How French hacked the Russian language

French has been living quietly in the Russian language for two centuries. Not as a tourist — as a squatter.

Words like garage, bijou, boulevard, prix fixe, façade, or chaise longue entered Russian without even changing their accent.

In the 19th century, the Russian elite spoke French at home, wrote letters in French and read the Parisian press like you watch TikTok.

Result: half of the "chic" vocabulary in Russian is just a French remix.

The most ironic part? Many young Russians are unaware of this origin... and discover with surprise that they're already using French on a daily basis.

Cultural influence transmits like an old meme: without warning.