Cerise: Cherry; The French word for the fruit gives the word for the color
Example: The Cerise plant flowers from June to October.
C'est La Vie: That's life
Example: I wanted the other one, but that's how it is, C'est La Vie
Chaise Longue: Long Chair
Example: This Chaise longue was better than what I had purchased last year.
Charge d'affaires: Charged with business; A substitute or replacement diplomat
Example: The American charge d'affaires and consul-general sent a letter to the President.
Chef D'ouvre: Chief work; Masterpiece
Example: The painting of Monalisa is hailed as Chef D'ouvre by Leonardo Da Vinci.
Chic: Stylish
Example: Chic sounds more chic than stylish
Comme ci comme ça: So-so
Example: The plans for the party strike me as comme ci comme ca.
Coup de grace: Finishing blow
Example: After an already wildly successful day, the coup de grâce came when she won best all-around athlete.
Crème caramel: Caramel cream; custard lined with caramel
Example: I really relish the custard that is baked in a caramel-lined mold and served chilled with the caramel side up.
Creme de la crème: Something superlative; Cream of the cream; refers to the best of the best.
Example: The crème de la crème of the world is invited to attend the Oscar Awards night.
Creme fraiche: Fresh Cream; Despite its meaning, crème fraîche is in fact slightly fermented, thickened cream.
Example: You use creme fraiche instead of cheese to mix with mascarpone.
Crepe de Chine: Chinese crepe; soft fine or sheer clothing crepe especially of silk
Example: I saw a blue-eyed blonde in a lavender crepe de chine dress which highlighted her silhouette.
Crime passionnel: Passionate crime; Crime of passion
Example: His prison sentence will be reduced if his lawyer can convince the jury that the murder was a crime passionnel.
Cuisine: Kitchen, Style, cuisine refers only to a particular type of food/cooking, such as French cuisine, Southern cuisine, etc.
Example: The inn's focal point is the restaurant with French Cuisine.
Cul-de-sac: 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.
Example: We had less traffic living on the cul-de-sac, but had trouble getting in and out.
De rigueur: Strictly required, as by etiquette, usage, or fashion
Example: Loudly proclaiming one's support for radical causes had become de rigueur among her crowd.
Debutante: Beginner; débutante is the feminine form of débutant
Example: Nargis Fakhri is considered the most beautiful debutante of the current season.
Degustation: Tasting; The French word simply refers to the act of tasting, while in English "degustation" is used for a tasting event or party, as in wine or cheese tasting.
Example: This menu degustation included four interesting and creative fish courses.
Déjà vu: The experience of perceiving a new situation as if it had occurred before.
Example: I'm sure I've been here before. Either that or I'm having a real sense of deja vu.
Du jour: Of the Day
Example: The soup du jour is cream of mushroom.
En Route: On the Way
Example: He had to come to pick me en route to the university.
En Suite: In Sequence, part of a set, together
Example: My husband would like a double room and I preferably with an en-suite bathroom.
Enfant terrible: An incorrigible child; an outrageously outspoken or bold person
Example: He played the role of enfant terrible, jolting us with his blunt assessment.
Entente cordiale: Cordial Agreement
Example: The Entente Cordiale regarding new finance policy between Prime Minister and parliament has been sealed today.
