How Does the French Influence the English Language?

English may be a Germanic language at its core, but if you look closely, you’ll see that it’s wearing a very French coat. From words like government and menu to expressions like déjà vu, French has had a deep and lasting influence on the English language.

So, how exactly did this happen? Why is so much English… French?

Let’s take a look at how the French language shaped English vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation, and even style.

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⚔️ 1. The Norman Invasion: A Linguistic Turning Point

The story begins in 1066, when William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy, in what is now France) invaded England. He defeated the Anglo-Saxon king at the Battle of Hastings and became King of England.

With this conquest came a new ruling class, and with it, a new language: Old Norman French.

For over 300 years, French was the language of:

• the royal court

• the legal system

• education, literature, and government

Meanwhile, Old English was still spoken by the peasants and working class. This resulted in a linguistic layering, where French and English words existed side by side.

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🧠 2. Vocabulary: Where French Left Its Biggest Mark

The most obvious influence is vocabulary. It’s estimated that 30% to 45% of modern English words come from French, either directly or through Latin.

Here are some key areas:

⚖️ Law & Politics

Words like:

• court, judge, jury, attorney, justice, parliament, government
  All entered English through French legal tradition.

🍽️ Food & Dining

In the kitchen, the English often kept the animal word from Old English, and adopted the cooked dish name from French:

• cow → beef (boeuf)

• pig → pork (porc)

• sheep → mutton (mouton)

Also: cuisine, restaurant, menu, entrée, hors d’oeuvre, and more.

👗 Fashion, Art, and Culture

French contributed words such as:

• boutique, chic, couture, perfume, ballet, genre, collage, portrait

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🔄 3. Double Vocabulary: Fancy vs. Simple

In many cases, English kept both the Old English word and the French word, creating synonyms with different tones.

This gives English its rich vocabulary, but also confuses learners—especially when both words mean almost the same thing!

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🔤 4. Spelling and Pronunciation

French also influenced spelling conventions:

• The use of -tion (action, nation) instead of older Germanic forms

• Silent letters (like the b in debt, added to reflect Latin debitum)

• French-style endings: -age (village, courage), -ique (unique), -ette (cassette)

Pronunciation was affected too. Many French words kept their original stress pattern or nasal sounds (though adapted to English speech).

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🗣️ 5. Everyday Expressions from French

Many common English expressions are directly borrowed from French:

• RSVP (Répondez s’il vous plaît)

• Déjà vu (already seen)

• Faux pas (social mistake)

• Coup d’état, à la carte, raison d’être, vis-à-vis

Some are still used in formal or literary contexts, while others have become totally natural in English.

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🌍 6. Modern Influence: French Still Matters

Today, English continues to borrow words from French—especially in:

• gastronomy

• diplomacy

• art and literature

• fashion and luxury goods

French also remains an important language in international organizations, so it continues to shape international English vocabulary.

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✅ Final Thoughts

French has played a crucial role in shaping the English language. Whether you’re talking about vocabulary, spelling, expressions, or even social status, the French influence is everywhere.

For English learners, recognizing these connections can:

• Make vocabulary easier to learn (especially if you speak French!)

• Help you understand formal or academic English

• Give you insight into how languages evolve and influence one another

So the next time you write an essay, eat at a restaurant, or attend a ballet, remember—you’re speaking a little French, too.

Why are French words used in English?

If you’ve ever ordered a croissant, worn lingerie, or said RSVP, you’ve used French—without even realizing it. But why are so many French words part of the English language?

It turns out, French has left a huge mark on English vocabulary. In fact, nearly 30% of English words come directly or indirectly from French!

Let’s explore how French got into English, why it stayed, and what it means for learners today.

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⚔️ 1. The Norman Invasion (1066): French Becomes the Language of Power

The biggest reason French invaded English is… because France literally invaded England!

In 1066, William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy (in modern-day France), defeated the English king and became the new ruler of England. As a result:

• French became the language of the court, law, government, and elite

• English was spoken mostly by peasants and the working class

For over 300 years, French was the language of power, and thousands of French words entered English—especially in law, politics, and food.

