Loan Words and Foreign Expressions
~8 min read
- Where from: English absorbs Latin (lex, ex), French (coup, fait), Greek (philia, logy), German, Italian, Hindi - and a CDS paper usually has 1-2 questions on the common Latinate/Romance expressions.
- Pattern: 'Choose the correct meaning of the underlined foreign phrase' OR an idiomatic sentence with the phrase embedded.
- Strategy: Build a 50-phrase list. Most CDS papers draw from this same closed set.
Foreign expressions test high-frequency Latin and French phrases that English has fully absorbed - bona fide, ad hoc, status quo, coup d'etat. This page lists the CDS-tested 60 with meaning, usage and a CDS-pattern question.
Latin Expressions
| Phrase | Meaning | Usage example |
|---|---|---|
| ad hoc | for this purpose, improvised | An ad hoc committee was formed. |
| ad infinitum | without end | The argument went on ad infinitum. |
| ad nauseam | to a sickening degree | He repeated the story ad nauseam. |
| alma mater | one's old school/university | He visited his alma mater after twenty years. |
| bona fide | genuine, in good faith | A bona fide buyer. |
| caveat emptor | let the buyer beware | Caveat emptor applies in second-hand sales. |
| de facto | in fact (whether by right or not) | He was the de facto ruler. |
| de jure | by right, legally | The de jure government is in exile. |
| ergo | therefore | I think, ergo I am. |
| et al. | and others | Smith et al. (2020) write... |
| et cetera (etc.) | and so on | Buy bread, milk, etc. |
| ex officio | by virtue of office | The mayor is an ex officio member. |
| i.e. (id est) | that is | The capital, i.e., New Delhi, is... |
| e.g. (exempli gratia) | for example | Tropical fruits, e.g., mango. |
| in absentia | in (one's) absence | He was sentenced in absentia. |
| in toto | entirely | The proposal was accepted in toto. |
| inter alia | among other things | The report discussed, inter alia, climate change. |
| ipso facto | by the very fact | Marriage ipso facto does not transfer property. |
| mea culpa | through my fault (admission of guilt) | He offered a public mea culpa. |
| modus operandi | method of operation | The thief's modus operandi was distinctive. |
| per annum | per year | His salary is Rs 12 lakh per annum. |
| per capita | per person | India's per capita income has risen. |
| per se | by itself, intrinsically | Wealth is not evil per se. |
| persona non grata | unwelcome person | The diplomat was declared persona non grata. |
| post mortem | after death (autopsy / review) | The post mortem revealed poisoning. |
| prima facie | on the face of it, at first sight | There is a prima facie case against him. |
| pro bono | for the public good (free legal service) | She took the case pro bono. |
| pro rata | in proportion | The salary will be paid pro rata. |
| quid pro quo | something for something, give-and-take | It was a clear quid pro quo arrangement. |
| sine die | indefinitely | The session was adjourned sine die. |
| sine qua non | essential condition | Honesty is the sine qua non of leadership. |
| status quo | existing state of affairs | The court ordered status quo to be maintained. |
| sub judice | under judicial consideration | The matter is sub judice and cannot be discussed. |
| terra firma | solid ground | After the rough flight he was glad to be on terra firma. |
| verbatim | word for word | He repeated her speech verbatim. |
| vice versa | the other way around | Husbands forgive wives, and vice versa. |
| vis-a-vis | in relation to | India's position vis-a-vis China. |
French Expressions
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| avant-garde | innovative, ahead of the times |
| carte blanche | complete freedom to act |
| chef d'oeuvre | masterpiece |
| cliche | overused expression |
| coup d'etat | sudden overthrow of government |
| cul-de-sac | dead-end street |
| debacle | complete failure or disaster |
