Here are six useful expressions that English has borrowed from French: faux pas; bête noire; bon mot; élan; qui vive; and coup de grâce. Do you recognize any of them? (By the way, all but the last, coup de grâce, are usually printed in roman rather than italic type: this is roman; this is italic.)

A faux pas (foh-PAH) is literally a false step. In English this phrase is used to mean an error or blunder, especially a social blunder, such as a tactless act or rude remark: “Did you see his faux pas at the party last night?” “I think her criticism of the boss’s idea was a faux pas.” The plural is spelled the same, but pronounced foh-PAHZ.

Bête noire (bayt- or bet-NWAHR) means literally a black beast, and means someone or something one especially dislikes, fears, or wants to avoid. “Math was my bête noire in high school.” “He is my bête noire in this organization.” The plural is bêtes noires, pronounced bayt- or bet-NWAHRZ.

Bon mot (baw(n)-MOH) means literally a good word. In English it is used to mean a witty or clever remark. The plural, bons mots, is pronounced baw(n)-MOHZ.

lan (ay-LAH(N)or ay-LAHN) means spirited self-assurance, verve, vivacity: “Her work shows élan.” “We like the new manager’s élan.” “He plays the piano with élan.”

There is an excellent Yiddish word for the negative side of élan that English has recently adopted: chutzpah (or chutzpa), pronounced KH UUTS-pah with a raspy, guttural ch. Chutzpah means nerve as opposed to verve, shameless self-assurance, audacity, impudence, gall. Someone who walks in, takes over, and tells everyone what to do has chutzpah. In The Joys of Yinglish (1989), Leo Rosten relates the story of the defendant accused of murdering his parents who throws himself upon the mercy of the court, crying, “I am an orphan.” That’s chutzpah.

But back now to the French. Qui vive (kee-VEEV) is the sentry’s challenge, “Who goes there?” In English we use the expression “on the qui vive” to mean on the alert, ready and watchful, as “She was on the qui vive for a better job.”

Finally, we have the coup de grâce (KOO-duh-GRAHS). The word coup (KOO) means a blow, stroke—especially a brilliant stroke, a sudden, successful move or action. A coup d’état (KOOday-TAH) is a sudden, successful overthrow of a government. Coup de grâce means literally a stroke of mercy; specifically, it refers to the finishing stroke, the death blow, that brings a merciful end to something or someone: “After the failure of its last major product and a precipitous decline in the price of its stock, Faux Pas Corporation is almost bankrupt. All people are wondering now is how and when the coup de grâce will be delivered.”

Now let’s take a brief look at six phrases from Latin that have made their way into the English vernacular: ad infinitum; pro tempore; sine qua non; quid pro quo; caveat emptor; and pro bono publico. Do you recognize any of them? (By the way, all these phrases, when not being presented as phrases to be defined, are usually printed in roman type.)

Ad infinitum (AD-in fi-NY-tum) means to infinity, endlessly, without limit: “The meeting went on ad infinitum.” (Now there’s hyperbole for you.)

Pro tempore (PROH TEM-puh-ree) means temporarily, for the time being; it is often abbreviated pro tem (PROH-TEM), as in an official title: John Doe, Chairman of the Board pro tem.

Sine qua non (SIN-ay kwah NOHN) means literally “without which not”; it refers to something absolutely necessary or indispensable: “Their cooperation was the sine qua non in the success of this project”; “His testimony was the sine qua non of the case for the defense.”

A quid pro quo (KWID proh KWOH) is something given in return for something else, an equal exchange, a tit for tat: “They said they wouldn’t close the deal without a reasonable quid pro quo.”

The word caveat (KAY-vee-at or KAV-ee-at) is used in a general sense to mean a warning, caution, admonition. A caveat emptor (EMP-tor) is a caveat, warning, to the emptor, the buyer; it means literally, “Let the buyer beware.” In business, caveat emptor refers to the principle that the seller of a product cannot be held responsible for defects in quality or workmanship unless the product carries a warranty.

Pro bono publico (PROH BOH-noh POO-bli-koh or PUHB-li-koh) means “for the public good.” The phrase is often shortened to pro bono and used as an adjective. For example, pro bono attorneys are those who forgo their customary professional fees to represent the indigent or seek redress for public grievances. Pro bono services are volunteer services, done for the good of the people and donated without charge.

And now, fortiter in re, suaviter in modo, which is Latin for “resolutely in action, gently in manner,”.