ONE FRENCH WORD A DAY

MERCI ! = THANKS ! (adverbial)

The English word MERCY comes from the French. Pronounce MERCI almost like MERCY.
Etymologically MERCI comes from the Latin MERX “trade” like in English COM-MERC-IAL, MARK-ET and so many other.

Merci Patrick! :)

BEAUCOUP = MUCH (pronounce BO-KOO)

MERCI BEAUCOUP = THANKS A LOT

BEAUCOUP in fact is made up with two words : BEAU “beautiful” + COUP “strike”. Both words are used in English. So when you say MERCI BEAUCOUP you say “thanks, beautiful stroke”. Funny !
:→

Merci beaucoup

My one French word a day turns to be a one French word a year :-)

Today I will explain the ending -AIS in French.
For the pronunciation I will make videos. Be patient.

In French we have many Germanic words although French is mostly a Latin child.

The -AIS ending comes from the -ISKAZ Germanic ending that gave -ISH in English.

That’s why FRANÇAIS = FRENCH from *FRANKISKAZ and ANGLAIS = ENGLISH from *ANGLISKAZ.

Is it clearer now ? :-)

Patrick: I am enjoying your etymological background to your words—it is something I did not learn much about in my secondary school or university French classes. i can’t wait for the next one… Merci mille fois!!!