| debut | first appearance |
| de rigueur | required by custom/etiquette |
| en masse | all together |
| en route | on the way |
| fait accompli | accomplished fact (irreversible) |
| faux pas | social blunder |
| laissez-faire | policy of non-interference |
| nom de plume | pen name |
| raison d'etre | reason for existence |
| rendezvous | meeting place / meeting |
| tete-a-tete | private conversation |
| tour de force | masterly performance |
Other Common Phrases
| Phrase | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| kudos | Greek | praise, glory |
| hoi polloi | Greek | the common people |
| aficionado | Spanish | devoted fan |
| guerrilla | Spanish | irregular soldier |
| siesta | Spanish | afternoon nap |
| vendetta | Italian | blood feud / long-lasting grudge |
| paparazzi | Italian | intrusive photographers |
| graffiti | Italian | street drawings |
| kindergarten | German | nursery school |
| zeitgeist | German | spirit of the age |
| angst | German | deep anxiety |
| blitzkrieg | German | lightning warfare |
| doppelganger | German | look-alike |
| guru | Hindi/Sanskrit | teacher, master |
| karma | Sanskrit | fate, consequence of actions |
| nirvana | Sanskrit | state of liberation |
| pundit | Sanskrit | scholar, expert |
Common CDS Errors with Loan Words
- Status quo means the existing state. Don't say 'maintain status quo of the country' - just 'maintain the status quo'.
- Vis-a-vis means 'in relation to', not 'face to face' (though it literally meant that in French).
- Per se ≠ 'as such'. Per se = 'by itself / intrinsically'.
- Prima facie evidence is preliminary evidence, not final proof.
- Coup d'etat is a forcible takeover of government; not the same as 'revolution' (popular uprising).
CDS/OTA PYQ Examples
Q: Meaning of 'bona fide':
(a) Disguised (b) Genuine (c) Suspicious (d) Charitable
Answer: (b) Genuine — Latin 'in good faith'.
Q: Meaning of 'status quo':
(a) Future plan (b) Existing state of affairs (c) Legal status (d) Final position
Answer: (b) Existing state of affairs — courts often order maintenance of status quo.
Q: Meaning of 'fait accompli':
(a) Future event (b) Accomplished fact (c) Failed mission (d) Festive occasion
Answer: (b) Accomplished fact — something already done and beyond alteration.
Q: Meaning of 'carte blanche':
(a) Blank cheque (b) Complete freedom to act (c) White card (d) Empty space
Answer: (b) Complete freedom to act — literally 'blank card', figuratively unrestricted authority.
Q: Meaning of 'sine die':
(a) Without delay (b) Indefinitely (c) Daily (d) Without die
Answer: (b) Indefinitely — to adjourn sine die = postpone with no fixed date.
Q: Meaning of 'quid pro quo':
(a) Quiet expression (b) Something for something (c) Quick reply (d) Quarterly report
Answer: (b) Something for something — a give-and-take arrangement.
Drill Loan Words and Foreign Expressions for CDS/OTA
CDS/OTA-pattern items on Loan Words and Foreign Expressions with answer keys and explanations.
Start Free Mock TestFrequently Asked Questions
Should foreign expressions be italicised?
Conventionally yes, but only when not yet fully naturalised in English. Highly common ones (etc., vice versa, per cent) no longer need italics. CDS doesn't test italics.
Are e.g. and i.e. interchangeable?
No. 'e.g.' = 'for example' (gives instances). 'i.e.' = 'that is' (rephrases/clarifies). 'Tropical fruits, e.g., mango' vs 'The capital, i.e., New Delhi'.
How to pronounce 'vis-a-vis'?
'Vee-zah-vee'. The 'a' is silent in 'vis'. Don't say 'vis-a-vis' as if it rhymes with 'kiss'.
What's the difference between 'coup' and 'coup d'etat'?
'Coup' alone (pron. 'koo') = a sudden brilliant action. 'Coup d'etat' = specifically a sudden overthrow of government.
Are these expressions formal?
Most are formal/literary/legal. Use sparingly in casual writing. In CDS comprehension passages they appear regularly in editorial-style texts.