Gallicism

or gal·li·cism

[ gal-uh-siz-uhm ]

noun

1. a French idiom or expression used in another language, as Je ne sais quoi when used in English.
2. a feature that is characteristic of or peculiar to the French language.
3. a custom or trait considered to be characteristically French.

Gallicism

/ ˈɡælɪˌsɪzəm /

noun

1. a word or idiom borrowed from French

Word History and Origins

Origin of Gallicism¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from French gallicisme; Gallic, -ism

Example Sentences

Netflix querelle — yes, I’m going to pepper this with Gallicisms, just try to stop me! — has served as a piquant microcosm of the larger tensions within the global film industry.

From New York Times

It's only too easy to turn a coolly erotic Gallicism into a ploddingly Anglo-Saxon medical report, or utter filth.

From The Guardian

Gallicisms were so fashionable that a stage-hack allowed himself all license in that direction.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of his utterances had a sort of French ring and countless Gallicisms could be discovered in his letters.

From Project Gutenberg

She talked better French than she, so her diction teacher said; and ever so much more distinguished English—she never made those slips into Americanisms or Gallicisms that Marise did.

From Project Gutenberg