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faux pas

C1
UK/ˌfəʊ ˈpɑː/US/ˌfoʊ ˈpɑː/

Formal to neutral

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Definition

Meaning

A social blunder or breach of etiquette; an embarrassing mistake in a social context.

Any mistake, slip, or breach of decorum, especially one that causes awkwardness or offense.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

The term implies a violation of unwritten social rules, not formal laws. It is inherently negative and describes an action, not a person.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Slightly more common in British English but fully established in American English.

Connotations

Both varieties share the same core meaning of a social mistake. In British English, it may more often refer to breaches of nuanced, class-based etiquette.

Frequency

Used in both formal writing and educated speech. The plural 'faux pas' is pronounced the same as the singular.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
commit amake asocialmajorembarrassingdiplomatic
medium
terribleslightpoliticalculturalpossible
weak
awkwardminorunintentionalobvious

Grammar

Valency Patterns

commit/make + a + faux pasadjective + faux pasfaux pas + of + -ing

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

solecismbreach of etiquettesocial misconduct

Neutral

gaffeblunderindiscretion

Weak

mistakeslipmisstep

Vocabulary

Antonyms

correct behaviourproper conductdecorumpropriety

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “A classic faux pas.”
  • “To commit a faux pas.”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Refers to breaches of professional etiquette, e.g., 'His joke about the client's product was a major faux pas.'

Academic

Used in sociology, anthropology, and linguistics to discuss cultural norms and transgressions.

Everyday

Describing an embarrassing social mistake, e.g., forgetting someone's name.

Technical

Not typically used in highly technical fields; remains in the domain of social/interpersonal discourse.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • It was a faux pas to wear trainers to the wedding.
  • I made a faux pas and called him by the wrong name.
B1
  • Asking about her salary was a real faux pas.
  • He committed a faux pas by criticising the host's cooking.
B2
  • The diplomat's inadvertent remark constituted a serious faux pas during the sensitive negotiations.
  • Her series of cultural faux pas made her seem insensitive to local customs.
C1
  • The memoir detailed the countless social faux pas he had committed in his youth, each one a lesson in the unwritten codes of high society.
  • In certain cultures, removing one's shoes indoors is not just polite but mandatory; to do otherwise is a grave faux pas.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'FOE-PAH' – If you make a social foe, it might be because of a faux pas.

Conceptual Metaphor

SOCIAL RULES ARE A PATH (straying from the path = faux pas).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Do not translate literally as 'false step' (ложный шаг). Use 'оплошность', 'промах', 'бестактность', or the loanword 'фо па' (informal).

Common Mistakes

  • Spelling as 'faux pa' (missing the 's').
  • Pronouncing the 'x' as /ks/.
  • Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He faux passed').

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
He realised too late that mentioning her divorce had been a terrible .
Multiple Choice

What is the best definition of 'faux pas'?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It is both singular and plural. 'One faux pas', 'two faux pas'. The spelling does not change.

No, it is exclusively a noun. You 'commit' or 'make' a faux pas.

The 'x' is silent in both British and American English. 'Faux' is pronounced 'fo' (UK: /fəʊ/, US: /foʊ/).

Yes, it is common in educated informal speech to refer to an embarrassing social mistake.