Borrowed from French touché, meaning “touched”, the past participle of toucher, “to touch”. The fencing use came first, where it acknowledged a hit by the opponent. English later extended the idea to conversation, where a clever reply can feel as if it has landed like a clean hit.
What does touché mean?
It means that someone has made a good point against you, or in fencing, that a hit has landed.
Is touché English or French?
It is a French word borrowed into English. In English it is commonly used in debate and conversation.
Do you need the accent in touché?
The standard spelling is touché with the accent. People often type touche casually when accents are hard to enter.
Is touché rude?
It is usually not rude. Tone matters, because it can sound playful, admiring, or mildly sarcastic.
When should I say touché?
Say touché when another person has made a fair, clever, or hard-to-answer point against what you just said.