A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi : The Origin of Foreign Words Used in English

by Chloe Rhodes

  Loot

  plunder (Anglo-Indian, from the Hindi “lut”)

  “Loot” or “lut” originally described the items stolen following a war or riot and was brought into the English language by British soldiers who served in India in the late-eighteenth century. Over time it has also become a verb, and “looting” is often reported in war-torn towns. We also use the word more casually as slang for money or a particularly pleasing haul of presents.

  Hermione loved birthdays. Before bed she arranged her gifts in rows on her bedroom floor and surveyed her loot with glee.

  Louche

  decadent, shady (French)

  This comes from the Old French word “lousche,” which means “squint-eyed.” A squint was clearly a suspicious affliction in those days because the term gave rise to the more modern “louche,” meaning “devious” and “of questionable repute.” The word was first used in English in the early nineteenth century and can be used in reference to a person of dubious moral values or her debauched behavior. It is also often used to describe a decadent or possibly slightly seedy place.

  It’s very tricky to know what sort of place you’re going into in that part of town. Some of the bars look terribly louche.

  M

  Macho

  virile, domineering (Spanish)

  In Spanish culture (and in Hollywood), the macho man is celebrated as a strong, patriarchal, responsible example of the alpha male. The word comes from “machismo,” which has also been adopted by English speakers and means “masculinity.” It has been used in English since the 1920s, but in the UK and the United States (apart from in the movies), it is most often used negatively to denote aggression, chauvinism, or the kind of male physical posturing that starts fights after last call.

  Don’t you dare go all macho on me, Darren; you’re no Sylvester Stallone, and anyway, you know I prefer a man who’s in touch with his feminine side.

  Maestro

  master, teacher (Italian)

  This, like so many musical words, is Italian and usually refers to composers, conductors, and some musicians of classical music and opera. It has its origins in the Latin “magister,” meaning “master,” and in modern usage it has expanded to include masters in other artistic fields, particularly fine art, and some sports, such as fencing, where it means “instructor,” though its principal use is still in the musical world.

  With a final frantic wave of his baton and a wild flick of his hair, the maestro brought the opera to its magnificent conclusion.

  Magnum opus

  great work (Latin)

  This grand term refers to the largest or most substantial piece of work by an established composer, author, or artist. These days we tend to use the phrase as a synonym for “masterpiece,” and in many cases both terms apply, but a magnum opus is not always an artist’s best work. It might refer to a piece of work that is remarkable more for its scale or the time it took to produce—than its success.

  Lucille scanned the desk in front of her: seven lined notepads, fifteen pens and a box of twenty-four Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Yes, she had everything she needed to begin her magnum opus.

  Mañana

  tomorrow (Spanish)

  This comes from the Latin “maneana,” which translates as “early tomorrow,” but to the Spanish and to most English-speaking users of the phrase, it means “at an unspecified time the next day.” Though it is used straightforwardly in Spain, in English it has taken on an additional sense of vagueness or reluctance to commit to a deadline. We sometimes say that someone has a mañana attitude, which means he is so laid-back that he never gets anything done.

  All you ever tell me is, mañana, mañana! Well, I’m sick of hearing it—we both know mañana never comes.

  Mandarin

  official (Malay)

  The name given to sixteenth-century Chinese officials is derived from the Malay word “mantri,” meaning “minister of state.” English speakers have adopted the term to describe government officials of our own, and also for the small, sweet citrus fruit, so named because its color is the same shade as the Chinese mandarins’ robes. In their honor, the word is also put to use as a name for society’s elite, such as influential figures in the art world.

  Personally, I don’t think that a banana placed on top of a toilet tank constitutes art. Whether the mandarins in charge of the Turner Prize will agree remains to be seen.

  Mantra

  instrument of thought (Sanskrit)

  This comes from the Sanskrit root “man,” meaning “to think,” and the suffix “tra,” meaning “tool.” It refers to a chant or sound, made either out loud or in the mind, that advances spiritual development. Mantras have found their way into English through the teachings of Buddhism and Hinduism, though we now use the word in a more secular sense. Any saying or statement that helps us to focus on achieving something can be labeled a mantra.

  I’ve borrowed my New Year’s resolution from a sportswear company: Just Do It! I’m going to make that my mantra.

