FOREIGN WORDS IN

ENGLISH

ENGLISH AN AMALGAMATION

The American poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson described

the English language as The sea which receives

tributaries from every region under heaven.

English is the most dominant language in the world today, but

throughout history, it has borrowed heavily from other languages.

Many countries and many languages have combined to make

English a complete language.

Even though English comes just a close second after Mandarin in

the most spoken language list, its still the most widespread and
the most signed language of the world.

FOREIGN WORDS

Foreign Words are words that have been introduced to the English
language that have etymologies/origins from other countries.

Different language and their vocabularies were transmitted to the

English language as a result of the influence of conquests by
different countries on the upper class of England.

The upper class to show their extreme stature, education and welltravelled personality adopted these words all along the history.

These adaptations influenced the language as a whole for the

centuries to come.

FRENCH
Words adapted from French language and used
now:

Cheque; Chef; Artist; Bureau; Caf; Gallop;

Nature; Restaurant; Cabinet; Justice

French phrases that are used wide over :

Dj vu - Already seen

Joie de vivre Joy of living

RSVP : Rpondez sil vous plait Reply please

Faux Pas Social blunder

Femme fatale Attractive but Dangerous woman

Espirit de corps Team Spirit

Cest la vie Thats Life

LATIN
Words adapted from Latin language and used now:

Adjacent; Conspiracy; Contempt; Custody; Distract; Frustrate; Genius; Gesture;

Homicide; Include; Incredible; Individual; Suppress; Infinite; Innate; Intellect

Latin phrases that are used wide over :

Alma mater - The university, school,

or college that one formerly attended

Cum laude - With distinction

Status quo - The existing state of

Carpe Diem - Seize the day

Bona fide - Genuine; real

i.e. (id est) - That is to say; in

other words

Terra firma Firm or Solid land

Bona fide In good faith

affairs

e.g. (exempli gratia) - For the sake of

example

GREEK
Words adapted from Greek language and used now:
o

Arch; Biblio; Bios; Cosmos; Hydro; Kilo;

Mania; Mega; Neuron; Phobia; Phone;

Psycho; Static; Therapy; Thermo; Thesis

Greek phrases that are used wide over :

Alpha and Omega - The beginning and the end

Hoi Polloi - The masses; the common people

GERMAN
Words adapted from German language and
used now:

Kindergarten

Blitzkrieg

Frankfurter

Angst

Doppelganger

Rucksack

Noodle

Cobalt

Hamster

ITALIAN
Words adapted from Italian language and used now:
o

Opera; Piano; Studio; Solo; Traffic; Pizza;

Confetti; Volcano; Stiletto; Vermicelli; Biscuit;

Espresso; Latte; Costume; Umbrella;

Bank; Money; Sale; Arsenal

Italian phrases that are used wide over :

Prima Donna First Lady

Al dente - (of food, typically pasta) cooked so as to be still firm when bitten.

INDIAN
Words adapted from Indian languages and used now:

Curry; Loot; Thug; Yoga; Cushy; Pucka;

Chutney; Bangle; Cheetah; Jungle; Shampoo;

Chapati; Dungarees; Bungalow; Veranda; Pyjamas;

Avatar; Jungle; Karma; Nirvana; Mantra

ANY
QUESTIO
NS ARE
WELCOM
E

THAN
K
YOU