6 Important Foreign Words

[pioneer]

1. De Facto

De facto is a Latin expression that means “actual” (if used as an adjective) or “in practice” (if used as an adverb). In legal terms, de facto is commonly used in contrast to de jure, which means “by law.” Something, therefore, can emerge either de facto (by practice) or de jure (by law).

    And what of the plastic red bench, which has served as his de facto home for the last 15 years and must by now be a collector’s item? (NY Times)

2. Vis-à-Vis

The literal meaning of this French expression is “face to face” (used as an adverb). It is used more widely as a preposition though, meaning “compared with” or “in relation to.”

    It’s going to be a huge catalyst in moving the whole process forward and it really strengthens the U.S. position vis-a-vis our trading partners (Yahoo! News)

3. Status quo

This famous Latin expression means “the current or existing state of affairs.” If something changes the status quo, it is changing the way things presently are.

    Bush believes that the status quo â€" the presence in a sovereign country of a militant group with missiles capable of hitting a U.S. ally â€" is unacceptable. (Washington Post)

4. Cul-de-sac

This expression was originated in England by French-speaking aristocrats. Literally it means “bottom of a sack,” but generally it refers to a dead-end street. Cul-de-sac can also be used metaphorically to express an action that leads to nowhere or an impasse.

    But the code of omerta was in effect for two carloads of fans circling the cul-de-sac to have a look at the house. (Reuters.com)

    A cul-de-sac of poverty (The Economist)

5. Per se

Per se is a Latin expression that means “by itself” or “intrinsically.”

    The mistake it made with the Xbox is that there is no game console market per se; there are PlayStation, GameCube, and Xbox markets. (PCMag.com)

6. Ad hoc

Ad hoc, borrowed from the Latin, can be used both as an adjective, where it means “formed or created with a specific purpose,” and as an adverb, where it means “for the specific purpose or situation.”

    The World Bank’s board on Friday ordered an ad hoc group to discuss the fate of President Paul Wolfowitz (CNN)
(dailywritingtips.com)

[Happy]

thanks for the lesson Mike

[queen]

Mike, are they as important as knowing the following words when you travel around the globe?

English = Sex
Spanish = Sexo
French = Sexe
German = Geschlecht
Italian = Sesso
Russian = ?
Visayan = Jer2x

Thanks in advance for the answer.

[hubag bohol]

Aylandil, brayt man kaha ka, please use these six words in a sentence.

[islander]

Mike, are they as important as knowing the following words when you travel around the globe?

English = Sex
Spanish = Sexo
French = Sexe
German = Geschlecht
Italian = Sesso
Russian = ?
Visayan = Jer2x

Thanks in advance for the answer.

Aylandil, brayt man kaha ka, please use these six words in a sentence.

syalan ka ba, bai hubs.  hilabtanon ra pod ka... braytanay ba diay ni.  ayaw please don't angina ang atong utok nga dalikdikon ani. 

ang sexophone ni jerry nga anak sa among silingan nga si jerjer di gyod angay ibiyahe around the world kay por favor, geschlecht, makauuwaw sa atong dungog ang iyang pagka-sexe, abi pa lang kitang mga bisaya who belong to the fairer sex morag ug nawong ug sesso de bola, way kalainan sa hulagway ni .     

[hubag bohol]

syalan ka ba, bai hubs.  hilabtanon ra pod ka... braytanay ba diay ni.  ayaw please don't angina ang atong utok nga dalikdikon ani. 

ang sexophone ni jerry nga anak sa among silingan nga si jerjer di gyod angay ibiyahe around the world kay por favor, geschlecht, makauuwaw sa atong dungog ang iyang pagka-sexe, abi pa lang kitang mga bisaya who belong to the fairer sex morag ug nawong ug sesso de bola, way kalainan sa hulagway ni .     

Bwahaha! Nga dalikdikon kag utok is resoundingly confirmed!

I was referring to Mike's "6 Important Foreign Words" and not to Queen's post! OK try again, this time less dalikdikonly...

[islander]

Bwahaha! Nga dalikdikon kag utok is resoundingly confirmed!

I was referring to Mike's "6 Important Foreign Words" and not to Queen's post! OK try again, this time less dalikdikonly...

syalan ba... now pa man ni nako masakpi. uy, baghu, ang imong bogal2 nga challenge nako nagsunod sa post ni queen, that's why it's only logical... besides, intrinsic na ang sentence tungod sa mga meanings nga gihatag ni mr webmaster

Despite the plastic red bench, which has served as his de facto home for the last 15 years and must by now be a collector’s item vis-a-vis our trading partners, Bush still believes that the status quo â€" the presence in a sovereign country of a militant group with missiles in two carloads of fans circling the cul-de-sac that are no game console market per se, still the board on Friday ordered an ad hoc group to discuss the fate of President Paul Wolfowitz.

[hubag bohol]

syalan ba... now pa man ni nako masakpi. uy, baghu, ang imong bogal2 nga challenge nako nagsunod sa post ni queen, that's why it's only logical... besides, intrinsic na ang sentence tungod sa mga meanings nga gihatag ni mr webmaster

He he, lihay pa jud. Ipha gud, 6 words ang kang Webmaster apan 7 words ang kang Queen. Besides, the thread title is the most obvious point of reference to a non-dalikdikon mind...

[hubag bohol]

Despite the plastic red bench, which has served as his de facto home for the last 15 years and must by now be a collector’s item vis-a-vis our trading partners, Bush still believes that the status quo â€" the presence in a sovereign country of a militant group with missiles in two carloads of fans circling the cul-de-sac that are no game console market per se, still the board on Friday ordered an ad hoc group to discuss the fate of President Paul Wolfowitz.

Hmm, apparently this balderdash has been composed in the letter and spirit of some highly classified apologetics in defence of the Wolfowitz Doctrine.