Our everyday and secular speech is constantly enriched by borrowings from other languages. Some words are not new at all, but have only recently come into use.
So different words of French origin began to appear more and more often. This means that more and more people are adopting this beautiful turn, wrapped in French charm. It is the word "comme il faut" (what it is, the meaning and the correct context of use in speech) that we will consider right now in our article.
Origin of the word
The word "comme il faut", as we said at the beginning, came to us from the French language. However, what makes the version adapted to our realities interesting is that in the original it is not a word, but a whole sentence.
The original French expression is comme il faut. The literal translation means "as it should, as it should, right." The expression was used and is being used in a context related to the rules of good manners, behavior in society, manner of dressing.
Usage examples
Considering the definition of "comme il faut" (what it is and how to use it correctly in your speech), we will give some useful examples.
As we know, the word is used in relation to behavior, clothing, conversation. For example, it is considered quite acceptable and even welcome to drink a glass of champagne on a holiday. But on weekdays, alcohol in the morning is no longer comme il faut.
As for clothes, what is comme il faut and what is not is determined by the dress code of the situation. Evening dress will be out of place at breakfast, beach shoes - at work. A formal suit reserved for a cocktail party is also not comme il faut.
Modern meaning
Based on all of the above, we can already conclude that the value of the borrowing in question remains the same as in the original version. Compliance with the rules of good manners in various sectors of social life is comme il faut.
To fit into the bounds of decency in a certain situation, you should know its requirements in all possible details and nuances. The better we are aware of the foundations and orders established in a particular society, the easier it will be to adhere to a good tone.
Along with the definition of "comme il faut", its opposite in meaning came to us from French - bad manners. It is interpreted as the French version - behavior that does not comply with the rules adopted in a decent society. It is also used in speech to characterize the manner of dressing and speaking.
Connecting "comme il faut" and "bauvais ton" is simple: if you fail to adhere to comme il faut in a particular situation, then it will be bad manners.
How to use the word "comme il faut"?
We have considered everything that may interest us regarding the meaning of the French expression "comme il faut". What is it, what is its original meaning, synonyms and antonyms - we already know all this. But a foreign word has special rules for using it in speech. Now a little about them.
In a sentence, this word will correctly be used both as a definition and as a predicate derived from a noun.
If earlier various French borrowings were perceived by society as something ostentatious, manifestations of pseudo-aristocratism, today you can safely saturate your speech with them. In moderation, of course, so that your speech remains pleasant and understandable.
Conclusion
In our short article, we tried to make out the word of foreign origin - comme il faut (what it is, its meaning, roots, original interpretation and features of use). The linguistic and historical aspect of the turnover is extremely interesting.
We also learned what comme il faut means - this is compliance with the rules of good manners. Being comme il faut is welcome in any society. Therefore, let's learn more about the accepted rules of ourenvironment so that people don't say: "What a bad manners!"
