More or Less

Are half the words in English from French?

Listen Later

Are almost half the words in the English language of French origin? It’s a claim one of our loyal listeners found surprising. Tim Harford talks to Dr Beth Malory, lecturer in English Linguistics at University College London, who explains why so many words derived from French have ended up in English.

Presenter: Tim Harford

Producer: Daniel Gordon
Series Producer: Jon Bithrey
Editor: Richard Vadon
Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot

(Picture: A French dictionary showing the entry 'Dictionnaire'

Credit: NSA Digital Archive / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store
More or LessBy BBC Radio 4
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

770 ratings

More shows like More or Less

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,669 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

377 Listeners

Business Daily by BBC World Service

Business Daily

521 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,062 Listeners

World Business Report by BBC World Service

World Business Report

302 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,475 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,108 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,080 Listeners

Comedy of the Week by BBC Radio 4

Comedy of the Week

489 Listeners

Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast by Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

351 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

404 Listeners

Science Weekly by The Guardian

Science Weekly

424 Listeners

Curious Cases by BBC Radio 4

Curious Cases

830 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

238 Listeners

Science In Action by BBC World Service

Science In Action

333 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

76 Listeners

CrowdScience by BBC World Service

CrowdScience

475 Listeners

Evil Genius with Russell Kane by BBC Sounds

Evil Genius with Russell Kane

362 Listeners

Have You Heard George's Podcast? by BBC Sounds

Have You Heard George's Podcast?

233 Listeners

Sliced Bread by BBC Radio 4

Sliced Bread

125 Listeners

Elis James and John Robins by BBC Radio 5 Live

Elis James and John Robins

332 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,204 Listeners

Sport's Strangest Crimes by BBC Radio 5 Live

Sport's Strangest Crimes

67 Listeners

Uncanny by BBC Radio 4

Uncanny

844 Listeners

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley by BBC Radio 4

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley

531 Listeners

Believe in Magic by BBC Sounds

Believe in Magic

622 Listeners

Uncharted with Hannah Fry by BBC Radio 4

Uncharted with Hannah Fry

120 Listeners

The Global Story by BBC World Service

The Global Story

346 Listeners

Miss Me? by BBC Sounds

Miss Me?

261 Listeners

The History Podcast by BBC Radio 4

The History Podcast

61 Listeners

Rory Stewart: The Long History of... by BBC Radio 4

Rory Stewart: The Long History of...

75 Listeners

Strong Message Here by BBC Radio 4

Strong Message Here

68 Listeners

Havana Helmet Club by BBC Sounds

Havana Helmet Club

2 Listeners