If you speak English, you probably use many words from other languages. You might not know them, but English has borrowed several words from many languages. Does this make you multilingual? No, not really.
These linguistic infusions arose from interactions, trades, and rich language journeys. Today is English Language Day; let’s dive in and see some borrowed words in English.
History of the English Language
This language is over 1,500 years old and has become the most influential language in the world. As with many languages, it has gone through changes since its inception.
Old English
Also called Anglo-Saxon. English comes from the Germanic dialects that were spoken in modern-day England between 450 and 1150 AD.
Middle English
In 1066, the Norman Conquest brought the French language to England. At the time, French was a language of the upper class, and it impacted the English language.
Following this, there was a significant expansion of the language because of this fusion, from 1150 to 1500.
Also Read: Is French the Language of Love; Oui or Non?
Early Modern English
The rise of the Renaissance in the 15th century in Europe led to big changes in people’s creativity and perception. It brought about new ways of expression, culture, and art in 1500–1800 AD.
During this time, the printing press was invented, and it was instrumental in the standardization of English. As a result, it boosted literacy, especially through the distribution of the English Bible.
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet are written in early modern English.
Modern English
From 1800 to now, the Industrial Revolution and the expansion of the British Empire took the language around the world.
Today, over 1.5 billion people speak English, which has become the international language of business and communication.
Some Borrowed Words in the English Language
The English language continues to evolve, absorbing borrowed words from other languages. Every year, the English dictionary welcomes new loan words into its pages.
Here are some languages and loan words in English.
Latin
Latin has a huge influence on English vocabulary. Being the language of the Roman Empire and the Catholic Church, it enriched the English language.
Latin loan words in English include solo, subpoena, bona fide, agenda, acumen, and propaganda.
French
After the Norman Conquest of England, French became the language of the elite. During this time, there was a significant influx of French words into English.
Words like adieu, café, chauffeur, nee, rapport, depot, venue, décor, and reservoir have French origins.
Norse, the Language of the Vikings
Several Old Norse words became part of the English vocabulary during the Viking invasion. They include saga, ugly, ransack, die, sky, window, thrift, anger, lad, husband, and knife.
Greek
The ancient Greek civilization significantly impacted the worlds of science, philosophy, and medicine. Because of their contribution to human knowledge, several Greek words are common in English.
Examples are cemetery, acrobat, democracy, galaxy, dinosaur, echo, academy, alphabet, panic, and sarcasm.
Spanish
Because of exploration and trade, some words in the English language come from Spanish. They include words like siesta, fiesta, range, patio, macho, plaza, cargo, and stampede.
Dutch
English gained some loanwords from trade between the Netherlands and England. Examples are boss, bluff, hustle, groove, frolic, iceberg, cookie, mannequin, and yacht.
Italian
Some words borrowed from the Italian language are bravo, paparazzi, piano, and fiasco. Others are volcano, diva, finale, studio, and quarantine.
Chinese
There are terms in martial arts like Kung Fu that are popular in English, but there are other unfamiliar Chinese loan words. Words like brainwash, typhoon, ping-pong, ketchup, and tea have Chinese origins.
Also Read: Why is Chinese Not One Language but More?
Portuguese
Portuguese explorers were crucial in establishing trade routes and mapping the world. This gave rise to Portuguese words like albino, mosquito, embarrass, banana, tank, and caramel.
Scandinavian Languages
Besides the Vikings, languages like Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian have loaned words to English. Examples include fjord, ski, cozy, hug, nudge, berserk, and troll.
Arabic
Arabic scholars have made extensive contributions to mathematics, science, and astronomy. Words of Arabic origin in English include algebra, alcohol, average, check, hazard, and zero.
Persian
It is also known as Farsi, but it is often mistaken for Arabic, even though they are not the same language. This mix-up causes errors in attributing some Persian words to Arabic.
Persian loan words in English include paradise, bazaar, shawl, caravan, guitar, and algorithm.
Hindi
The interactions between the British Empire and the Indian subcontinent led to introducing Hindi to English. They include bungalows, pajamas, shampoo, khaki, loot, pundit, cashmere, and bangles.
Indigenous Caribbean
There are also some loan words in English from the indigenous languages of the Arawakan Indians.
Although many of these languages are extinct, words like canoe, mangrove, and tobacco came from them. Others are hurricane, cannibal, hammock, indigo, savanna, and hammock.
Also Read: Is the Native Tongue Still Important
Indigenous Americans
The discovery of the new world of North America introduced words like chocolate, wigwam, and tomahawk to the English language.
Swahili
Swahili, the most spoken indigenous language in Africa, has speakers spanning across 14 countries. Swahili words in the English language include safari, jumbo, Hakuna matata, and Simba.
Other African Languages
Several English words have their origins in the diverse languages spoken in Africa. Examples are jazz, okra, yam, cola, juju, coffee, tango, trek, and zombie.
Gaelic Languages
Gaelic languages, such as Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic, have also loaned words to English. They include clan, galore, pet, smashing, slogans, whiskey, and trousers.
Hebrew and Yiddish
English has adopted many words from the Bible and Jewish traditions, like cabal, babble, scapegoat, and cherub. Amen, jubilee, brouhaha, ruthless, sabbatical, and hallelujah also share the same origin.
A Linguistic Cocktail
It’s worth noting that many of these borrowed words in the English language are spelled differently from the original language.
In the same way, some went through two or more languages before resting in English. Now that you know these, how many languages can you use to say one or two words?
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