VOA · Ask a Teacher
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01Hello!
02This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Mohamed Reza about the usage of the words avant-garde and vanguard.
03Dear Teacher, could you please explain the meaning of avant-garde and vanguard?
04And what's the difference?
05Thank you for writing to us, Mohamed Reza.
06I'm happy to answer this question.
07We use both of these words to help us describe new ways of doing things or the people involved in those new methods.
08However, we can use vanguard for more situations than avant-garde.
09Avant-garde mostly describes the newest styles in the arts, such as writing, music, painting, and filmmaking.
10It can also describe the people who make those styles.
11Consider these examples.
12To some listeners, the music of avant-garde composers may sound strange.
13Her paintings fit within the avant-garde style of the 1960s.
14We usually use the definite article, the, before avant-garde, to describe the people involved in the new style, as in the following example.
15This style of filmmaking became popular among the avant-garde.
16Note that we can use avant-garde as either a noun or an adjective.
17However, vanguard is almost always a noun.
18The vanguard often refers to the people leading new developments.
19When we use the term the vanguard, we usually use the prepositions at, in, or among before it, as in these examples.
20The research team works at the vanguard of computer science.
21The university students were in the vanguard of political change.
22She is among the vanguard of doctors supporting the new treatment.
23Vanguard also means the advance guard of an army that goes ahead of the main group.
24Both avant-garde and vanguard come from the French language.
25In fact, English has hundreds of words that come from French.
26Some examples include coup d'etat, chef, chic, and chauffeur.
27For our readers and listeners, do you have a question about American English?
28Perhaps you would like to know how American English has changed over the years.
29Or maybe you just need to know how to use particular words.
30Whatever your question may be, send us an email at learningenglish at voanews.com And that's Ask a Teacher.
31I'm Andrew Smith.
32I'm Andrew Smith.
33I'm Andrew Smith.
34I'm Andrew Smith.
35I'm Andrew Smith.
36I'm Andrew Smith.
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