Loan Words in the English Language

Saturday, 28 February 2026

The word 'galley' originally came from Greek as 'galaia'

'Galley' is a word borrowed from Greek 'galaia'. The word entered the English language some time around the 13th century.

galley [noun] [13th century]

a ship or boat propelled solely or chiefly by oars
as
a long low ship used for war and trading especially in the Mediterranean Sea from the Middle Ages to the 19th century
galleass
a warship of classical antiquity

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Etymology: Middle English 'galeie' from Anglo-French 'galie, galee' ultimately from Middle Greek 'galea'

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When you hear 'pashka' are you hearing English or Russian?

'Pashka' is a word borrowed from Russian 'pashka'.

pashka

(details not available)

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note: Pashka (also spelled pasha**pascha or paskha; Russian: па́сха) is an Eastern European/Russian Orthodox cheese dessert with an etymology that directly links to the holiday it celebrates. The word pashka is derived from Pascha the Greek term for Easter which itself is a transliteration of the Aramaic pascha and the Hebrew pesach meaning Passover. Context: In Russian Paskha (Пасха) is the word for Easter. The dish is named after this as it is designed to be eaten specifically to break the fast after the Lenten period. Doublet: It is a doublet of the English word Pasch and the Ukrainian word paska (which refers to a similar but bread-based Easter tradition).
Etymology: -

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The word 'pasha' is originally from Turkish 'paça'

'Pasha' is a word borrowed from Turkish 'paça'. The word entered the English language some time around 1646.

pasha [noun] [1646]

A man of high rank or office (as in Turkey or northern Africa)

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note: Via Turkish paşa from Pahlavi pati ‘lord’ + šāh ‘shah’.
Etymology: Turkish 'paşa'

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When you say 'pyramid' are you speaking Greek?

'Pyramid' is a word borrowed from Greek 'pyramis'. The word entered the English language some time around 1549.

pyramid [noun] [1549]

an ancient massive structure found especially in Egypt having typically a square ground plan, outside walls in the form...
a structure or object of similar form
a polyhedron having for its base a polygon and for faces triangles with a common vertex
a crystalline form each face of which intersects the vertical axis and either two lateral axes or in the tetragonal sys...

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Etymology: Latin 'pyramid-, pyramis' from Greek

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The word 'nike' is originally from Greek 'Níkē'

'Nike' is a word borrowed from Greek 'Níkē'. The word entered the English language some time around 1850.

nike [noun] [1850]

The Greek goddess of victory

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note: The ancient Greek goddess of victory Νίκη (Níkē) meaning victory or conquest a concept deeply tied to success in battle and sports.
Etymology: Greek 'Nikē'

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The French roots of the word 'quoit'

'Quoit' is a word borrowed from French 'quoit'. The word entered the English language some time around the 15th century.

quoit [noun] [15th century]

a flattened ring of iron or circle of rope used in a throwing game
a game in which the are thrown at an upright pin in an attempt to ring the pin or come as near to it as possible

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note: Probably from Old French coite - flat stone.
Etymology: Middle English 'coite'

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Is 'knout' English, or is it actually Russian?

'Knout' is a word borrowed from Russian 'knut'. The word entered the English language some time around 1716.

knout [noun] [1716]

A whip used for flogging

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note: A kind of whip with knots. Via French knout from Russian кнут (knut) from Old East Slavic кнутъ (knutŭ) from Old Norse knútr (“knot in a cord”).
Etymology: Russian 'knut' of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse 'knūtr' knot; akin to Old English 'cnotta'

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The word 'sycophant' is a loan word from Greek 'sukophantēs'

'Sycophant' is a word borrowed from Greek 'sukophantēs'. The word entered the English language some time around 1575.

sycophant [noun] [1575]

A servile self-seeking flatterer

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note: From Greek sukophantēs ‘informer’ from sukon ‘fig’ + phainein ‘to show’ perhaps with reference to making the insulting gesture of the ‘fig’ (sticking the thumb between two fingers) to informers.
Etymology: Latin 'sycophanta' slanderer, swindler, from Greek 'sykophantēs' slanderer, from 'sykon' fig + 'phainein' to show

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Tuesday, 24 February 2026

Did you know that 'ancient' is actually Latin?

'Ancient' is a word borrowed from Latin 'ante'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.

ancient [adjective] [14th century]

having had an existence of many years
of or relating to a remote period, to a time early in history, or to those living in such a period or time
of or relating to the historical period beginning with the earliest known civilizations and extending to the fall of th...
having the qualities of age or long existence
as

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Etymology: Middle English 'ancien' from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin '*anteanus' from Latin 'ante' before

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When you say 'trenchant' are you speaking French?

'Trenchant' is a word borrowed from French 'trenchant'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.

trenchant [adjective] [14th century]

keen
vigorously effective and articulate
caustic
sharply perceptive
penetrating

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note: The word trenchant comes from Old French where trenchant was the present participle of trenchier meaning to cut. The word's origin is related to the modern English words trench a cut into the ground and retrench meaning to cut down. Therefore a trenchant remark or analysis is one that is sharp cutting and penetrates to the heart of a matter.
Etymology: Middle English 'trenchaunt' from Anglo-French, present participle of 'trencher'

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When you hear 'museum' are you hearing English or Greek?

'Museum' is a word borrowed from Greek 'mouseion'. The word entered the English language some time around 1672.

museum [noun] [1672]

an institution devoted to the procurement, care, study, and display of objects of lasting interest or value
a place where objects are exhibited

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note: Denoting a university building (specifically one erected at Alexandria by Ptolemy Soter): via Latin from Greek mouseion ‘seat of the Muses’ - based on mousa ‘muse’.
Etymology: Latin 'Museum' place for learned occupation, from Greek 'Mouseion' from neuter of 'Mouseios' of the Muses, from 'Mousa'

See more loan words from 1600s.