BBA/BPES/BOD/ BCA/ B.

Tech MAE/RAE| COM 201: Business Communication | GBS/FPES/ FCS/FEDA-D |

List of Foreign Words

From Latin meaning to a sickening degree. “Tom talked ad nauseam about the time he scored the
ad nauseam
winning run.”

bon voyage
From French meaning have a nice trip. “We all shouted ‘bon voyage’ as Rosa left for her vacation.”

bona fide
From Latin meaning genuine. “Emma’s teacher was a bona fide expert in European
history.”

carte blanche From French meaning unlimited authority. “As the owner of the store, Mr. Williamson had carte
blanche regarding what merchandise to sell.”

From French meaning in a large group. “The fans left the football stadium en masse once the score
en masse
became 42 to 0.”

From French meaning a social blunder. “Elizabeth realized too late that not attending Susan’s party was
faux pas
a faux pas.”

modus From Latin meaning method of operating. “My modus operandi when studying is to set very specific
operandi goals.”

From Latin meaning done or donated without charge. “The lawyer’s pro bono work with the homeless
pro bono
gave him a sense of personal satisfaction.”

quid pro quo From Latin meaning something for something, usually an equal exchange. “Helping Ian
with his math was quid pro quo for the time Ian helped me mow the lawn.”

status quo From Latin meaning the existing condition. “Because he didn’t like change, Bert always tried to maintain
the status quo.”

French well informed; up to date (literally ‘in the (regular) course’)

au courant

Page 1 of 2
 BBA/BPES/BOD/ BCA/ B.Tech MAE/RAE| COM 201: Business Communication | GBS/FPES/ FCS/FEDA-D |

beau monde French fashionable society (literally ‘fine world’)

billet-doux French a love letter (literally ‘sweet note’)

bon vivant French a person with a sociable and luxurious lifestyle (literally ‘person living well’)

carpe diem Latin make the most of the present time (literally ‘seize the day!’)

déjà vu French the sense of having experienced the present situation before (literally ‘already seen’)

dolce vita Italian a life of pleasure and luxury (literally ‘sweet life’)

dramatis
Latin the characters in a play (literally ‘persons of the drama’)
personae

magnum opus Latin the most important work of an artist, writer, etc. (literally ‘great work’)

French people who have recently become rich and who display their wealth ostentatiously (literally
nouveau riche
‘new rich’)

persona non
Latin a person who is not welcome somewhere
grata

sine qua non Latin a thing that is absolutely essential (literally ‘without which not’)

tête-à-tête French a private conversation (literally ‘head-to-head’)

vis-à-vis French in relation to; as compared with (literally ‘face-to-face’)

voxpopuli Latin public opinion (literally ‘the voice of the people’)

Page 2 of 2