When you say 'archipelago' are you speaking Greek?

'Archipelago' is a word borrowed from Greek 'archipelagos'. The word entered the English language some time around 1589.

archipelago [noun] [1589]

• an expanse of water with many scattered islands
• a group of islands
• something resembling an archipelago
• a group or scattering of similar things

See 'archipelago' on the Loan Words Map

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note: Originates from the Greek arkhi- (chief/main) and pelagos (sea). Historically it referred to the Aegean Sea (the main sea or chief sea to the Greeks) before coming to describe any sea with many islands.
Etymology: Aegean Sea, from Italian 'Arcipelago' literally, chief sea, from 'arci-' (from Latin 'archi-') + Greek 'pelagos' sea

See more loan words from 1500s.