JOIE DE VIVRE (jwa dih VEE-vruh) FRENCH
Definition: A hearty enjoyment of life. Literally, "joy of living."
Usage: Granny has real joie de vivre. She drives a convertible, listens to Caspian, and still skis the slalom course at fifteen off with the best of them.
PERSONA NON GRATA (purr-SOH-nuh nahn GRAH-tuh) LATIN
Definition: Unacceptable or unwelcome.
Usage: Billy has been persona non grata around our house ever since he knocked a baseball through our dining-room window.
FAUX PAS (foe pah) FRENCH
Definition: A social blunder. Usage: Criticizing the boss's daughter was just her first faux pas on the new job.
MENSCH (mentsh) YIDDISH
Definition: A person of honor and integrity; a decent, upright person.
Usage: His grandfather always used to tell him, "Comb your hair, straighten your tie, look people in the eye, be a mensch."
ENFANT TERRIBLE (on-fon teh-REE-bleh) FRENCH
Definition: A difficult child; an unconventional or outspoken person whose behavior dismays or embarrasses others.
Usage: In the author's opinion, John McEnroe, the enfant terrible of the eighties, single-handedly ruined the sport of tennis in America.
CHEZ (shay) FRENCH
Definition: At the home of; at or by. Often used with the French word nous (we), meaning "at our home."
Usage: You're invited to a party chez nous. Worth noting: Don't say "You're invited to a party at chez nous."
PIÈCE DE RÉSISTANCE (pee-ESS dih ray-zees-TAHNSS) FRENCH
Definition: The prized item in a collection; a cook's signature dish.
Usage: Mary's scrumptious chocolate cake is the pièce de résistance of the neighborhood potluck.
RAISON D'ÊTRE (RAY-zohn DEH-truh) FRENCH
Definition: Reason for being.
Usage: My dog Bosco's raison d'être is simple: be my wife's shadow 24/7.
VIS-À-VIS (VEEZ-ah-VEE) FRENCH
Definition: Face-to-face with; compared with; in regard to.
Usage: My thoughts vis-à-vis the new plan are mixed: We'll make millions but we'll have to live in Antarctica.
BON MOT (bouh MOE) FRENCH
Definition: A clever remark or witticism.
Usage: [See paragraph one.] Worth noting: Say "bon" with a nasalized French sound; the N is not actually pronounced.
Today's assignment is to use one or two of these words and phrases in a way that helps you and your conversation partner grow in your knowledge and appreciation of language and its diversity.
NOTE: If you are an HTML author and wonder how to get special characters into your text, visit http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/international/web/index.html.
Source: Real Simple, February 2005.