{"id":2669,"date":"2025-04-06T11:23:47","date_gmt":"2025-04-06T11:23:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lingowar.com\/blog\/?p=2669"},"modified":"2025-06-30T04:44:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T04:44:12","slug":"21-common-borrowed-words-from-other-languages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lingowar.com\/blog\/21-common-borrowed-words-from-other-languages\/","title":{"rendered":"21 Common Borrowed Words from Other Languages\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

English is a notorious word thief. As one witty saying goes, it doesn\u2019t politely borrow words. It follows other languages down dark alleys, knocks them over, and rummages through their pockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The result? An endless parade of borrowed words from other languages makes English dynamic, fun, and quirky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyday English is filled with foreign-origin terms (from food to fashion). Learning about these borrowed words can deepen your appreciation of how expressive and diverse the language is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the Common Borrowed Words from Other Languages?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Borrowed words (loanwords) are words adopted from another language without translation. Typically, English speakers take a word from another tongue when there\u2019s no exact English word for that concept\u200b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over centuries of trade, conquest, and cultural exchange, English has eagerly absorbed vocabulary from around the globe. By some estimates, as many as 350 languages have contributed words to English<\/a>, accounting for roughly 80% of its vocabulary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means most \u201cEnglish\u201d words you know started elsewhere! Below are 21 common borrowed words from various languages, each with its origin, meaning, and usage in English:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. D\u00e9j\u00e0 vu (French)\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    A French phrase meaning \u201calready seen.\u201d In English, it describes the strange feeling that you\u2019ve experienced a situation before, even though it\u2019s happening for the first time (e.g., \u201cI had d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu walking into that caf\u00e9 like I\u2019d been there before\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Faux pas (French)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Originating from the French for \u201cfalse step,\u201d a faux pas is a social blunder or mistake. English speakers use this term for embarrassing etiquette slip-ups (e.g., \u201cWearing jeans to the wedding turned out to be a major faux pas\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. Ballet (French)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        From the French word for a classical dance form (which itself came from the Italian balletto, meaning \u201clittle dance\u201d). In English, ballet refers to the formal dance style with pointe shoes and tutus and the performance itself (e.g., \u201cShe has been studying ballet since childhood\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        1. Kindergarten (German)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Borrowed from German, literally \u201cchildren\u2019s garden.\u201d Educator Friedrich Froebel coined it for a preschool system. In English, kindergarten is the grade or class for young children (around age 5) before first grade (e.g., \u201cMy son will start kindergarten next fall\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          1. Wanderlust (German)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            This is a compound of the German word \u201cwandern\u201d (to hike or wander) and Lust (desire). In English, wanderlust means a strong desire to travel and explore the world (e.g., \u201cAfter watching that travel documentary, I felt a serious surge of wanderlust\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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            1. Tsunami (Japanese)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              It is taken from Japanese<\/a>, which means \u201charbor wave\u201d (tsu = harbor, nami = wave). English adopted tsunami to name the large, devastating ocean waves caused by undersea earthquakes (e.g., \u201cThe 2011 tsunami in Japan caused widespread destruction along the coast\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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              1. Karaoke (Japanese)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                From Japanese words meaning \u201cempty orchestra\u201d (kara = empty, oke from orchestra). In English, karaoke is popular entertainment where people sing along to instrumental music using a microphone, often in bars or at parties (e.g., \u201cWe did karaoke last night, and my friend rocked the mic with an 80s song\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                1. Safari (Swahili\/Arabic)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                  Safari comes from Swahili (borrowed from Arabic safar, meaning journey). It refers to an overland journey to observe or photograph wildlife, especially in Africa (e.g., \u201cThey went on a safari in Kenya and saw lions and elephants in the wild\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                  1. Coffee (Arabic\/Turkish)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                    The word coffee comes from the Turkish kahve, which is derived from the Arabic qahwa. Initially, coffee was a term for a type of wine and then a hot drink. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    Coffee entered European languages in the 16th century. In English, it means the beloved brewed beverage made from roasted coffee beans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                    1. Pizza (Italian)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                      Pizza means \u201cpie.\u201d In Italian, it refers specifically to the flatbread with toppings. English adopted the word for everyone\u2019s favorite cheesy flatbread dish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                      1. Patio (Spanish)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                        In Spanish, a patio means an inner courtyard or backyard. English uses a patio for an outdoor space adjacent to a house, often for relaxing or dining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                        1. Shampoo (Hindi)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                          This word is from Hindi ch\u0101mpo<\/em> (to knead or massage), which came into English in colonial times. Originally, shampoo<\/em> was meant to massage or wash the head and hair. Now, it refers to the hair-cleansing soap and its use (e.g., \u201cI need to shampoo my hair after that workout\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                          1. Guru (Sanskrit)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                            In Sanskrit, guru means a teacher or spiritual guide (literally \u201cheavy\u201d in knowledge). In English, a guru is an expert or mentor in any field, not just spiritual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                            1. Chocolate (Nahuatl via Spanish)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                              From Nahuatl chocol\u0101tl, chocolate is a word of the Aztec language, passed through Spanish chocolate. It originally described a cocoa drink. In modern English, chocolate means the sweet brown food made from roasted cocoa beans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                              1. Robot (Czech)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                The word robot comes from the Czech term \u201crobota,\u201d which means \u201cforced labor\u201d or \u201cdrudgery.\u201d It was introduced in a 1920 play by Karel \u010capek. In English, a robot now refers to a programmable machine or automaton (e.g., \u201cThe factory uses robots to assemble cars\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                                1. Barbecue (Ta\u00edno via Spanish)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                  This is derived from the Ta\u00edno word barbacoa, which the Spanish recorded and passed on. In English, barbecue means cooking over an open fire or grill, and the social event centered around that cooking method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                                  1. Pajamas (Urdu\/Persian)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                    This word is from the Urdu and Persian term \u201cp\u0101yj\u0101ma.\u201d It means \u201cleg garment.\u201d The British adopted it in colonial India for loose trousers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                    In English, pajamas (often called \u201cPJs\u201d) mean a set of comfy nightclothes (e.g., \u201cAfter work, I couldn\u2019t wait to change into my pajamas and relax\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                                    1. Kangaroo (Guugu Yimithirr)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                      The kangaroo’s name comes from the Guugu Yimithirr language of Aboriginal Australians<\/a> (recorded as gangurru by explorers). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                      English speakers kept this name for the iconic Australian marsupial (e.g., \u201cWe saw a kangaroo hopping across the road in the Australian outback\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                                      1. Zombie (West African via Haitian Creole)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                        The term zombie originates from West African languages (e.g., Kikongo nzambi, meaning the spirit of the dead) and came to English via Haitian Creole zonbi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                        In English, a zombie is a reanimated corpse or, more loosely, someone acting lifeless or robotic (e.g., \u201cI felt like a zombie after staying up all night studying\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                                        1. Bungalow (Hindi)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                          This word is from Hindi and describes a one-story house in the Bengali style. Similarly, the English adopted a bungalow as a small single-story house, often with a wide porch (e.g., \u201cThey retired to a cozy bungalow by the lake\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                                          1. Ketchup (Chinese via Malay)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                            Believe it or not, ketchup began as a fermented fish sauce in China called k\u00ea-tsiap. The word came to English through Malay kicap (a similar sauce). Today, English ketchup refers to the tomato-based condiment loved on fries and burgers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                            How To Learn Borrowed Words from Other Languages\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

                                            Picking up foreign-origin words can be an enjoyable part of building your vocabulary. Here are ten effective methods to learn borrowed words from other languages so that you can impress others with your linguistic know-how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n