Come Together Right Now: Other Languages
Most documents written in English are, in fact, infused with terms from many other languages, languages of both Native Americans and immigrants.
Settlers adopted Native American words for many discoveries — new places, new animals, new foods. Immigrants brought countless words from their homelands, then made those words part of their new community and therefore part of their new land. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find any language that has not sneaked at least one term into everyday English.
The following are some of the more commonplace terms from a number of other languages.
agape |
(Greek) spiritual, not sexual, love |
aloha |
(Hawaiian) a greeting used for both “hello” and “goodbye”; also a general term referring to affection, love, peace, and well-being |
anime |
(Japanese) a style of cartoon animation; interestingly, the Japanese word began as an abbreviation of the English word “animation” |
apartheid |
(Afrikaans) a former racial segregation policy in South Africa |
bonsai |
(Japanese) a short, ornamental tree grown in a small pot |
donnybrook |
(Irish) a public brawl; a free-for-all |
Erin go Bragh! |
(Irish) Ireland forever |
ethos |
(Greek) a set of values held by a person, group, or community |
eureka |
(Greek) an expression used in showing success or finding delight upon a discovery |
fjord |
(Norwegian) a narrow inlet of the sea, set between steep cliffs |
glasnost |
(Russian) an open and frank discussion |
hoi polloi |
(Greek) the common people |
igloo |
(Inuit) a dome-shaped structure or building, especially one built of packed snow |
kosher |
(Yiddish) keeping strict to dietary laws; slang, legitimate or authentic |
kudos |
(Greek) praise, approval |
manga |
(Japanese) a form of comic book or graphic novel |
muumuu |
(Hawaiian) a loose Hawaiian dress |
ombudsman |
(Swedish) a person appointed to investigate complaints |
Oy, vey |
(Yiddish) an expression of dismay or hurt |
sauna |
(Finnish) a small room or house to sit in and take advantage of wet or dry heat |
schlep |
(Yiddish) to haul or drag something |
schmooze |
(Yiddish) to make small talk |
shtick |
(Yiddish) the comic theme or gimmick |
smörgåsbord |
(Swedish) a buffet of dishes |
spiel |
(Yiddish) a speech usually intended to plead a case |
taboo |
(Polynesian) forbidden, banned |
tsunami |
(Japanese) a devastatingly large wave |
ylang-ylang |
(Tagalog) an aromatic tree; the oil or perfume from the tree |
