English has borrowed many words and phrases from foreign languages. Here is a collection of such words and phrases.
Baccalaureate (French) is an examination in a range of subjects that students do in their final school year in France and some other countries.
Bacteria (Latin) is the plural form of ‘bacterium’. They cause illnesses or diseases.
Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria.
Badinage (French) is a conversation that involves a lot of jokes or humour.
We enjoyed listening to the badinage of the old sailor.
Baksheesh (Persian) is money that people in the Middle East give to poor people or to someone who has helped them, or as a bribe.
Ballerina (Italian) is a female ballet dancer.
Banquet (French) is a formal dinner for many people on an important occasion.
Baroque (French) relates to the decorated style of art, music or buildings that were common in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Barrage (French) is the continuous firing of guns or dropping of bombs, especially to protect soldiers as they move towards an enemy. It also means a lot of criticism, questions, or complaints that are said at the same time.
The minister was bombarded with a barrage of questions.
Basmati (Hindi) is a variety of aromatic long-grain rice.
Bas-relief (French) is a style of art in which stone or wood is cut so that shapes are raised above the surrounding surface.
Batik (Javanese) is a way of printing coloured patterns on cloth that involves putting wax over some parts of the cloth.
Bazaar (Persian) is a market or an area where there are a lot of small shops.
We visited a charming bazaar in Chennai, India.
Beau (French) is a woman’s male escort or lover. It also means a fashionable man who prides himself on his appearance.
Beige (French) is pale brown colour.
Liz was dressed in a beige skirt.
Belle (French) is a beautiful girl or woman.
Beri-beri (Sinhala) is a tropical disease caused by a deficiency of thiamine, resulting in inflammation of the nerves.
Berserk (Old Norse) means ‘to become angry and violent.’
Dad went berserk when he heard the story.
Bete noire (French) is a person or thing that someone dislikes most.
Bibliomania (Greek) is an obsessive interest in collecting books.
Bicep (Latin) is the large muscle on the front of your upper arm.
Roy had an eagle tattoo on one of his biceps.
Bimbo (Italian) is an attractive but unintelligent young woman.
Bivouac (French) means ‘to spend the night outside without tents in a temporary camp.’
The climbers bivouacked halfway up the mountain.
Bizarre (French) means ‘very unusual or strange.’
The African dancers were wearing bizarre costumes.
Blasé (French) means ‘not worried or excited about things that most people think are important.’
Peter was very blasé about money after winning a big lottery prize.
Blitz (German) is a sudden military attack, especially from the air. It also means a big effort to make people notice something or buy something.
The campaign was launched with a nationwide publicity blitz.
Bloc (French) is a large group of people or countries with the same political aim.
Bona fide (Latin) means ‘real, true, and not intended to deceive anyone.’
Only bona fide members are allowed to use the club pool.
Bona fides (Latin) If you check someone’s bona fides, you check whether they are who they claim to be.
Bonanza (Spanish) is a lucky or successful situation where people can make a lot of money.
Susan has won a fabulous cash bonanza.
Bonhomie (French) is a friendly feeling among a group of people.
We found that they were relaxed and full of bonhomie.
Bon mot (French) is a clever remark.
Bonsai (Japanese) is the art of growing dwarfed plants and trees.