“Week-end”, “mail”, “prime time”, “leader” or even “chatter”, some examples of anglicisms used in the French language…and people shout scandal! But how come it seems that the French are unable to express themselves using their own language only, that they are incapable of inventing new words? It is true that with new technologies, neologisms are above all created in English. Nevertheless, do you really believe that “jupe”, “tomate”, “valse”, “crédit” or even “chocolate” are purely French words? Don’t believe it! If most French words are inherited from Latin or Greek, a good number come from abroad, the fruits of the meetings of peoples and of cultures throughout history, from commercial exchanges to migrations, passing by naval battles. Small conundrums: what is the origin of “balcon”, “banque” or “pittoresque”? Italian. Or that of “épinard”, “magasin” and “girafe”? Arabic. Therefore, Arabic, Italian but also Spanish, German, Russian and even Azec, Bulgarian or even Inuit are some of the main languages, in addition to English, which have contributed to enriching our language. However, borrowed words do not only come from abroad. Some coem from regional dialects like “baragouiner” from Breton, the all-important word “amour” has its origin in Provence as does “cigale” or even the very recent “biloute”, directly taken from the film “Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis”, which we don’t know yet if it will enter into everyday vocabulary. Of course, these borrowed words have evolved as languages themselves evolve over time but doesn’t that just add to the richness and flavours of the French language?
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