List of Important Foreign Words with Meaning

Foreign words with meaning: The English language has imbibed many words from foreign origin into its lexicon. Some of such words of foreign origin is used in political and judicial matters most often. Therefore, these words has become important for government job examination, especially in judicial recruitment examinations conducted across India. Considering the importance, we have compiled an extensive list of such foreign words with meaning.

1. Avant garde (French): Pioneer in the field of art, music, or literature
2. Ad hoc (Latin): Made for a specific purpose
3. Au revoir (French): Goodbye until we meet again
4. Alma mater(Latin): A school/college/university one attended formerly
5. Alumni (Latin): A former student of a school/college/university
6. Amicus curiae (Latin): Friend of the court
7. Alias (Latin): Nickname, also known as
8. A fortiori (Latin): With stronger reason
9. A posteriori (Latin): Derived from observation and experience
10. Bona fide (Latin): Genuine, Real
11. Bonjour (French): Hello, Good day, Good morning
12. Bon appétit (French): Enjoy your meal
    
13. Bon voyage (French): Happy journey
14. Bourgeoisie (French): Relating to middle class people
15. Bête noire (French): A person or object that one dislikes
16. Carte blanche (French): Full freedom
17. Coup d’ etat (French): Violent and illegal seizure of power from a government
18. Detour (French): Indirect way
19. Debut (French): First appearance
20. De facto (Latin): In fact
21. Deja vu (French): A feeling that something has happened before
22. Emeritus (Latin): Retired but keeping title on merit
23. Enchanté (French): Please to meet you, how do you do
    
24. En masse (French): All together
25. Ex gratia (Latin): Given as a favour
26. En route (French): On the way
27. Ex officio (Latin): By virtue of one’s status or position
28. Et al (Latin): And others
29. Entourage (French): A group of person surrounding an important person
30. Fait accompli (French): A thing accomplished and irreversible
31. Faux pas (French): An embarrassment, a mistake etc
32. Forte (Latin, french): One’s special talent
33. Fiance (French): A man to whom someone is engaged to marry
34. Fiancee (French): A woman to whom someone is engaged to marry
35. Genre (French): A style or category of art, music, literature etc
36. Impasse (French): Deadlock
37. Inter alia (Latin): Among other things
38. Joie de vivre (French): Joy of living
39. Laissez faire (French): Free from government interference
40. Lingua franca (Italian): Language used for communication between groups of people who speak different languages
41. Mala fide (Latin): In bad faith
42. Mea culpa (Latin): Used as an acknowledgement of one’s fault or error
43. Modus operandi (Latin): One’s way of doing something
44. Magnum opus (Latin): A great work of art, music or literature
45. Per se (Latin): By itself
46. Prima facie (Latin): Based on first impression
47. Proletariat (French): Working class people
48. Protege (Latin, French): A person patronized by someone
49. Parole (Latin): Temporary or permanent release of a prisoner before expiry of sentence
50. Quid pro quo (Latin): Something that is given or taken in return of something
51. Rendezvous (French): A meeting at an agreed time and place
52. RSVP (Répondez s’il vous plaît) (French): Please reply
53. Résumé (French): A summary
    
54. Sangfroid (French): Calmness, composure
55. Sobriquet (French): Pseudonym
56. Status quo (Latin): Existing state
57. Sine qua non (Latin): An essential condition
58. Sub judice (Latin): Before a judge of court
59. Suo moto (Latin): On one’s own
60. Tête-à-tête (French): A private conversation between two people
61. Via (French): Through
62. Viva voce (French): An oral test
63. Viz (Latin): Namely
64. Vice versa(Latin): Also true in opposite order
65. Vendetta (Latin): Family feud
66. Vis-a-vis (French): In relation to