[Language Families]
[The English Language]
[Borrowed Words in English]
[Writing]
[Words and Names]
[The World's Most Spoken Languages]
[UK and USA English]
[Cockney English]
[London Place Names]
[Grammar]
[It's a WORLD Wide Web]

[Readers' Feedback (Borrowed Words)]

[Language]
[Travel]
[Eclipses]
[London]
[Astronomy]
[Mathematics]
[Physics]
[Chemistry]
[Biology]
[Football]
[Television]
[Other]

Sponsored Link

Why do Kiwis prefer gambling with a low budget? There is no need to pay more with minimum deposit casinos by Casino Deps in New Zealand. Deposit any amount and play pokie games online!

Let professional writers from research paper writing service SmartWritingService help with your English papers in college or university.

The English Language

Words Borrowed from Other Languages

Hundreds of words from 146 languages

Click on a letter link below to locate a language.
Click the language link to display a table of words borrowed into English from that language.

Alternatively you can perform a

Borrowed Words Search.

Introduction

The English language has an enormous amount of words that have been borrowed (or loaned) from other languages. This is a collection of tables listing words from the many languages that have contributed words to English. For some languages the word list is complete; for others (French, Greek, Latin, Arabic, Spanish) only a selection of borrowed words is given as there are so many. There are brief explanations for most words and the original literal meaning if appropriate.

Please note that some word derivations are disputed by etymologists.

A

Afrikaans

An Indo-European language spoken in South Africa and Namibia: apartheid, commando, slim, trek...

Akkadian

The extinct Language of the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires in Mesopotamia (the modern day Iraq). The language is a member of the Afro-Asiatic family: Babylon, cherub, Orion, ziggurat...

Albanian

An Indo-European language spoken in Albania and the Kosova region of Serbia: Carpathian...

Algonquin

A member of the Algonquian family of language spoken in North America: caribou, Massachusetts, racoon, tomahawk...

American English

A version of the English language spoken in the United States of America (North America): blizzard, hangover, OK, teenager...

Amharic

An Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Ethiopia: Negus...

Amoy

A Sino-Tibetan language spoken in Eastern China: ketchup, tea...

Anglo-Saxon

A precursor of the English language spoken in England before 1000AD. Anglo-Saxon is (like its modern counterpart) an Indo-European language: Easter, Tuesday, Welsh, Yule...

Arabic

An Afro-Asiatic language spoken on the Arabian Peninsula, in much of the Middle East and in North Africa: alcohol, calibre, monsoon, zero...

Aramaic

An almost extinct Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Syria and Palestine before 200AD: Jesus...

Araucanian

A language spoken in parts of Chile and also known as Mapuche: Chile, poncho...

Arawak

An Andean-Equatorial language spoken in coastal Colombia and the Caribbean: cacique, iguana, tobacco...

Australian English

A version of the English language spoken in Australia: aborigine, nugget, walkabout...

Avestan

An extinct Indo-European language spoken in ancient Perisa: bronze, magic, paradise...

Aymara

An Andean-Equatorial language spoken in the Bolivian Andes and parts of Peru and Northern Chile: alpaca...

B

Balti

An Indo-European language spoken in the Pakistani Himalayas: polo...

Bambara

A Niger-Congo language spoken in the West African countries of Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast: juke, jumbo...

Basque

A language spoken in Northern Spain and South West France that is unrelated to any other language in the world: anchovy, bizarre, jingo...

Beja

An Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Sudan and Eritrea: Beduin...

Bengali

An Indo-European language spoken in Bangladesh and North East India: bungalow, dinghy...

Breton

An Indo-European language spoken in Western France: carol, gaberdine, garrote, valet...

Byzantine Greek

The extinct language of the Byzantine Empire. A member of the Indo-European family: diaper...

C

Cantonese

A Sino-Tibetan language spoken in Southern China, Hong Kong, UK and USA: chopsuey, lychee, wok...

Carib

A language spoken in northern South America and the Caribbean. It belongs to the Carib family: barbecue, cannibal, maize...

