Foreign Words and Phrases

ad hoc

​ad ˈhäk

concerned with a particular purpose; improvised

The mayor appointed an ad hoc committee to study the project.​

bona fides

bō-nə-ˈfī-ˌdēz

good faith; sincere, involving no deceit or fraud

Knowing that Taylor needed to prove his bona fides as a pass catcher, the Badgers gave him more chances, and Taylor responded by catching 26 passes for 252 yards and five touchdowns.

carpe diem

kärpā ˈdēˌem

seize the day

Now is the time to embrace a carpe diem philosophy at warp speed.

caveat emptor

kavēˌät ˈem(p)ˌtôr

let the buyer beware

All this may sound alarmist, a caveat emptor of preemptive self-pity for the prospective thru-hiker.

de facto

dā ˈfaktō

in reality, actually existing

This year’s first two Finals games in Boston did not feel official without the de facto commissioner on hand to measure the baskets during warm-ups.

in extremis

in ikˈstrāmis

in extreme circumstances

Scarcity is also context dependent, in a desert, where water is scarce, no amount of gold nor bitcoin can buy water in extremis.

in medias res

in ˈmēdēəs ˈres

in the midst of things

Yes, most shows that begin in medias res and then jump back are incredibly annoying.

in toto

altogether

Trying to create an exception to the legislative filibuster would doom it in toto.

in ˈtōdō

modus operandi

a method of procedure

My modus operandi is to restrain myself enough in the dining room to take home leftovers.

mōdəs ˌäpəˈrandē

modus vivendi

a method a way of living, getting along

In a saner world, the Yankees and Flyers might have worked out a modus vivendi.

mōdəs viˈvendē

persona non grata

an unacceptable or unwelcome person

Then-commissioner David Stern became persona non grata in Phoenix for the rest of his life.

pərˌsōnə ˌnän ˈɡrädə

prima facie

at first view, apparently; self-evident

And thus far a disquieting amount of the information the mobster alleged appears to have a prima facie believability.

prīmə ˈfāSHē

pro bono

for the good

The white-collar litigators, who do pro bono wrongful conviction work, were the most recent in a succession of lawyers trying to help.

prō-ˌbȯ-nō

pro forma

prō ˈfôrmə

for the sake of form, carried out as a matter of formality

The House of Representatives convenes for a pro forma session at 11 a.m.

quid pro quo

kwid ˌprō ˈkwō

something given or received in exchange for something else

But critics of the president and political analysts are asking, with good reason, whether there is a quid pro quo.

requiescat in pace

re.kʷiˈeːs.kat inˈpaː.ke

may he or she rest in peace

It is common to reference requiescat in pace, which is a Latin phrase for R.I.P.

sub rosa

səb ˈrōzə

secretly

Still, the Nobel Prize Committee is known for making political statements, sub rosa and otherwise, with its choices.

au revoir

ō rəvˈwär

goodbye, until we see each other again

Bid flat hair au revoir with this innovative shampoo from the French favorite brand.

avant garde

aväntˈɡärd

unorthodox, experimental

An avant-garde filmmaker creates some very interesting concepts.

bon mot

bän ˈmō

a witty remark

Also present is the Earl’s redoubtable mother (Maggie Smith), who dispenses bons mots like sour lemon drops.

carte blanche

kärt ˈblänSH

unlimited authority

Give yourself carte blanche to eat your favorite egg-centric dishes any time of day.

c’est la vie

seɪ lə ˈviː

that’s life, that’s how things happen

As she walked away from the scene, she could be heard saying, "Oh well, c'est la vie".

coup de grâce

kü-də-ˈgräs

a decisive finishing blow

The coup de grace came as Russia's war fueled even higher prices.

coup d’état

kü-(ˌ)dā-ˈtä

overthrow of a government by a group

The African Union typically suspends the membership of a country after a coup d'etat.

de rigueur

də-(ˌ)rē-ˈgər

proper

The interiors Jean-Louis Deniot creates are spaces where spontaneity and magic are de rigueur.

déjà vu

dā-ˌzhä-ˈvü

something overly familiar

When the car broke down again, it was déjà vu.

fait accompli

ˈfā-tə-ˌkäm-ˈplē

an accomplished fact, presumably irreversible

But the Bengals’ first down that seemed a fait accompli when Boyd gained 9 yards never became a reality.

faux pas

ˈfō-ˌpä

a social blunder

The biggest faux pas companies can make on social media is not paying attention to the world around them and posting in a vacuum.

je ne sais quoi

zhə-nə-ˌsā-ˈkwä

an admirable quality that cannot be adequately described

Plus, the slightly unlaced corset has a sort of je ne sais quoi to it that's pretty fabulous.

merci

mərˈsi

thank you

"Merci!" he shouted to the crowd.

pièce de résistance

pēˌes də rəˌziˈstäns

showpiece

The waiter suggested we try the restaurant's pièce de résistance: the chocolate soufflé.

raison d'être

rāzôn ˈdetrə

reason for being

Art is his raison d'être.

tête-à-tête

tādəˈtāt

private conversation between two people

The couple had a brief tête-à-tête in the foyer.

vis-à-vis

vēzəˈvē

in relation to

A greyhound is very tall vis-à-vis a Scottie.

Open Ended

Have you heard or used any of these words and/or phrases?

(Please answer in a complete sentence.)