siesta. You can enjoy a little  siesta. Do you think every working professional  

should incorporate a siesta into their work  day? You can let me know in the comments.  

I usually take a siesta about now.  We'll stop here for a little siesta.  

Let's move on to the words of Latin origin.  Verbatim. "Verbatim" means using the exact  

same words as the original speaker or writer.  "Verbatim" could be an adjective or an adverb,  

but I feel the adverb is more common.  You have good notes? Verbatim.

I can't remember verbatim. I'm assuming  all you quotes are verbatim? A similar  

phrase is "word for word." You can recall,  recite, report, or record something verbatim.  

Do I write the essay myself or do  I copy it verbatim from Wikipedia?  

Can you remember lines from a movie or  a TV show verbatim? I'm sure you can.

Ad-lib. To ad-lib means to improvise while you  speak. There are situations when we have a script  

or at least some notes to guide us when we make  a speech, make a toast, or give a presentation.  

But if you choose to ad-lib, you make  things up as you go along. It's spontaneous.  

Here's your script. I can ad-lib  better than that. Hey, I had the  

show my life last night. I ad-libbed  like 10 new minutes. Did you tape it?  

The actor Robin Williams could ad-lib very  well. We can call him a masterful ad-libber.  

We can claim his ad-libs were some of the best in  the world. We can also use "ad-lib" as an adverb.  

You can do something ad-lib. A musician might  sing some song lyrics or play a melody ad-lib.  

It's about doing something without planning,  without preparation. You're supposed to stick to  

the script. It was a funny ad-lib, Roger. You're  just mad because you didn't think of it yourself.  

Have you ever ad-libbed part of a  business or academic presentation?  

I.e. Obviously, "i.e." is an abbreviation. but  unlike "etc." for et cetera, we always use the  

two-letter abbreviation. We say it and we write  it. Truthfully, most Americans couldn't even tell  

you the full form: id est. "I.e." means "that is,"  and it's similar to "namely" or "in other words."  

We use it to clarify what we just said. But  that would require you and I going to business  

together, i.e., forming a pact. Hey, guess what. I  got new contact lenses, i.e., I can see more now.  

We need to be on each other's sides to win,  but after tomorrow, it's back to normal, i.e.,  

me knowing that you're fake and being  the only person in school who can see  

it. If you're writing and you use "i.e.," well  there isn't complete agreement on punctuation.  

I learned to use a comma before and a comma  after "i.e." But some writers prefer only  

a comma before and not after. And some say  "i.e." really should be used in parentheses.

Ad nauseam. Do you know what nausea is? That  feeling of being sick? Like being motion sick from  

a car or plane ride. Nausea. Well, "ad nauseam"  literally means "to nausea"..."to sickness."  

When something is done too much or for too long,  it's excessive. It makes you sick. It's boring  

or annoying. This is an adverb. Someone  might complain, argue, or talk ad nauseam.  

Moviegoers might complain that Hollywood  today is producing sequels ad nauseum.  

I have been talking ad nauseam here.  Elaine, we've covered all of that in  

the catalog ad nauseam. The last word is  from German, and it's like a fun bonus word.  

Gesundheit. Can you guess  the meaning from context?

Most Americans say "bless you" after  someone sneezes, but occasionally,  

you might hear an American say,  "Gesundheit!" The German equivalent.  

It's certainly easier for us to  say this word than to spell it.

I'll be honest and tell you I don't  use "gesundheit," but I understand  

it and I have heard some Americans use it.

Vocabulary is an ongoing study  for everyone. Academic vocabulary,  

general vocabulary, idioms, and slang.  There's always something new to learn.  

We all need to gain exposure and practice  to build our passive and active vocabulary.  

Foreign words borrowed by English  create even more learning opportunities.  

It was only about a year or so ago when I  learned the German word "schadenfreude."  

I read it in a news article.  When I saw it, I had to pause.  

I tried to say it, and then I guessed the  meaning from context. I had a basic idea,  

but then I had to turn to the dictionary to  confirm the definition and the pronunciation.  

"Schadenfreude" refers to feeling good  because someone else is feeling bad.  

It's not kind or compassionate, but it is human.  Sadly, the media today can find lots of examples  

of schadenfreude to write about and talk about.  This is the no-schadenfreude zone. All right?  

"Schadenfreude" isn't a word I use in everyday  English, but it's part of my passive vocabulary  

now. I'm more aware of it, and I pay attention  to how other people use it. That's what we all  

need to do. Choose words from this lesson that  you want to make part of your active vocabulary.  

Write examples in the comments. Read other  people's examples. Learn from each other.  

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