Typing my first blog, circa 1958.
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Roots and Sprouts
We have “English” in America, but the language we use every day is the result of blending the roots and sprouts of Ye Old English, Danish, French, Latin, Greek, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Dutch, and Spanish, et al.
We explore, below, some words from other languages that have been adopted and adapted into our English language.
Old English
Kith and kin – basically means friends and relatives. This is one of my favorite phrases, and I know a certain Dragon Master who uses it as well. However, you won’t see it much in blog posts, articles, or memes.
Eke – as in “eke out a living.”
To and fro – back and forth
Danish/Scandinavian
Cog, cozy, hug, and maelstrom.
French – Oh, mon dieu!
There are about 10,000 French words we have adopted into our every-day English.
Déjà vu
Fiancé
Faux
A la carte
Bon appetit
Hors d’oeuvre
Vinaigrette (my favorite dressing!)
Silhouette
Petite
Chauffeur
Critique (something writers love to get!)
Déjà vu – Wait…did I mention that one before?
Latin
It’s not just for attorneys anymore.
Ad hoc, bona fide, circa, ergo, et cetera (commonly known as etc.) habeas corpus, in vitro, per annum, per capita, quid pro quo – I’m looking at you, former guy!
I could continue, ad nauseam…
Greek
Galaxy … far, far away
Europe
Dinosaur
Democracy (remember what that feels like?)
Cynicism
Cemetery
Acrobat
Chinese
Pekoe, bok choy, ginseng, won ton, wok, chow, and ketchup. Alert Heinz!
We practice tai chi, talk about yin and yang (not ying yang), we play mahjong, and some of us worry about typhoons.
Hindi
Verandah, jungle, bandana, dinghy, pyjamas (I’ve been living in these going on two years), cashmere, bangles, and shampoo.
Japanese
Tsunami, karaoke, emoji, sushi, tofu, ramen (a college dorm staple), and origami (at one time, my grandson’s obsession).
Dutch
Boss, yankee (sorry NY, it’s not the ball team), mannequin, bazooka, snoop, frolic, and iceberg (I wonder if the lookout on the Titanic knew he was screaming in Dutch?)
Spanish
Many of our own U.S. state names are from Spanish origins – California, Colorado, Florida, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona.
You would think this would make our state and some federal administrators more respectful of our Latin American brethren.
Other words of typical use – corral, chaps, desperado, lasso, alligator, barracuda, cockroach, and everyone’s favorite little bug – the mosquito.
And let’s not forget an American favorite, now served, infamously on Tuesdays (I could eat them every day) – TACO.
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What “foreign” words can you think of that
we use in our American English every day?
Karen R. Sanderson 
Love celebrating the great melting pot that is the English language – the glorious fluidity of it! ❤
And the melting pot that creates such a diverse fabric, even if we don’t speak the same language.
I am so enjoying your romp through our rich and complicated language! I remember when I tried to study Spanish a few years ago, there was a long list of words that are the same in both. I am going to find you a book written by a former client of mine that explored all the words coined during WWII that have become part of our working vocabulary.
I am so glad you are enjoying it, E. I would love to see the words from WWII, yes, please.
Very informative!
Thanks for always stopping by, Karoline. I appreciate you.
And quite a few German words like kindergarten, muesli, poltergeist, and hamburger. A great list, thanks.
Ausgezeichnet! (Excellent!) 🙂