savoir-faire

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French savoir-faire (“know-how”), from savoir (“to know (how)”) + faire (“to do”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌsævwɑːˈfɛə/
• IPA^(key): /ˌsævwɑɹˈfɛɹ/

Noun

savoir-faire (uncountable)

1. The ability to do or say what is appropriate for the occasion.

Synonyms

• know-how

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French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sa.vwaʁ.fɛʁ/

• Audio (FR):

  (file)

Noun

savoir-faire m (uncountable)

1. know-how, savoir-faire

Descendants

• → English: savoir-faire
• → Italian: savoir-faire
• → Portuguese: savoir-faire, → saber-fazer (calque)

See also

• savoir-vivre

Further reading

• “savoir-faire”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Anagrams

• faire savoir
• favoriserai

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Italian

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French savoir-faire (“know-how”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /saˌvwarˈfɛr/
• Rhymes: -ɛr

Noun

savoir-faire m (uncountable)

1. savoir-faire

Related terms

• savoir-vivre

References

• savoir-faire in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana

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Portuguese

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French savoir-faire. Doublet of saber-fazer.

Noun

savoir-faire m (invariable)

1. know-how

   Synonyms: saber-fazer, know-how