May I Please Borrow a Word?

I had actually never heard of the term loanword, although it certainly makes sense.

A loanword is a word taken from one language and then integrated into another. Usually, there’s no translation; the word means and looks the same, but in a different language. During the integration process, the pronunciation and grammar might change to fit the new language. There are thousands of loanwords in English. Of course, other languages use loanwords as well.

Loanwords often fill gaps in English vocabulary, meaning there  wasn’t a way to express something in English.  Loanwords have enriched the language by filling these gaps.

For example, the word “robot” comes from Czech. Until this word entered English, there was no way to describe machines that can help with tasks.

Here is the usual process of integrating loadwords into the language:

1. When cultures speaking different languages mix, they borrow each other’s words. This is the starting point of the loanword process.  People borrow words from the other languages they come into contact with.

2.  For a word from another language to integrate into English, it needs to fit English’s pronunciation and structural features. Therefore, the pronunciation and grammar may change over time. For example, the pronunciation of many French loanwords has changed to be easier for English speakers to say.

3. People start to use the borrowed words more.  Over years of use, these words become so common that English speakers often have no idea they even come from a different language.

Here are just some examples of the many loadwords in the English language:

 

From Latin

1. Agenda: a list of items to be discussed at a meeting
2. Anatomy: the structure of living organisms
3. Census: official population count
4. Data: facts, numbers, and statistics used for analysis
5. Excavate: to dig out or uncover
6. Formula: a fixed method or rule
7. Meditate: to focus or reflect deeply
8. Peninsula: land surrounded by water on three sides
9. Status quo: the existing state of affairs
10. Vice versa: the other way around

Notice that the last two still sound Latin, but the others do not.

From Greek (many scientific and words related to study)

1. Democracy: a government system by the people of the country
2. Dialogue: a conversation between two or more people
3. Ethics: moral principles that govern behavior
4. Hero: a person admired for courage or noble qualities
5. Hyperbole: a figure of speech that exaggerates for effect
6. Idiom: a phrase with a meaning not deducible from the words themselves
7. Logic: reasoning conducted according to principles
8. Mathematics: the abstract science of number, quantity, and space
9. Poetry: literary work expressing feelings and ideas with style
10. Theater: a place for dramatic performances

From French (many foods)

1. Baguette: a long, thin, crusty loaf of bread
2. Cabernet: a type of red wine
3. Café: a coffee shop
4. Chaise longue: a long reclining chair
5. Champagne: a sparkling wine from the Champagne region
6. Chic: stylish or fashionable
7. Déjà vu: the feeling that you’ve already experienced something
8. Elite: a group of people considered superior in status
9. Entrepreneur: someone who starts and runs a business
10. Faux pas: a social blunder or mistake
11. Genre: a category of artistic work
12. Hors d’oeuvre: a small appetizer
13. Liaison: communication or cooperation between groups
14. Rendezvous: a meeting at an agreed time and place
15. Souvenir: a keepsake or memento from a place or event
16. Touché: acknowledgment of a clever point in a discussion

From Italian (many foods and art-related words)

1. Balcony: a platform enclosed by a wall or railing on the outside of a building
2. Cappuccino: a coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk foam
3. Casino: a place for gambling and entertainment
4. Cupola: a small dome on top of a building
5. Duo: a pair of performers
6. Espresso: strong black coffee made by forcing steam through ground coffee
7. Fresco: a painting done rapidly on wet plaster
8. Graffiti: writings or drawings scribbled on walls or surfaces
9. Incognito: in disguise or with one’s identity concealed
10. Latte: a coffee made with espresso and steamed milk
11. Mafia: an organized crime syndicate
12. Motto: a short phrase expressing a principle or ideal
13. Opera: a dramatic performance combining text and musical score
14. Paparazzi: photographers who follow celebrities
15. Piano: a large keyboard musical instrumentSoprano: the highest singing voice in classical music
16. Spaghetti: a type of long, thin pasta
17. Tempo: the speed or pace of a piece of music
18. Umbrella: a device used for protection against rain
19. Violin: a small, high-pitched string instrument