  Maven

  expert (Yiddish)

  “Maven” comes from the Yiddish word “meyvn,” which stems from the Hebrew word “binah,” meaning understanding. It traditionally referred to someone who gathers information and passes his knowledge on to others. It arrived in English in the 1950s and was popularized in England in the 1960s, thanks to a popular ad campaign featuring “The Beloved Herring Maven.” Sociologist Malcolm Gladwell uses it in his best-selling book The Tipping Point to describe intense information gatherers who are quick to pick up new trends. We also use it to describe someone who is an authority on a subject.

  Douglas had a job he loved—selling fishing bait. In fact, he was so skilled at breeding worms for the wire that the angling community nicknamed him the “Maggot Maven.”

  Mazel tov

  good fortune (Yiddish)

  With its origins in the Mishnaic Hebrew word “mazzal,” meaning “destiny,” this word is used to celebrate good fortune having come someone’s way. It is traditionally used on significant occasions such as weddings and bar mitzvahs, though it is also now widely used even outside the Jewish community as an alternative to congratulations for anything from buying a new house to passing your exams.

  Hi, Louise, guess what? I was lucky this time and passed my driving test on the third try.

  That’s awesome! Okay—stay where you are, I’m coming over to say mazel tov.

  Mea culpa

  my fault (Latin)

  This phrase comes from a Roman Catholic prayer for Mass called “Confiteor,” meaning “I confess,” which includes the cheery line: “I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed: through my fault, through my own fault.” This English translation appeared beside the Latin in prayer books, and the phrase was absorbed into general use. Now a “mea culpa” is an admission of guilt for a mistake, often rendered as “mea maxima culpa” by people into serious breast-beating.

  Someone among us has left his underwear in the microwave, where I can only assume he was attempting to dry it. I suggest that he perform a swift mea culpa if he wants the chance to salvage the offending item.

  Memento mori

  be mindful of death (Latin)

  In ancient Rome, where life could, though disease or war, be brutally short, this phrase was used as a reminder of mortality. It is said to have been delivered by an appointed slave to victorious generals after a celebration of victory to help them guard against complacency. Under the influence of Christianity, the phrase came to refer to works of art—paintings, elegies, and engravings on tombs were common versions.

  Don’t be too hard on the boy about those plastic skulls he likes to dangle off his ears, Pete. Try to think of them as religious ornamentation—they’re the perfect memento mori.

  Ménage à trois

  household of three (French)

  In the affair-fueled society of late-nineteenth-century England, this French term for a domestic arrangement in which three people live togethe
r and have a sexual relationship came in rather handy for the British aristocracy. Any household in which a married couple lives with the lover of one partner can be described with this word. It is sometimes used in modern times to refer to the act of sex between three people, more colloquially known as a “threesome.”

  I wouldn’t mind a ménage à trois if I’m honest. It’d get him off my case every night, and it’d be nice to share the housework.

  Mi casa es su casa

  my house is your house (Spanish)

  This welcoming Spanish phrase is used widely in Spanish and Mexican households to make guests feel at home. It passed into American English through the Latin American and Spanish communities and subsequently reached British shores. While it can be used quite formally by Spanish speakers, it is more of a lighthearted phrase in English, where people tend to say it with arms thrown theatrically wide.

  Friends, come on in. No, no need to take off your shoes, James, mi casa es su casa. Let me get you a drink.

  Mise en scène

  staging, direction (French)

  This term is central to the critical analysis of film and theater and refers to everything that can be seen in the picture or onstage: the set, costumes, and lighting, and the use of movement and expression by the actors. It was first used by critics in the French film journal Les Cahiers du cinéma in the 1950s and is still central to the vocabulary of film and drama critics today.

  Walter Jackman wasn’t happy. He sat in the director’s chair, but the damned actors seemed to be running the show. And what did any of them know about the mise en scène?

  Modus operandi

  mode of operation (Latin)

  This started as a term used by the police to describe the favored methods of criminals. In cases where a series of crimes had been committed, the investigating team would try to establish the criminal’s characteristic techniques and patterns of movement to plan their capture. It is still used in this way today (often shortened to MO), though it is most often applied generally to a person’s method of working that has proved successful.

  Good lord, Gwynneth, seven children to ferry to ballet class, football club, Mandarin for beginners, and orienteering practice, and you still have to squeeze in the shopping for dinner. Tell me how you manage it—what’s your modus operandi?

  Moratorium

  delay (Latin)

  In law a “moratorium” is an officially authorized period of delay in complying with a legal demand, such as payment of a debt, or a legally enforced suspension of an activity while discussions take place concerning its future. Since its introduction into English around 1875, there have been moratoria on activities as diverse as hunting, mining, nuclear testing, and the death penalty. In more general modern use it means a pause or break from something.

