Since English is a borrower of words from every language imaginable, how well do you think you know the etymology of common English words? Take this quiz and you'll find out!
Of West African origin (compare Kikongo zumbi "fetish;" Kimbundu nzambi "god"), originally the name of a snake god, later with meaning "reanimated corpse" in voodoo cult.
African
Hebrew
Portuguese
Arabic
5 of 17
What is this English word's language of origin?
from Norwegian ski, related to Old Norse skið "long snowshoe," literally "stick of wood, firewood,"
Spanish
Norwegian
Hindi
German
6 of 17
What is this English word's language of origin?
Italian
Dutch
French
Chinese
7 of 17
What is this English word's language of origin?
Spanish
Persian
Russian
French
8 of 17
What is this English word's language of origin?
Spanish
African
French
Chinese
9 of 17
What is this English word's language of origin?
Portuguese
Arabic
Russian
Spanish
10 of 17
What is this English word's language of origin?
Italian
Hindi
Portuguese
German
11 of 17
What is this English word's language of origin?
Chinese
Russian
French
African
12 of 17
What is this English word's language of origin?
Dutch
French
Arabic
Russian
13 of 17
What is this English word's language of origin?
Chinese
Norwegian
Persian
Portuguese
14 of 17
What is this English word's language of origin?
Hindi
Danish
Dutch
Italian
15 of 17
What is this English word's language of origin?
Hindi
Arabic
Italian
German
16 of 17
What is this English word's language of origin?
Ketchup comes from the Hokkien Chinese word, kê-tsiap, the name of a sauce derived from fermented fish.
Spanish
Chinese
Arabic
French
17 of 17
What is this English word's language of origin?
Hebrew
Persian
Chinese
Arabic
Shall We Try Again?
Unfortunately you didn't get a very good score on this one. We may use these words all the time, but their origins are... READ MOREUnfortunately you didn't get a very good score on this one. We may use these words all the time, but their origins are unknown to most of us. This is a great opportunity to learn some of those origins. How about trying again?
Very well done! You didn't get the highest score but you have surely shown you know your way around the etymologies of... READ MOREVery well done! You didn't get the highest score but you have surely shown you know your way around the etymologies of many common English words. Good show!
Congratulations! You must know so much about the English language to figure out all these etymologies! You either... READ MORECongratulations! You must know so much about the English language to figure out all these etymologies! You either understand the rules and forms that accompany each language or you already knew these words specifically, either way - it's very impressive!
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4/25/2021
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