faux pas (English)
Where does "faux pas" come from?
The English term 'faux pas' is borrowed directly from French, where it literally translates to 'false step.' Over time, the phrase evolved from a literal description of a stumble or misstep into a figurative way to describe a social blunder or tactless act.
Full etymology tree
- faux pas (English), 'An embarrassing or tactless blunder.'
- borrowed faux pas (French), 'stumble, misstep, false step'
- compound faux (French), 'false; untrue'
- inherited faulx (Middle French), 'false; untrue'
- inherited fauz (Old French), 'scythe (cutting tool)'
- inherited falsus (Latin), 'deceived, tricked, cheated, disappointed, having been deceived'
- inherited fauz (Old French), 'scythe (cutting tool)'
- inherited faulx (Middle French), 'false; untrue'
- compound pas (French), 'step, pace, footstep'
- inherited pas (Old French), 'pace; step'
- inherited passus (Latin), 'spread out'
- inherited pas (Old French), 'pace; step'
- compound faux (French), 'false; untrue'
- borrowed faux pas (French), 'stumble, misstep, false step'
Direct ancestors
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris