A Story of a French Student
A French student went to London on vacation. He thought, “I know a little English.
Can people understand me?” One morning, he went to a restaurant and sat down at the table. Soon the waitress came to him. “Can I help you, sir?” asked the waitress. “I’d like a cup of tea and…” He could not remember the English word, “egg”. He looked around, but nobody was eating eggs.
Then he saw a magazine on the table next to him. There was a picture of a rooster on its cover. “What’s the English for this?” The student asked. “A rooster, sir.” “What do you call a rooster’s wife?” “A hen, sir,” answered the waitress. “And what do you call a hen’s children?” “Do you mean chicks, sir?” “Yes. Before chicks are born, what do you call them?” “Eggs, sir.” “Very well. Bring me two eggs and a cup of tea, please.” He sat back with a smile on his face.
9.
There are many words in the English language that have been borrowed from the French language.
Some of the words are so common in English that people think they are English words. These words are used in English around the world, not just in Canada where English and French are used side by side. An example of this sort of word is “finance” (/4fi lom’sei/). It means the man that a woman has agreed to marry. Another example is the word, “bouquet” (/bu’kei/).
It means a bunch of cut flowers. The English language has become more interesting because it has borrowed some French words.
