Standard Lemma guide

savoir-faire

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌsævwɑːˈfɛə/
  • US: /ˌsævwɑɹˈfɛɹ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: know-how

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

social skill

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: address

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: tact, tactfulness

History

Etymology

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