Frenchism
|French-ism|
/ˈfrɛn.tʃɪ.zəm/
French-derived expression or trait
Etymology
'Frenchism' originates from English, specifically the element 'French' + the suffix '-ism', where 'French' meant 'of or relating to France' and '-ism' meant 'practice, characteristic, or ideology'.
'Frenchism' was formed in modern English by combining 'French' with the suffix '-ism' (the latter ultimately from Greek '-ismos' via Latin and French), and has been attested in English usage since the 18th–19th centuries to denote French-influenced words or traits.
Initially it could refer broadly to practices or characteristics associated with France or the French, but over time it became commonly used to mean a word or expression in another language borrowed from French or showing French influence.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a word, expression, or construction in another language that is borrowed from French or influenced by French usage.
The use of 'rendezvous' in that novel is a clear Frenchism.
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Noun 2
a characteristic habit, mannerism, or cultural trait associated with the French or France.
His preference for long, leisurely meals was described as a Frenchism by his colleagues.
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Last updated: 2025/10/29 01:45