French and Other Foreign Loanwords Checker

This rule enforces the correct usage of diacritical marks (accents) in common loanwords from French, Spanish, German, Swedish, Portuguese, and other languages that are frequently used in English text. The rule is important because maintaining proper diacritical marks shows attention to detail, respects the original language, and maintains professional standards in writing.

Many English writers omit these marks due to keyboard limitations or unfamiliarity, but using the correct form of these words is considered proper usage in professional and academic writing.

Examples:

  • cafe → café
  • cliche → cliché
  • deja vu → déjà vu
  • jalapeno → jalapeño
  • smorgasbord → smörgåsbord
  • resume → résumé (when referring to a CV)
  • doppelganger → doppelgänger

The rule also covers proper nouns and brand names:

  • Beyonce → Beyoncé
  • Motley Crue → Mötley Crüe
  • Quebec → Québec

When any of these words appear in text without their proper diacritical marks, Vale will flag them as errors and suggest the correct form with the appropriate accents.

Rule Source

This rule comes from: https://github.com/mesosphere/dcos-docs-site

Rule Definition

extends: substitution
message: Consider using '%s' instead of '%s'.
ignorecase: true
level: error
action:
  name: replace
swap:
  beau ideal: beau idéal
  boutonniere: boutonnière
  bric-a-brac: bric-à-brac
  cafe: café
  cause celebre: cause célèbre
  chevre: chèvre
  cliche: cliché
  consomme: consommé
  coup de grace: coup de grâce
  crudites: crudités
  creme brulee: crème brûlée
  creme de menthe: crème de menthe
  creme fraice: crème fraîche
  creme fresh: crème fraîche
  crepe: crêpe
  debutante: débutante
  decor: décor
  deja vu: déjà vu
  denouement: dénouement
  facade: façade
  fiance: fiancé
  fiancee: fiancée
  flambe: flambé
  garcon: garçon
  lycee: lycée
  maitre d: maître d
  menage a trois: ménage à trois
  negligee: négligée
  protege: protégé
  protegee: protégée
  puree: purée
  my resume: my résumé
  your resume: your résumé
  his resume: his résumé
  her resume: her résumé
  a resume: a résumé
  the resume: the résumé
  risque: risqué
  roue: roué
  soiree: soirée
  souffle: soufflé
  soupcon: soupçon
  touche: touché
  tete-a-tete: tête-à-tête
  voila: voilà
  a la carte: à la carte
  a la mode: à la mode
  emigre: émigré

  # Spanish loanwords
  El Nino: El Niño
  jalapeno: jalapeño
  La Nina: La Niña
  pina colada: piña colada
  senor: señor
  senora: señora
  senorita: señorita

  # Portuguese loanwords
  acai: açaí

  # German loanwords
  doppelganger: doppelgänger
  Fuhrer: Führer
  Gewurztraminer: Gewürztraminer
  vis-a-vis: vis-à-vis
  Ubermensch: Übermensch

  # Swedish loanwords
  filmjolk: filmjölk
  smorgasbord: smörgåsbord

  # Names, places, and companies
  Beyonce: Beyoncé
  Bronte: Brontë
  Champs-Elysees: Champs-Élysées
  Citroen: Citroën
  Curacao: Curaçao
  Lowenbrau: Löwenbräu
  Monegasque: Monégasque
  Motley Crue: Mötley Crüe
  Nescafe: Nescafé
  Queensryche: Queensrÿche
  Quebec: Québec
  Quebecois: Québécois
  Angstrom: Ångström
  angstrom: ångström
  Skoda: Škoda