173 foreign words and phrases in English language

eranamage:

We use a lot of words in English whose origins lie elsewhere.

Originally posted on Just English:

Over the centuries the English language has assimilated words and phrases from a variety of other languages. In context, those listed here are often printed in italics.

A

ab initio

Latin from the beginning


a cappella

Italian sung without instrumental accompaniment (literally ‘in chapel style’)


à deux

French for or involving two people


ad hoc

Latin made or done for a particular purpose (literally ‘to this’)


ad infinitum

Latin endlessly; forever (literally ‘to infinity’)


ad interim

Latin for the meantime


ad nauseam

Latin to a tiresomely excessive degree (literally ‘to sickness’)


a fortiori

Latin more conclusively (literally ‘from a stronger [argument]’)


agent provocateur

French a person who tempts a suspected criminal to commit a crime so that they can be caught and convicted (literally ‘provocative agent’)


à huis clos

French in private (literally ‘with closed doors’)


al dente

Italian (of food) cooked so as to be still firm when…

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