I remember coming across a restaurant along Chun Tin Road named “Vis-à-vis” when mobile surfing was non-existent. It piqued my curiosity and I had to ask around what it means – face-to-face.
“What an apt name for a romantic restaurant," I thought.
From time to time, we come across these non-English or foreign words. These words are often printed in italics and now, finding their meanings is a breeze.
If it makes you wonder how such words had made it to the English dictionary, it is because they are used often, and dictionaries are updated to serve a living language.
Curious? Watch the YouTube video “How Do Words Get Added to the Dictionary” by BrainStuff – HowStuffWorks. (the link is shared at the end of the article)
In the meantime, here are four commonly used non-English words that had found their way into the English lexicon.
(1) Al fresco or Alfresco
Origin – Italian
[Pronounce it like: Al-fres-co]
What it means
Outdoors or out in the open.
How to use it
(In a restaurant) "We would like seats for four. Al fresco, please."
A bright and sunny day will make a perfect alfresco playdate for children.
(2) Déjà vu
Origin - French
[Pronounce it like: Dae-jar-voo]
What it means
Having a familiar feeling that you experienced something similar before when you are actually experiencing it now.
How to use it
As our tour guide led us into the Sung Sot Cave in Halong Bay, I was taken aback by the déjà vu feeling as the scenery of the cave unfolded exactly like what I had in my mind.
(3) Carpe Diem
Origin - Latin
[Pronounce it like: Kar-peh-dee-am]
What it means
Live for the moment! Seize the day and enjoy the present.
How to use it
Taking my friends’ advice to live a life attuned to the belief of carpe diem, I bungee jumped and experienced what it meant to live for the moment. I would not be doing it again.
(4) Tête-à-tête
Origin - French
[Pronounce it like: tat-a-tat]
What it means
Engage in a private conversation between two people.
How to use it
It made us feel uncomfortable when Roland ended spending most of his time in a Facebook tête-à-tête with God-knows-who during dinner.
Here is the YouTube video mentioned earlier about “How Do Words Get Added to the Dictionary”, by BrainStuff – HowStuffWorks.
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~ Calligraphy by Sann Choo