  Can we please have a moratorium on these awful round-robin joke e-mails? They’re blocking up my inbox, and they’re not even funny.

  N

  Nabob

  wealthy man/dignitary (Hindi)

  During the Mogul Empire, a governor in India was known as a “nawab,” or “nabob,” which comes from the Arabic “na’ib,” meaning “deputy.” The riches they took home after their time in the East marked them as wealthy men, and the term “nabob” was coined to describe a man with immense riches, especially one who had made his fortune in the Orient. It is now used as an alternative to “bigwig” to denote someone in a position of influence who has power and wealth.

  Janet smoothed the wrinkles out of her jacket and stepped closer to the VIP bar; she wasn’t used to mingling with nabobs and felt in need of a smooth martini.

  NB (Nota Bene)

  note well (Latin)

  This useful Latin phrase is usually abbreviated to NB and means “note well” in the sense of “pay attention.” Though used in conversation in Roman times, the phrase is reserved for text in modern English, where it is used to draw attention to a particularly important fact that is linked in some way to the primary reading material. It is most commonly used by teachers who wish to highlight information that their students need to take into account.

  Sophie’s note taking had never been sophisticated. Usually she got down the gist of what the teacher said and then put NBs in the margins whenever she realized she’d missed something important.

  Nil desperandum

  nothing to be despaired at (Latin)

  Like so many of our best maxims, this comes from Roman lyric poet Horace, who wrote it in Odes I, published in 23 BC. “Nil” comes from “nihil,” meaning “nothing,” and “desperandum,” meaning “to be despaired at.” It was probably adopted into English as a salve to the soul in difficult times, and we still use the phrase when we need to cheer someone up as an alternative to “it’s not the end of the world.”

  Nil desperandum, Bill; there’s no shame in playing on the B team.

  Noblesse oblige

  nobility obligates (French)

  This term sums up the idea that those of high birth have an obligation toward the rest of society. Originally it implied that noblemen owed it to themselves and to others to become strong leaders of common men, though over time it has become less explicit. Nowadays it is used to suggest that those with wealth and status should do something to help those less fortunate than themselves.

  I do like Prince Charles, you know. I don’t know if it’s noblesse oblige, but he really does seem to do a lot of good with his charity work.

  Nom de plume

  pen name (French)

  Though the phrase is French, it is rarely used in France, where “nom de guerre,” meaning “war name,” has served as an alternative to “pseudonym” since the establishment of the French Resistance. The phrase “nom de plume” was in fact made up by the English, who wanted a literary-sounding phrase for writers wishing to disguise their identity. They were especially useful to female writers in the male-dominated world of publishing. Mary Ann Evans famously wrote under the name George Eliot to ensure that her work was taken seriously.

  What do you think of Crumpet Delamore as my nom de plume? I think it has the perfect ring of romance for an author of a romance novel.

  Non sequitur

  does not follow (Latin)

  This term refers to a statement or response that seems utterly meaningless in the context of whatever preceded it. It came into English around 1540, and when a non sequitur is used deliberately, it is usually the preserve of comedians who aim to make a comment so ludicrously absurd and irrelevant that it becomes funny. It may also be used in an argument when someone wants to outwit his opponent by confusing him with nonsense.

  I think I’ll have cake, but should it be apple or pound?

  Don’t try and evade me with your non sequiturs. Did you clean up the kitchen or not?

  Nosh

  snack food (Yiddish)

  This beautifully onomatopoeic word comes from another Yiddish word “nashn,” which means “to eat sweets” or “to nibble on.” It was adopted into English by the working-class communities in the East End of London, where there was a large Jewish population in the early 1900s. It has become a slang word for food and for snacking.

  That tukey is still not done. Do you want something to nosh on while waiting?

  Nous

  mind, intellect (Greek)

  To Homer it meant “mental activity,” to Plato it denoted the conscious part of the soul, while for Aristotle it represented the intellect. However, in spite of these varying interpretations, “nous” was generally accepted as a philosophical term for the mind. It continued to be used in this way by later philosophers, but in modern English it has far less cerebral connotations and is used simply to mean “common sense.”

  That hairdresser could make a fortune out of all the secrets she knows about the rich and famous, but she just doesn’t have the nous—that’s why they all like her.

  Nouveau riche

  new rich (French)