From Arabic

1. Alcohol: the ingredient found in wine, beer, and liquor
2. Algebra: a type of mathematics
3. Algorithm: a set of rules to follow, especially in math or computing
4. Coffee: a drink made from roasted coffee beans
5. Genie: a spirit that can grant wishes
6. Ghoul: an evil spirit or creature that eats the dead
7. Giraffe: a tall animal with a very long neck
8. Jasmine: a fragrant white flower
9. Mattress: a soft pad placed on top of a bed
10. Monsoon: a seasonal wind that brings heavy rain
11. Saffron: a red-yellow spice
12. Sofa: a piece of furniture
13. Syrup: a thick, sweet liquid
14. Tahini: a paste made from sesame seeds
15. Zero: the number 0

From German

1. Angst: a feeling of deep anxiety or dread
2. Blitz: a sudden, intense attack or effort
3. Bratwurst: a type of German sausage
4. Doppelgänger: a look-alike or double of a living person
5. Kindergarten: a preschool for young children
6. Kitsch: art or design considered tacky or in poor taste
7. Lager: a type of beer
8. Noodle: a type of pasta
9. Poltergeist: a noisy, mischievous ghost
10. Poodle: a breed of dog with curly fur
11. Pretzel: a type of bread or snack
12. Sauerkraut: fermented cabbage
13. Schadenfreude: pleasure derived from another person’s misfortune
14. Schnitzel: a thin slice of meat, breaded and fried
15. Strudel: a layered pastry with fruit or sweet filling
16. Waltz: a ballroom dance in triple time
17. Zeitgeist: the spirit or mood of a particular period in history

 

From Spanish

1. Adobe: sun-dried brick made of clay and straw
2. Alligator: a large reptile similar to a crocodile
3. Alpaca: an animal similar to a llama
4. Bronco: an untrained or wild horse
5. Burrito: a rolled tortilla filled with various ingredients
6. Embargo: an official ban on trade or other commercial activity
7. Fiesta: a festive celebration or party
8. Guerrilla: a member of a small group engaged in irregular fighting
9. Guitar: a stringed musical instrument
10. Marijuana: a drug from the cannabis plant
11. Mesa: a flat-topped hill with steep sides
12. Mosquito: a small flying insect that bites
13. Patio: an outdoor courtyard or paved area
14. Plaza: a public square or marketplace
15. Tornado: a violent rotating column of air
16. Tortilla: a thin flatbread made from corn or wheat

From Japanese

1. Anime: Japanese animation
2. Bonsai: the art of growing miniature trees
3. Futon: a thin mattress used on the floor or a foldable bed
4. Haiku: a short form of Japanese poetry with a 5-7-5 syllable structure
5. Judo: a Japanese martial art focused on throws and grappling
6. Karaoke: singing along to recorded music using a microphone and lyrics
7. Kimono: a traditional Japanese long robe with wide sleeves
8. Manga: Japanese comic books or graphic novels
9. Origami: the art of paper folding
10. Rickshaw: a small two-wheeled passenger cart pulled by one person
11. Samurai: a member of the Japanese warrior class
12. Sashimi: thinly sliced raw fish or seafood
13. Sensei: a teacher or master, especially in martial arts
14. Sushi: filled food containing rice, seafood, and vegetables
15. Tsunami: a large, powerful ocean waveLoanwords from Chinese

From Chinese 

1. Bok choy: a type of cabbage
2. Dim sum: small dishes typically served with tea
3. Ginseng: a root used in traditional Chinese medicine
4. Gung ho: extremely enthusiastic or dedicated
5. Ketchup: a tomato-based condiment
6. Kung fu: a general term for Chinese martial arts
7. Lychee: a small tropical fruit with sweet white flesh and a rough red skin
8. Mahjong: a tile-based game
9. Tea: a beverage made from steeped tea leaves
10. Wok: a round-bottomed cooking pan
11. Yin yang: a symbol of two complementary parts

From other languages

1. Anchovy (from Portuguese): a small fish
2. Boondocks (from Tagalog): remote, rural areas
3. Chocolate (from Nahuatl): a sweet food made from roasted cacao
4. Curry (from Tamil): a type of spiced stew; a spice blend
5. Kangaroo (from Aboriginal Australian): a marsupial
6. Kayak (from Inuktitut): a canoe
7. Landscape (from Dutch): a view of land; a type of painting
8. Pastrami (from Yiddish): a cured meat
9. Reindeer (from Norwegian): a large deer
10. Robot (from Czech): a machine that can carry out tasks automatically
11. Tundra (from Sámi): a flat, treeless Arctic region
12. Yogurt (from Turkish): a fermented milk product

Thank you to the following  websites for the information: 

BUSUU

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