Catalan

An Indo-European language spoken in Catalunya, in North East Spain: capsize, paella...

Cherokee

An Iroquoian language spoken in North America: Sequoia...

Choctaw

An Algonquian language spoken in North America: Alabama, Oklahoma...

Cornish

An Indo-European language spoken in the Cornwall region of England: bludgeon, gull...

Cree

An Algonquian language spoken in North America: Eskimo, opossum, skunk, squaw...

Croatian

An Indo-European language spoken in Croatia and Bosnia: cravat...

Cuna

A Macro-Chibchan language spoken along the Atlantic coast of Panama in Central America: Panama...

Czech

An Indo-European language spoken in the Czech Republic: pistol, polka, robot...

D

Danish

An Indo-European language spoken in Denmark: fog, kidnap, ombudsman...

Dharuk

A Pama-Nyungan language spoken in Australia: boomerang, budgerigar, koala, wallaby...

Dutch

An Indo-European language spoken in the Netherlands and Belgium: boss, cookie, lottery, yacht...

E

Egyptian

The extinct language of Ancient Egypt. It is a member of the Afro-Asiatic family: ammonia, ebony, ivory, paper...

Etruscan

The extinct language of pre-Roman Italy: April, ceremony, cistern, Saturn...

Evenki

An Altaic language spoken in Siberia: shaman...

Ewe

A Niger-Congo language spoken in Ghana, Togo and other countries in West Africa: voodoo...

F

Faroese

An Indo-European language spoken in the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean: skua...

Farsi

An Indo-European language spoken in Iran and Afghanistan. Also called Persian and Iranian: checkmate, lemon, shawl, tambourine...

Finnish

An Uralic language spoken in Finland and parts of Russia: sauna...

Flemish

An Indo-European language spoken in Northern Belgium: brick, duffel, gas, hunk...

Frankish

An extinct Indo-European language spoken in Central Europe during the 8th century AD: coat, marshall, skate, wallop...

French

An Indo-European language spoken in France, Belgium, Swizerland, Canada, Louisiana (a USA state), West Africa, the Caribbean and Indo-China: ambulance, diplomat, parachute, sauce...

G

Gaelic

An Indo-European language spoken in Scotland (UK) and Ireland: bard, golf, slogan, whisky...

Gaulish

An extinct Indo-European language spoken in pre-Roman France: ambassador, carpenter, lawn, Paris...

German

An Indo-European language spoken in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Central Europe: blitz, dollar, muffin, quartz...

Greek

An Indo-European language spoken in Greece, Cyprus, Middle East and Northern Egypt: athlete, democracy, metropolis, museum...

Guarani

An Andean-Equatorial language spoken in Paraguay and Southern Brazil: jaguar, Paraguay, Uruguay...

Gujarati

An Indo-European language spoken in Gujarat state in Western India: tank...

Guugu-Yimidhirr

A Pama-Nyungan language spoken in Australia: kangaroo...

H

Haitian Creole

A creole language spoken in Haiti: meringue...

Haitian Gumbo, called Kalalou is similar to Louisiana Gumbo: how to make gumbo from New Orleans.

Hausa

An Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Northern Nigeria: juju...

Hawaiian

A Malayo-Polynesian language spoken on the islands of Hawaii: hula, ukulele...

Hebrew

An Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Israel: amen, gauze, kosher, messiah...

Hindi

An Indo-European language spoken in Northern India: bangle, Himalaya, jungle, shampoo...

Hottentot

A Khoisan language spoken in Southern Africa: gnu, kudu...

Hungarian

An Uralic language spoken in Hungary and the region of Transylvania in Romania: coach, goulash, paprika, sabre...

I

Ibibio

A Niger-Congo language spoken in Nigeria: tango...

Ibo

A Niger-Congo language spoken in Nigeria: okra...

Icelandic

An Indo-European language spoken in Iceland: eider, geyser, saga, Viking...

Inuit

An Eskimo-Aleut language spoken in Siberia and Alaska: anorak, husky, igloo, kayak...

Iroquois

A language spoken in North America: Canada, Kentucky, Ohio...

