Loan Words in the English Language

Saturday, 29 August 2026

When you hear 'junk' are you hearing English or Malaysian?

'Junk' is a word borrowed from Malaysian 'jong'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.

junk [noun] [14th century]

pieces of old cable or cordage used especially to make gaskets, mats, swabs, or oakum
old iron, glass, paper, or other waste that may be used again in some form
secondhand, worn, or discarded articles
clutter

See 'junk' on the Loan Words Map

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note: A flat-bottomed sailing vessel of a kind typical of China and the East Indies with a prominent stem and lugsails. From Malay jong via French juncque or Dutch jonke or Portuguese junco.
Etymology: Middle English 'jonke'

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The word 'sandalwood' is originally from Sanskrit 'candana'

'Sandalwood' is a word borrowed from Sanskrit 'candana'. The word entered the English language some time around 1511.

sandalwood [noun] [circa 1511]

the compact close-grained fragrant yellowish heartwood of a parasitic tree ( of the family Santalaceae, the sandalwood ...
the tree that yields this wood
any of various trees other than the sandalwood some of which yield dyewoods
the fragrant wood of such a tree

See 'sandalwood' on the Loan Words Map

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note: The term for the tree has a very different etymology from the English word 'sandal'. Sanskrit (candana): Derived from candrah meaning shining or glowing linked to the Latin candere (to shine or glow) in reference to its sacred glowing presence when burned. Arabic & Persian (sandal): The spice and incense trade brought the word into Arabic and Persian as sandal. Greek & Latin (santalum / sandalum): Medieval Latin adapted it as sandalum via the Late Greek word santalon. French & English: passed into Old French as sandale first appearing in the English language in the early 16th century.
Etymology: sandalwood (from Middle English, from Anglo-French 'sandali' from Medieval Latin 'sandalum' from Late Greek 'santalon' ultimately from Sanskrit 'candana' of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil 'cāntu' sandalwood tree) + 'wood'

See more loan words from 1500s.

The Greek origins of the word 'katabatic'

'Katabatic' is a word borrowed from Greek 'katabatikos'. The word entered the English language some time around 1918.

katabatic [adjective] [1918]

Relating to or being a wind produced by the flow of cold dense air down a slope (as of a mountain or glacier) in an are...

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Etymology: Greek 'katabatos' descending, verbal of 'katabainein' to go down, from 'kata-' cata- + 'bainein' to go

See more loan words from 1910s.

Do you speak a little French when you say 'gallop'?

'Gallop' is a word borrowed from French 'galoper'. The word entered the English language some time around 1523.

gallop [noun] [1523]

a bounding gait of a quadruped
a fast natural 3-beat gait of the horse
a ride or run at a gallop
a stretch of land suitable for horses

See 'gallop' on the Loan Words Map

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note: From Old French galoper (to gallop) which likely originated from a Frankish compound wala hlaupan (to run well) from Germanic elements: wala (well) and hlaupan (to run/leap).
Etymology: Middle French 'galop'

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The word 'perfervid' is originally from Latin 'perfervidus'

'Perfervid' is a word borrowed from Latin 'perfervidus'. The word entered the English language some time around 1856.

perfervid [adjective] [1856]

Marked by overwrought or exaggerated emotion - excessively fervent

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Etymology: New Latin 'perfervidus' from Latin 'per-' thoroughly + 'fervidus' fervid

See more loan words from 1800s.

When you say 'camphor' are you speaking Malaysian?

'Camphor' is a word borrowed from Malaysian 'kapur'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.

camphor [noun] [14th century]

a tough gummy volatile aromatic crystalline compound CHO obtained especially from the wood and bark of the camphor tree...
any of several similar compounds (as some terpene alcohols and ketones)

See 'camphor' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Malaysian.

note: Camphor comes from Medieval Latin camphora which originated from Arabic kāfūr ultimately derived from Malay kapur (chalk/lime/camphor). It refers to a white volatile crystalline substance with an aromatic smell.
Etymology: Middle English 'caumfre' from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin 'camphora' from Arabic 'kāfūr' from Malay 'kapur'

See more loan words from 1300s.

How the Latin language influenced English with the word 'lily'

'Lily' is a word borrowed from Latin 'lilium'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.

lily [noun] [before 12th century]

any of a genus ( of the family Liliaceae, the lily family) of erect perennial leafy-stemmed bulbous herbs that are nati...
any of various plants of the lily family or of the related amaryllis or iris families
any of various plants with showy flowers
as
a scarlet anemone (Anemone coronaria) of the Mediterranean region

See 'lily' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Middle English 'lilie' from Old English, from Latin 'lilium'

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Latin 'rubicundus' in the English language

'Rubicund' is a word borrowed from Latin 'rubicundus'. The word entered the English language some time around the 15th century.

rubicund [adjective] [15th century]

Ruddy

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Etymology: Middle English 'rubicunde' from Latin 'rubicundus' from 'rubēre' to be red; akin to Latin 'rubeus'

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Did you know that 'kendo' is actually Japanese?

'Kendo' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'kendo'. The word entered the English language some time around 1921.

kendo [noun] [1921]

A Japanese sport of fencing usually with bamboo swords

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note: Kendo (剣道) which translates to way of the sword is a modern Japanese martial art derived from traditional swordsmanship (kenjutsu). The name combines ken (剑/剣) meaning sword and dō (道) meaning way path or discipline reflecting its focus on self-cultivation and mental discipline rather than just combat.
Etymology: Japanese 'kendō' from 'ken' sword + 'dō' art

See more loan words from 1920s.

Thursday, 27 August 2026

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

'Amphitheater' is a word borrowed from Greek 'amphitheatron'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.

amphitheater [noun] [14th century]

an oval or circular building with rising tiers of seats ranged about an open space and used in ancient Rome especially ...
a very large auditorium
a room with a gallery from which doctors and students may observe surgical operations
a rising gallery in a modern theater

See 'amphitheater' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Greek.

note: Late Middle English: via Latin from Greek amphitheatron - from amphi ‘on both sides’ + theatron.
Etymology: Latin 'amphitheatrum' from Greek 'amphitheatron' from 'amphi-' + 'theatron' theater

See more loan words from 1300s.

Saturday, 21 March 2026

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

'Pelmeni' is a word borrowed from Russian 'pelmen'.

pelmeni

(details not available)

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note: Russian meat dumplings that are often served in broth. Pelmeni became a staple of Russian cuisine during the period of Russian expansion into the Ural Mountains and Siberia. Pelmeni also have deep roots in the traditions and folklore of the Komi and Udmurtia regions of Russia and figure prominently in Komi and Udmurt cuisine.
Etymology: -

See more loan words from (unknown date).