savoir-faire

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌsævwɑːˈfɛə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌsævwɑɹˈfɛɹ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

savoir-faire (uncountable)

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

   Synonym: know-how

   • 1917, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, chapter IX, in The Soul of a Bishop‎:

     Dr. Brighton-Pomfrey had the savoir-faire of a successful consultant; he prided himself on being all things to all men; but just for an instant he was at a loss what sort of thing he had to be here.

   • 1983, Anne Volokh, “Acknowledgments”, in The Art of Russian Cuisine, New York, N.Y.: Macmillan Publishing Company, →ISBN, copyright page:

     I am also deeply thankful to my editor Judy Knipe, whose savoir-faire and perfectionism gave the book its final polish and shape.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sa.vwaʁ.fɛʁ/

• Audio (France):

  (file)

Noun

savoir-faire m (uncountable)

1. know-how, savoir-faire

Further reading

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

Anagrams

• faire savoir
• favoriserai