What is the french word faisant in English?

Answer 1

The simple answer: it means "doing".

The more complicated answer: "faisant" is the present participle to the verb "faire" -- to do, or to make. A present participle in French adds an -ant to the end of a verb much like we add an -ing in English. HOWEVER, you cannot say "je mangant" for I am eating. You would still need to say, "je mange". The French rarely use the present participle. It would really only be used in storytelling of a past event.

Example:

Une fille, lisant un livre, est venue au café.

A girl reading a book came to the café.

Un homme, faisant du shopping, avait sommeil.

A man, while shopping, felt tired.