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What words did the English borrow from France?

The English language has borrowed a massive amount of words from French, due to the Norman Conquest of 1066 and subsequent centuries of cultural exchange. It's impossible to list them all, but here are some categories and examples:

Government & Law:

* Government: parliament, council, state, crown, royal, sovereign

* Law: justice, judge, jury, court, evidence, attorney, contract, crime

* Military: army, battle, soldier, general, captain, war

Everyday Life & Food:

* Food: beef, pork, mutton, veal, chicken, bacon, butter, cheese, wine, sugar, soup, sauce, dinner

* Clothing: dress, coat, shirt, pants, hat, glove, scarf, fashion

* Home: castle, mansion, table, chair, bed, pillow, mirror

Arts & Culture:

* Art: painting, sculpture, architecture, music, dance, theatre

* Literature: poetry, novel, play, romance, essay

* Education: university, college, school, teacher, student

Other:

* Body: brain, heart, lung, liver, muscle, bone

* Emotions: love, hate, fear, anger, joy, sorrow

* Nature: forest, mountain, river, sea, cloud, sun, moon

Specific words that might surprise you:

* Beautiful: This comes from the French "beau" (beautiful).

* Gentleman: This comes from the French "gentilhomme."

* Restaurant: This comes from the French "restaurant," meaning "restorative."

* Hobby: This comes from the French "hobir," meaning "to have a liking for something."

Keep in mind:

* Borrowing is a continuous process: New words are still being adopted from French.

* Words can change over time: Some French words have changed their meaning or pronunciation in English.

* Pronunciation: Many French words have different pronunciations in English.

This is just a small sampling of the vast amount of words English borrowed from French. The influence of French on English is profound and continues to be felt today.

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