WORDS FROM ABROAD
English belongs to the Germanic branch of the Indo-European family of languages. It began about 1500 years ago as Anglo-Saxon, the language of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes, who invaded Britain from the continent at that time. But dozens of other languages from all over the world have also contributed to its rich vocabulary as a result of invasion, trade and scholarship. There is, now, a strong influence from the USA but, as it's mainly spelling differences, none of it is shown here.

Here are some of the languages that English has drawn on, and some of the words they have given it.
African Languages Banana, banjo, chimpanzee, cola, mumbo-jumbo, raffia, tango, tote (to carry), voodoo, yam, zombie.
Anglo-Saxon Answer, brand, canter, field, folk, freedom, go, head, kill, life, love, month, night, old, ox, penny, pig, plough, shire, shoulder, spud, stone, swine, thing, wash, what, when, where, who, year.
Arabic Alcohol, algebra, amber, assassin, candy, cipher, crimson, cotton, ghoul, mattress, sofa, zero.
Aztec Chocolate, tomato.
Caribbean Languages Canoe, hammock, hurricane, maize, mosquito, tobacco.
Chinese Ketchup, kowtow, tea, typhoon.
Czechoslovakian Robot.
Danish Kilt.
Dutch Boom, brandy, buoy, decoy, gin, landscape, polder, Santa Claus, schooner.
French - Modern Ballet, biscuit, cafe, camouflage, canal, courtesan, elite, espionage, farrier, gallop, garage, gill (liquid measure), massage, menu, mistress, police, regime, sabotage, soup, tartan, tennis, theatre.
French - Norman Abbot, baron, beauty, bible, court, crown, deuce, dress, feast, joy, justice, liberty, market, marriage, marshal, navy, parliament, peace, people, pleasure, power, prayer, reign, soldier, treasure, tunnel, verdict, war.
Gaelic Boycott, brag, brash, brogue, clan, dram, galore, slogan, trousers, whiskey.
German Blitzkrieg, dachshund, doppelganger, edelweiss, glockensspiel, kaput, kindergarten, poltergeist.
Greek Agnostic, alphabet, barge, character, clinic, comedy, comma, cycle, electron, epidemic, gymnasium, horology, horoscope, idea, irony, liquorice, museum, neurology, parallel, physiotherapist, polystyrene, rhythm, telegraph, theory.
Hungarian Coach.
Indian Languages Bandanna, Bangle, bazaar, brother, bungalow, cheetah, chintz, chutney, cot, cummerbund, curry, dungaree, ginger, guru, jodhpurs, juggernaut, jungle, kebab, kedgeree, khaki, mogul, mother, pepper, polo, pundit, pyjamas, shampoo, shawl, teak, thug, verandah.
Inuit (Eskimo) Anorak, igloo, kayak.
Italian Arcade, Bravo, Concerto, Contraband, Dado, Fiasco, Finale, Giro, Manifesto, Pants, Replica, Riviera, Tarot, Vendetta.
Japanese Bonsai, judo, karate, kimono, origami, shogun, tsunami, tycoon.
Latin Accomodate, bacillus, circus, confetti, exit, focus, graduate, honour, hopscotch, horticulture, hospital, hostel, inn, invention, manufacture, mile, omnibus, pagan, penicillin, persecute, refrigerator, salary, sandal, status, tavern, tradition, trivia, vacuum.
Malay Amok, bamboo, caddy (box), sago.
Norse Anger, awe, clumsy, crooked, enthral, fog, gill (fish breating organ), husband, lag, law, lay, ransack, root, skill, snare, they, thing, wrong.
Persian Azure, candy, caravan, checkmate, divan, lemon, taffeta, tulip, turban.
Romany Dad, wonga (money).
Turkish Caviar, coffee, kiosk, tulip, yoghurt.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page