English Words Used In French (Anglicismes)

When I first lived in Paris, I kept hearing people say c’est full /sɛ ful/ — it’s full — and j’ai un call à 15h /ʒe œ̃ kɔl a kɛ̃z œʁ/ — I have a call at 3 p.m.
I thought I was losing my mind.
Had France finally surrendered to English? Was I accidentally attending meetings in a bilingual parallel universe?

One evening at a bar in the Marais, a bartender said tu veux un cocktail low-cost ou premium ? and that’s the moment I understood: English loanwords aren’t slipping into French… they’re sprinting, leaping, and occasionally cartwheeling into it.

And honestly? It’s kind of fun watching a language as proud as French borrow English with the energy of a yak borrowing your charger “just for five minutes.”

Let’s explore the most common anglicisms you’ll hear everywhere—from offices to cafés to TikTok comments—so you don’t stare blankly the next time someone proudly tells you their weekend was so chill.

Quick Primer

French uses English loanwords in four big categories:

1. Business & tech
   
2. Lifestyle & pop culture
   
3. Food & drinks
   
4. Internet & social media
   

Some purists hate them. Most people use them. All French learners should know them.

Work & Business Anglicisms

These appear in every meeting, email, and slightly-too-long PowerPoint.

Example:

on fait un meeting demain pour le feedback.
/ɔ̃ fɛ œ̃ mi.tiŋ də.mɛ̃ puʁ lə fid.bak/
We’re having a meeting tomorrow for feedback.

Lifestyle & Pop Culture Anglicisms

Used constantly in conversation and texts—especially among younger people.

Example:

j’ai un crush et je suis trop hype pour ce date.
/ʒe œ̃ kʁœʃ e ʒə sɥi tʁo ajp puʁ sə dɛt/
I have a crush and I’m super excited for this date.

Food & Drinks Anglicisms

Yes, even the land of artisanal baguettes borrows English words sometimes.

Example:

on fait un brunch puis un cocktail ?
/ɔ̃ fɛ œ̃ bʁœ̃tʃ pɥi œ̃ kɔk.tɛl/
Shall we do brunch and then a cocktail?

Internet, Tech & Social Media Anglicisms

This is the fastest-growing category. French TikTokers practically speak half-English at this point.

Example:

j’ai posté un truc et j’ai eu plein de likes.
/ʒe pɔs.te œ̃ tʁyk e ʒe y‿y plẽ də lajk/
I posted something and got lots of likes.

Strong vs. Weak Borrowings (A Yak-Important Skill)

Some anglicisms are fully accepted and widely used:

• un brunch
  
• un bug
  
• un week-end
  
• un job
  

Others are controversial and can sound too casual in formal settings:

• fun
  
• chill
  
• hype
  
• call
  

Some are considered “ugly English invaders” by language purists, which just makes them even more popular.

Usage Notes & Yak Warnings

1. Anglicisms are more common in cities (Paris, Lyon, Marseille).
   
2. The pronunciation is often French-ified — don’t over-English it or you’ll sound like an American tourist auditioning for theatre school.
   
3. Avoid slang anglicisms in job interviews unless the job is literally “Chief Vibes Officer.”
   
4. Older generations and rural areas tend to avoid trendy loanwords.
   
5. call is so common in offices that even grumpy managers say it.
   

Regional Notes

In Québec, many anglicisms exist but are pronounced differently:

• un boss /bɔs/
  
• un chum (boyfriend — not English but looks like it escaped from English)
  
• un fun /fɔn/
  
• le party /paʁ.ti/
  

But stick to France French pronunciations for this list.

Mini Dialogues

Dialogue 1
tu peux m’appeler ? J’ai un call dans 10 minutes.
/ty pø ma.pe.le ʒe œ̃ kɔl dɑ̃ dis mi.nyt/
Can you call me? I have a call in 10 minutes.

ok, j’arrive.
/ɔk ʒa.ʁiv/
Okay, I’m coming.

Dialogue 2
on fait un brunch dimanche ?
/ɔ̃ fɛ œ̃ bʁœ̃tʃ di.mɑ̃ʃ/
Do you want to do brunch on Sunday?

grave, je suis trop chill ce week-end.
/ɡʁav ʒə sɥi tʁo tʃil sə wi.kɛnd/
Totally, I’m super chill this weekend.

Dialogue 3
tu as vu mon post ?
/ty a vy mɔ̃ pɔst/
Did you see my post?

oui, il est hyper stylé !
/wi il ɛ i.pɛʁ sti.le/
Yeah, it’s super stylish!

Quick Reference

Five-Minute Practice Plan

1. Make three sentences about your routine using anglicisms (j’ai un call, je suis chill, etc.).
   
2. Translate three English loanwords into French pronunciation.
   
3. Say the dialogues aloud at natural speed.
   
4. Invent one fake corporate sentence using un deadline and un feedback.
   
5. Text yourself (yes, really) using liker or un post.
   

When English Sneaks Into French (And Nobody Tries To Stop It)

Soon you’ll recognize these anglicisms everywhere — meetings, menus, group chats, overheard metro conversations. Once you know how they work, you stop feeling like a confused yak hearing half-French, half-English word-smoothies and start enjoying the delightful chaos of a language that swears it’s pure… while casually saying c’est fun like it’s no big deal.

And now, the next time someone tells you they’re trop hype pour un brunch low-cost, you’ll understand every single word — even if your inner French grammar teacher faints a little.