Foreign Words & Phrases | English Grammar

The "Foreign Words and Phrases" section is a crucial component of the General English syllabus for Kerala PSC exams like LDC, VEO, and Degree Level Preliminary/Main.

Mastering these terms like Latin legal maxims like Bona fide to common French expressions, is essential for securing high marks in the competitive vocabulary segment.

This post covers the most frequently repeated previous year questions (PYQs) to help you build a solid foundation.



List of Foreign Words & Phrases for Kerala PSC

A

  • Ab initio (Latin) = from the beginning.
  • Ad hoc (Latin) = for one specific purpose.
  • Aide-de-camp (French) = military assistant.
  • Alma mater (Latin) = a university, school, or college that a person formerly attended. (Store Keeper (Main), 2025)
  • Alter ego (Latin) = a second self, a different version / aspect of a one's personality.
  • Alumni (Latin) = old student in an institution.
  • Alumina/alumnus = woman graduates.
  • Avant-Garde (French)  = innovative specially in arts; new, experimental, and innovative ideas.

B

  • Beau monde (French) = high society, fashionable society.
  • Bon appéti (French) = enjoy your meal. 
  • Bona-fide (Latin) = in good faith.

C

  • Carpe diem (Latin) = enjoy the present. (Assistant/LD Clerk/Cashier/Branch Manager, 2024)
  • Carte blanche (French) = Complete freedom to act as one wishes.
  • Caveat (Latin) = a warning or proviso.
  • Cliché (French) = an overused expression or idea.
  • Coup d'état (French) = Overthrowing a government using a sudden, violent, and often illegal seizure of power.

D

  • Début (French) = a person's first appearance or performance in a particular role.
  • De facto (Latin) = In fact, whether by right or not.
  • Déjà vu (French) = already seen; a feeling / a fleeting "memory" that one has lived through the present situation before.
  • De jure (Latin) = by law.
  • De luxe (French) = high quality.
  • Democracy (Greek) = a system of government, in which decisions are made directly or indirectly by the whole population (Junior Time Keeper / Sales Assistant, 2025) 
  • De novo (Latin)  = starting from the beginning.
  • Detenu (French) = political prisoner.
  • Doppelgänger (German) = a look-alike or double of a living person. 

E

  • Encore (French) = again.
  • En masse (French) = as a group.
  • En route (French) = on the way.
  • Ex officio (Latin) = by virtue of one's position or office.
  • Ex parte (Latin) = by or for one party; from a one-sided or partisan point of view.
  • Ex gratia (Latin) = by favor / by grace; voluntary payments made by organizations often as gesture of good will.

F

  • Fait accompli (French) = something that has already happened / done which is irreversible.
  • Faux pas (French) = a social blunder.
  • Felo de se (Latin) = suicide.
  • Femme fatale (French) = seductive and beautiful woman who brings disaster to anyone involved with her.

G

    • Glitch (German) = a small fault or problem. 
    • Graffiti (Italian) = writings / drawings on public places. 
    • Guerilla (Spanish) = an irregular armed fighter.

    I

    • ld est (Latin) = that is.   (Assistant Manager KSCB, 2024)
    • Invidious (Latin) = unpleasant. (Computer Operator / Analyst, 2025) 
    • Ipso facto (Latin) = by the fact itself. 


    L

    • Lingua Franca (Italian) = common language.


    M

    • Magnum opus (Latin) = the most important work of an artist, writer etc (Village Field Assistant, 2017)
    • Mala fide (Latin) = with bad intention.
    • Mea culpa (Latin) = an acknowledgment of one's fault or error.
    • Modus operandi (Latin) = method of working.


    N

    • Nom de plume (French) = pen name.
    • Nota bene (Latin, short form: N.B.) = Noted carefully and important.  (LDC, 2017)


    P

    • Panacea (Greek) =  a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases.
    • Pari passu (Latin) = with equal pace.
    • Per capita (Latin) = per head.
    • Per diem (Latin) = for each day.
    • Per se (Latin) = by itself.
    • Persona non grata (Latin) =  an unwelcome person.
    • Prima facie (Latin) = at first view (Sergeant, 2015) /  at first glance (Fireman Trainee, 2017) / based on what seems to be so without further or deeper investigation.  (Junior Time Keeper / Sales Assistant, 2025)
    • Prima donna (Italian) = a temperamental, arrogant, and self-centered person. 
    • Pro bono (Latin) =  for the public good, without charge. 


    Q

    • Quid pro quo (Latin) = something given in return for something received. (Deputy Manager, 2023)


    R

    • Respondez s'il vous plait (French, short form: RSVP) = please reply / answer please. (SI Mains, 2023) (Degree Level Prelims, 2025)


    S

    • Savoir-faire (French) = the ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations.
    • Status quo (Latin) = the existing state of affairs.


    T

    • Tabula rasa (Latin) = a clean slate.
    • Tete-a-tete (French) = private / confidential conversation.


    V

    • Veni vidi vici (Latin) = I came, I saw, I conquered.
    • Vice-versa (Latin) = in reverse order.
    • Vis-a-vis (French) = opposite / face to face.
    • Vox populi (Latin) = popular opinion.


    A strong command of these foreign expressions not only boosts your score in the General English paper but also enhances your overall linguistic accuracy for descriptive exams. 

    Since the PSC often repeats specific terms like Sine die, Status quo, and Ad hoc, regular revision of this list will give you a significant edge over other candidates.

    Thanks for reading!!!