Italian

An Indo-European language spoken in Italy and Switzerland: bankrupt, fascist, opera, umbrella...

J

Japanese

An Altaic language spoken in Japan: judo, karate, soy, tycoon...

K

Kimbundu

A Niger-Congo language spoken in Northern Angola: banjo...

Kongo

A Niger-Congo language spoken in Angola and Congo: bongo, chimpanzee, funky, zombie...

Korean

An Altaic language spoken in Korea: hangul, kimchi, tae kwon do...

L

Latin

The extinct language of the Roman Empire. It is an Indo-European language: calendar, data, maximum, uniform...

Latvian

An Indo-European language spoken in Latvia: sleazy...

Lithuanian

An Indo-European language spoken in Lithuania: eland, sable, silk...

M

Malagasy

A Malayo-Polynesian language spoken on the island of Madagascar: aye-aye, raffia...

Malay

A Malayo-Polynesian language spoken in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei: amok, bamboo, gong, orang-utan...

Malayalam

A Dravidian language spoken in South India: atoll, copra, teak...

Mandarin

A Sino-Tibetan language spoken in most of China as well as Taiwan, Singapore and parts of Malaysia: Japan, kowtow, kung fu, typhoon...

Maori

A Malayo-Polynesian language spoken in New Zealand: haka, kiwi...

Marathi

An Indo-European language spoken in Central India: dhow, chit...

Marshallese

A Malayo-Polynesian language spoken in the Pacific Marshall Islands: bikini...

Maya

A Mayan language spoken in Southern Mexico and Guatemala: cigar, shark...

Miami

A language spoken in North America: Illinois...

Micmac

An Algonquian language spoken in North America: toboggan...

Minoan

The extinct Pre-Hellenic language spoken in Minoan Crete: Taurus...

Mohican

An Algonquian language spoken in North America: Connecticut...

N

Nahuatl

An Uto-Aztecan language spoken in Mexico and Central America: chocolate, guacamole, Mexico, tomato...

Navajo

An Athapascan language spoken in North America: Utah...

Nenets

An Uralic language spoken in Siberia: parka...

Nepali

An Indo-European language spoken in parts of Nepal and Himalayan India: Gurkha, panda...

Norman French

The 11th century language of France and England. It is an Indo-European language: accuse, chivalry, justice, parliament...

Norse

The extinct language of the Vikings (or Norsemen) from Scandinavia. It is an Indo-European language: berserk, husband, reindeer, window...

Norwegian

An Indo-European language spoken in Norway: fjord, iceberg, ski, walrus...

O

Ojibwa

An Algonquian language spoken in North America: Mississippi, Ottawa, totem...

Omaha

A language spoken in North America: Nebraska...

P

Papago

An Uto-Aztecan language spoken in North America: Arizona...

Phoenician

The extinct language of the ancient Mediterranian empire of Phoenicia. It is an Afrio-Asiatic language: Bible, gypsum, purple...

Pictish

The extinct pre-Celtic language of Scotland: Caledonia, fife...

Polish

An Indo-European language spoken in Poland: horde, mazurka...

Portuguese

An Indo-European language spoken in Portugal, Brazil, Angola and Mozambique: breeze, flamingo, marmalade, molasses...

Potawatomi

An Algonquian language spoken in North America: Chicago...

Provençal

An Indo-European language spoken in Southern France: boutique, crusade, limousine, pilgrim...

Punic

An extinct Afro-Asiatic language spoken in ancient Carthage: map, purse...

Q

Quechua

An Andean-Equatorial language spoken in Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. It is the language of the Inca Empire: cocoa, guano, Inca, llama...

R

Romanian

An Indo-European language spoken in Romania: Dracula, pastrami...

Romansh

An Indo-European language spoken in parts of Switzerland: avalanche...

Romany

An Indo-European language spoken in large parts of Europe. It is the language of the Romani (Gypsy) people: cosh, gigolo, pal...

Russian

An Indo-European language spoken in Russia and large parts of Central Asia: bistro, cosmonaut, mammoth, vodka...

