Foreign Words & Expressions
Everyday English uses many foreign words and expressions from Latin, French and other languages, especially in academic, legal and formal writing.
What are foreign words & expressions?
A foreign word or expression in English is a word or short phrase taken from another language (often Latin or French) and used with a more or less fixed meaning. Many of them are common in exams, newspapers, legal documents and academic texts.
| Expression | Origin | Meaning | Example (usage) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ad hoc | Latin | for this particular purpose; temporary | We formed an ad hoc committee to solve the issue. |
| status quo | Latin | the existing state of things | The policy was kept to maintain the status quo. |
| déjà vu | French | feeling that something has happened before | Walking into the hall, I felt a strange déjà vu. |
| vice versa | Latin | the other way round; in reverse order | Teachers learn from students and vice versa. |
“Knowing key foreign expressions helps you read faster and write more precisely in exams.”
Key points
- Many come from Latin and French.
- Often used in academic, legal and business writing.
- Usually written in italics in formal texts.
- Meaning is fixed; do not change the form.
How Foreign Expressions Work in English
They often signal these aspects in a sentence:
Register
They generally sound more formal or educated.
- summary vs résumé
- existing state vs status quo
Precision
They pack a longer idea into a short phrase.
- mutatis mutandis – with necessary changes
- per capita – per head / per person
Domain
Certain fields favour certain expressions.
- Law: habeas corpus, bona fide
- Business: pro rata, per annum
Tone
Some add a subtle attitude or emotion.
- faux pas – embarrassing mistake
- persona non grata – unwelcome person
Mini Bank of Foreign Expressions
etc. (et cetera) – and so on
i.e. (id est) – that is
e.g. (exempli gratia) – for example
per annum – per year
per capita – per person
pro rata – in proportion
faux pas – social mistake
café – coffee house
à la carte – priced by item
vice versa – the other way round
tour de force – outstanding achievement
Tip: Build a list of 20–25 expressions that frequently appear in exam passages and revise their meanings regularly.
Practice
A) Multiple Choice (meaning of the expression)
-
The best meaning of “status quo” is:
future plan current situation past condition secret agreement
-
The expression “bona fide offer” means:
an illegal offer a casual offer a genuine offer a repeated offer
-
The phrase “per capita income” refers to:
total national income average income per person income of workers only income before tax
B) Fill in the Blanks (use a suitable foreign expression)
- The principal did not want to disturb the ________ in the college and kept the rules unchanged. (use: status quo / vice versa)
- The scholarship will be distributed ________, depending on the number of days the students attended the camp. (use: per capita / pro rata)
- The arrangement was made on an ________ basis and may not continue next year. (use: ad hoc / bona fide)
- The mistake at the official ceremony was a major ________. (use: faux pas / résumé)
C) Tiny code sample (mapping expression to meaning)
// Very small lookup for foreign expressions
const meaning = {
"status quo": "existing state of affairs",
"ad hoc": "for a particular purpose",
"bona fide": "genuine, in good faith",
"per capita": "per person"
};
// Example:
console.log(meaning["bona fide"]); // "genuine, in good faith"Short Reading
The university organised an ad hoc panel to review the curriculum. While some members wanted to maintain the status quo, others argued for a tour de force that would completely modernise the programme. The committee invited a bona fide industry expert to provide feedback on the proposed changes. The suggestions will be implemented pro rata, depending on the available resources.
Task: Explain each bold expression in simple English and identify whether it sounds formal or informal.
Show Suggested Answers
MCQ
- current situation (status quo)
- a genuine offer (bona fide)
- average income per person (per capita)
Fill in the Blanks
- status quo
- pro rata
- ad hoc
- faux pas
Reading – Meanings & Register
ad hoc – for this particular purpose only (formal)
status quo – the current situation as it is (formal/neutral)
tour de force – an impressive, outstanding achievement (formal/ literary)
bona fide – genuine; in good faith (formal, legal/business)
pro rata – in proportion to something (formal, business/administration)
Exam tips
- Underline/mark foreign expressions when reading passages and guess from context.
- Learn spelling carefully—accent marks may or may not appear in exam texts.
- Do not rewrite or “translate” them inside the answer; use them correctly or use simple English.
- In descriptive answers, prefer clear English, using foreign expressions only when they add precision.
