We are so used to hearing about all the French words that are found in English and about how purist the French are about their language, that we don't realize how many English words have migrated into French.
You'll be astonished by how many English words are used in French. French is inundated with them! Swamped with them! Most are native English words, but surprisingly, some were originally French words which moved into English long ago, evolved a different meaning, and then moved back to French with the new meaning as anglicismes.
English words aren't always taken into French with the same spelling and usage as they have in our language. For example, you'll encounter le week-end, which has gained a hyphen, and le warning which doesn't mean "the warning" in a general sense, but specifically means the emergency lights or flashers on a car.
Some words are specific to certain sports, like l'uppercut or le football, or to other activities, such as playing bridge, while other words which are general in English have only limited meanings in French. An example is le slice, which only refers to golf and tennis, and not to a slice of melon, for instance.
Some words are so well integrated into French that the average Frenchman wouldn't be aware that they are words of English origin. At the other extreme are words that that same Frenchman would recognize immediately as English words even though he uses them without reflection (much as we would say ravioli and pizza are Italian words, or taco and tamale are Mexican Spanish words).
All these words will be marked as anglicisme or mot anglais in a French dictionary like Le Petit Robert, and the use of some of them would be frowned on in formal speech or writing, but many are very widely used in normal casual speech. You'll find it a fascinating book.
READ WHAT PROFESSORS AND INSTRUCTORS OF FRENCH AND OTHERS HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT EARLIER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES:
I think your books are wonderful. You have made a fantastic contribution to the French language profession. --- Prof. Judy Baughin, Raymond Walters College
You have done a real service to learners of French...This is important work. --- Prof. John Romeiser, U. of Tenn.
I have to say your Key Words and Expressions is just the kind of book I would have liked to have had when I was teaching myself French oh-so-many years ago. --- Prof. John Moran, Dir.Language Programs, NYU
If you really want to learn spoken French, you need this book (Key Words). You'll need other books as well, you'll need audio materials, and you'll need live language experience. But this book is a necessity. ---- reader reviewer amazon.com
I love the Faux Amis, especially the relaxed, conversational presentation. ---- Prof. Norman Shapiro, Wesleyan U.
Your little books are great! ---- Prof. AG Fralin, Washington and Lee U.
I absolutely *love* Faux Amis. It's so well done. --- Prof. Herta Rodina, Ohio U.
I love your books! They are easy to navigate, and they are extremely useful to non-native French speakers. ---- Prof. John Turvaville, U. of Tenn.
Perhaps the most amazing thing about this book (Key Words) is that it took until 2007 for anyone to think of writing it! ---- reader reviewer amazon.com
The books are excellent.---- Prof. Luke Bouvier, U. of Mass, Amherst
I've been perusing Key Words for the past couple of days and it's great fun... What a great idea for a book! --- Prof. Herta Rodina, Ohio U.
This (Key Words)is easily one of the best and most important French resources I own (and I've got dozens of them)... It's amazing, absolutely amazing how this book has improved my understanding of spoken French. - reader reviewer, amazon.com
I wish Rosenthal had written Rules for the Gender of French Nouns twenty years ago when I was a student. - Stephen Hedge, review in "The French Review"
About the Author: Saul is retired and lives with his wife (and his cat) for a part of each year in France, splitting his time between Provence and Bretagne. He spends a good deal of his time hiking, bicycling, and reading as well as writing, and he loves a variety of the French card game belote which is called "la coinche". Saul is the author of a number of books on learning French, including:
The Gender of French Nouns:
1. The Rules for the Gender of French Nouns, (4th revised edition)
The Faux Amis Series:
1. Speaking Better French, Faux Amis
2. Speaking Better French, more Faux Amis
3. Speaking Better French, still more Faux Amis
4. French Faux Amis: The Combined Book
The Key Words and Expressions Series:
1. Speaking Better French, The Key Words and Expressions
2. Speaking Better French, More Key Words and Expressions
3. French Key Words and Expressions: The Combined Book
The French You Use Without Knowing It Series:
1. All the French You Use Without Knowing It
2. More French You Use Without Knowing It
3. French Words You Use Without Knowing It, The Combined Book
French Anglicisms:
1. French Anglicisms, The Amazing Number of French Words that Come from English
His goal isn't to write textbooks, but rather to write books which are interesting and even FUN to read. He hopes that his books will make learning more about French a real pleasure for you.