S

Sabine

An extinct language of pre-Roman Italy. It is a member of the Indo-European family: lingua...

Sámi

An Uralic language spoken in Lapland in Northern Scandinavia: tundra...

Sanskrit

An ancient Hindu language from Northern India. It is a member of the Indo-European family: Aryan, candy, orange, sugar...

Serbian

An Indo-European language spoken in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia: vampire...

Shona

A Niger-Congo language spoken in Zimbabwe, in Southern Africa: Zimbabwe...

Shoshone

A language spoken in North America: Idaho...

Sinhalese

An Indo-European language spoken on the island of Sri Lanka: rogue, tourmaline...

Sioux

An Iroquoian language spoken in North America: Dakota, Kansas, Minnesota, tepee...

Sotho

A Niger-Congo language spoken in South Africa and Lesotho: milo...

Spanish

An Indo-European language spoken in Spain, the southern USA, several islands in the Caribbean, Central America and most of South America: canyon, guitar, patio, tornado...

Sumerian

The extinct language of the Sumerian and Babylonian Empires: abyss, cane...

Swahili

A Niger-Congo language spoken in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the island of Zanzibar: dengue...

Swedish

An Indo-European language spoken in Sweden and parts of Finland: boulder, mink, smorgasbord, Tungsten...

Swiss French

An Indo-European language spoken in Switzerland: chalet, glacier, moraine...

Swiss German

An Indo-European language spoken in Switzerland: bivouac, muesli...

Syriac

An extinct Afro-Asiatic language spoken in ancient Syria: abbot, damson, Mammon...

T

Tagalog

A Malayo-Polynesian language spoken in northern Philippines: boondocks, yo-yo...

Tahitian

A Malayo-Polynesian language spoken in Tahiti: tattoo...

Taino

A language spoken in the Caribbean: guava, hammock, hurricane, potato...

Tamil

A Dravidian language spoken in South India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore: anaconda, curry, mango, pariah...

Tartar

An Altaic language spoken in the Crimea region of Russia: shashlik...

Telugu

A Dravidian language spoken in South India: mongoose...

Temne

A Niger-Congo language spoken in Sierra Leone: cola...

Thai

A Sino-Tibetan language spoken in Thailand: Siamese...

Tibetan

A Sino-Tibetan language spoken in Tibet, Nepal and North India: lama, sherpa, yak, yeti...

Tongan

A Malayo-Polynesian language spoken on the Pacific island of Tonga: taboo...

Trinidadian English

An Indo-European language spoken on the Caribbean island of Trinidad: limbo...

Tswana

A Niger-Congo language spoken in Botswana and parts of South Africa: tsetse...

Tupi

An Andean-Equatorial language spoken in the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon: cashew, maraca, piranha, tapioca...

Turkish

An Altaic language spoken in Turkey, Cyprus and parts of Bulgaria: caviar, kebab, tulip, yoghurt...

U

Ukrainian

An Indo-European language spoken in Ukraine and the Black Sea: balaclava, Cossack...

Urdu

An Indo-European language spoken in Pakistan and North India: balti, Pakistan, purdah...

W

Walloon French

An Indo-European language spoken in Southern Belgium: rabbit...

Welsh

An Indo-European language spoken in the UK region of Wales: corgi, cwm, maggot, penguin...

Wiradhuri

A Pama-Nyungan language spoken in Australia: billabong, kookaburra...

Wolof

A Niger-Congo language spoken in Senegal and Gambia: banana, chigger, yam...

Y

Yiddish

An Indo-European language spoken in Europe, Israel and North America by the Jewish community: bagel, glitch, nosh, schmuck...

Yoruba

A Niger-Congo language spoken in Nigeria: dashiki...

Z

Zulu

A Niger-Congo language spoken in South Africa: impala, mamba...

Zuni

A language spoken in Mexico: Apache...

Borrowed Words Search

Search Borrowed Words

A search engine for the borrowed words database consisting of nearly 2000 words from over 130 languages. Search for individual words or by language, continent, language family, and type of word.

Books From Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

External Etymology Links

This link will open in a separate window