1. Direct Borrowings: These are words directly borrowed from French and used with their original meaning:
* Basic Words: *déjà vu*, *faux pas*, *rendezvous*
* Food and Drink: *baguette*, *croissant*, *soufflé*, *brûlée*
* Fashion and Style: *couture*, *chic*, *haute couture*
* Art and Culture: *ballet*, *palette*, *avant-garde*
* Others: *bureau*, *entrepreneur*, *elite*, *regime*
2. Words with Changed Meaning: These words entered English but gained a slightly different meaning:
* *Bon appétit:* (French: Enjoy your meal) - in English, it's a polite phrase before eating, even if you don't understand French.
* *RSVP:* (French: Répondez s'il vous plaît - please respond) - in English, it's a request for confirmation of attendance.
* *Cliché:* (French: stereotype) - in English, it refers to an overused phrase or idea.
3. Words with Altered Spelling: Some French words entered English with spelling changes to make them more familiar to English speakers:
* *Champagne:* (French: Champagne) - Often spelled with a "ch" sound in English.
* *Bouquet:* (French: Bouquet) - Often spelled with a "u" and a "q" in English.
4. Common English Words of French Origin: Many words in English, especially those related to government, law, and the arts, have French roots:
* *Government:* (French: gouvernement)
* *Parliament:* (French: parlement)
* *Justice:* (French: justice)
* *Art:* (French: art)
How to Find More:
* Dictionaries: Look up words in dictionaries that focus on etymology (word origins).
* Online Resources: Websites like Etymonline provide information on the origins of words.
Let me know if you'd like examples of specific categories of French words, or if you have more questions about this topic!