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📚 2. French Words That Stuck (and Stayed)

Many of the French words introduced in medieval England never left. Today, they’re just… English.

Here are a few examples by category:

👑 Government & Law:

• justice, court, judge, parliament, government, crime

🍽️ Food & Cooking:

• beef (from boeuf), pork (porc), cuisine, menu, restaurant

🧥 Fashion & Culture:

• boutique, chic, haute couture, perfume, ballet, lingerie

💬 Formal Language:

• rendezvous, déjà vu, résumé, faux pas, fiancé(e)

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🧠 3. Why English Kept the French Words

Even after French was no longer the official language in England, many of its words:

• Filled gaps in English vocabulary

• Sounded more sophisticated or formal

• Became part of the legal and cultural systems

English didn’t replace the French words—it often just kept both.

Example:

• Kingly (Old English) vs. royal (French) vs. regal (Latin)

This gives English its famous synonym richness, but also makes it harder for learners!

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🧩 4. Why This Matters for Learners

If your native language is French, good news: you already know many English words!

If you’re not a French speaker, learning common French-origin words can:

• Improve your reading comprehension

• Help with formal writing

• Make it easier to learn other Romance languages (like Spanish or Italian)

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🔎 5. Fun Facts About French in English

• “Beef” (English) comes from French boeuf — but “cow” is from Old English!

• English has more French words than modern French has English words.

• Some French words in English aren’t used the same way in France (like entrée, which in French means “starter,” not the main dish).

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✅ Final Thoughts

French isn’t just a foreign influence in English—it’s a core part of the language. From law to fashion to food, French has shaped the way we speak, write, and even think in English.

So next time you say ballet, attorney, or restaurant, just remember: you’re speaking a little bit of French!

 

Why some letters are silent in English words?

Have you ever wondered why the word “knight” starts with a K you don’t pronounce? Or why there’s a B at the end of “lamb”, even though no one says it? Silent letters can feel like a cruel joke for English learners—but there’s a fascinating reason behind them. Let’s take a look at why some letters are silent in English words, and how they got there.

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🧬 1. Blame History: English Has a Messy Past

English is a language built on layers of other languages—Old English, Latin, Norse, and French, to name a few. Over time, pronunciations evolved, but spellings often stayed the same.

Example:

• “Knight” used to be pronounced something like /knixt/ in Middle English. That K wasn’t silent!

• Over time, the initial “kn” sound was dropped in speech, but the spelling stuck.

So, many silent letters are leftovers from older versions of English, like fossils embedded in the language.

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📜 2. French Influence After 1066

When the Normans invaded England in 1066, they brought French vocabulary and spelling rules. This changed the way English was written. Words were often re-spelled to look more “French,” even if the pronunciation stayed English.

Example:

• “Debt” was influenced by the Latin word debitum via French. The silent B was added later to match the Latin root—even though it’s not pronounced.

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🧪 3. The Printing Press and Standardization

In the 1400s, the printing press came to England, and publishers started to standardize spellings. Unfortunately, pronunciation kept evolving, but the spelling system didn’t change as quickly. That’s why English today has so many non-phonetic spellings.

Example:

• “Island” was originally spelled iland. The S was added because people thought it came from the Latin word insula—but it doesn’t!

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🧠 4. Why Silent Letters Still Exist Today

You might think: Why not just update the spellings?
The answer is: consistency and etymology.

• Silent letters help distinguish homophones (e.g. “knight” vs “night”)

• They help us understand word origins and meanings (e.g. “sign” → “signature”)

• Spelling reform is controversial and would require massive changes in education, publishing, and software

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🔥 Bonus: Common Silent Letter Patterns

Here are a few silent letters English learners often struggle with:

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🎯 Tips for Learners

• Don’t try to pronounce silent letters—just memorize the whole word

• Focus on common patterns (like “kn” or “mb”) to recognize silent letters quickly

• Use tools like Forvo or Google’s pronunciation feature to hear the correct form

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🧩 Final Thoughts

Silent letters are one of the most frustrating—and fascinating—parts of learning English. But now that you know why they exist, you can learn to recognize and work with them. Think of silent letters not as mistakes, but as clues to the deep, rich history of the English language.