"Loanwords" in English (Story Behind)

In a sense, different languages are like brothers and sisters who grew up together. Each language has influenced the other two languages to some extent.

Today, all these English words originated from foreign words. Let's look at their past lives.

1. Ballet

Ballet was developed in France, and many words people use to talk about ballet also come from French. Non-ballet dancers may only know the words "ballerina" and "tutu".

It is important to know how to pronounce ballet. The t at the end is silent. On the contrary, the pronunciation of the second syllable should be similar to lay and the same as the letter a.

Some French loanwords are interesting: some sound like English, while others are more like French.

There are other French loanwords that end in -et, but sound like the letter A, such as buffet, gourmet, filet and chalet, and the car company Chevrolet.

Example:

My niece and nephew are taking ballet classes, so I watched their ballet performance for five hours on Saturday.

My nephew and niece are in ballet class, and I watched their ballet performance for five hours on Saturday.

2. cafes, small restaurants

In English, it refers to a small restaurant, usually a less formal restaurant. When writing in English, you can emphasize notes and café, or you can not emphasize notes cafe.

Cafe comes from the French word coffee, but it is similar to coffee-related words in many other languages. Usually, small restaurants do serve coffee. But if a place only serves coffee and doesn't provide any food, it is usually called a coffee shop.

Also note that there is a similar word, cafferent (cafeteria), and someone has confused the two words. Generally speaking, a cafeteria is like a small restaurant serving a specific group of people.

Example:

I only have about 20 minutes to have lunch, so I will stop at a coffee shop to have a fast food sandwich.

I only had 20 minutes for lunch, so I ate a fast food sandwich in a small restaurant.

3. Croissants

Some of the most common loanwords are related to food. Croissant is a light, soft and fragile snack or bread. Flaky says that eating croissants leaves a lot of crumbs on the plate.

A similar bread in English is crescent bread. The roll is the name of the bun.

Example:

Tina likes making croissants very much because they taste better than other types of bread.

Tina likes making croissants very much because they are more delicious than other kinds of bread.

4. genre type

In French, this word means "kind" or "type". In English, it is used to describe a certain kind of things, especially in entertainment activities, such as talking about books, movies and music.

Example:

Roy likes many types of music, but his favorite type is heavy metal.

Roy likes many types of music, but his favorite type is heavy metal music.

5. Underwear

Used to describe a lady's underwear or pajamas, which is sexy and special to some extent. Its pronunciation is also very sharp.

Example:

Now, before some women get married, their friends will give them one.

"Underwear shower" is when women's friends get together.

Give her underwear as a wedding present.

Nowadays, before some women get married, friends will hold underwear parties, when friends will get together and give the bride a set of underwear as a wedding gift.

6. Renaissance

In French, it means rebirth, but in English it is often used to describe the historical period of rapid development of art and science from14th century to17th century.

Some entertainment reporters even compare Matthew? McConaughey's Renaissance is called McConaughey Sang.

Example:

I don't know much about art, but I know Michelangelo and

Raphael was the two most famous artists in the Renaissance.

I don't know much about art, but I know that Michelangelo and Raphael are the two most famous artists in the Renaissance.

7. holiday party

Gala refers to various parties, celebrations or festivals. In English and German, it is usually used as a suffix, and the most common word is Oktoberfest.

The official German Oktoberfest is held in Munich every year.

Example:

We visited the Oktoberfest in Munich, but it was crazy. There are so many people, they are all drunk!

We visited the Oktoberfest in Munich, but it was crazy. There were so many people that everyone was drunk.

8. I wish you health

In German, this word means health.

Especially in America, when someone sneezes (some people often say "to your health"), people usually say "to your health" in response.

This is more common in the United States, perhaps because in the past two centuries, most German immigrants moved to the United States than to Britain.

Example:

When I sneeze, my aunt says "Gesundheit!"

Whenever I sneeze, my aunt will say "I wish you health".

9. Kindergarten Kindergarten

Literally, this word means "children's garden". This is a common form of school education.

Example:

Our daughter will be 5 years old next year, so we have been trying to find a good kindergarten for her.

Our daughter will be 5 years old next year, so we are trying to find a good kindergarten for her.

10. Waltz

Waltz is a formal dance. This word can also be used to describe the music played during this dance, and it can also be used as a verb to describe the dance movements.

Example:

My friend says it's easy to waltz, but I can't.

My friends always say waltzing is easy, but I can't.

1 1. glitch

A glitch means a minor problem, but it is usually the kind of problem that affects the progress of the whole thing.

Example:

I planned to meet Betty downtown, but I ran into a glitch:

The bus didn't run because it was a holiday. So I took a taxi.

On the contrary

I plan to meet Betty downtown, but I have a small problem: the bus stopped because of the holiday. So I had to take a taxi.

12. Clumsy people.

A clumsy person refers to a person whose limbs are very uncoordinated or clumsy.

Example:

My cousin Charlotte is really a klutz.

My cousin Charlotte is all thumbs.

13. Man, masculinity

This word can be used to describe a very strong or masculine person, and it can also be used to describe a person who is arrogant because of masculinity.

It was used in the name of a professional wrestler and a disco song popular in the 1970s.

Example:

Peter is a real manly man, but it is sometimes annoying.

Peter is really a manly man, but sometimes he makes people angry.

14. Square open-air square

Open-air square refers to the open-air public area in the city, sometimes called square.

Many shopping malls, corporate office buildings or other large open-air places also use squares.

Example:

Victoria needs to buy some Christmas presents for her friends, so she

Go to the new shopping plaza downtown and check out some shops.

It was opened recently.

Victoria needs to buy some Christmas presents for her friends, so she went to the newly opened shopping plaza in the city center and strolled around the newly opened shops.

15. karaoke karaoke

Karaoke exists in many countries, including the United States and Britain, but it is most often associated with Japan.

Example:

Mickey really likes singing karaoke, even though he doesn't.

Amazing sound. But it doesn't matter-what matters is that.

Have fun with friends!

Mickey really likes singing karaoke, even though his voice is not good. But it doesn't matter-the important thing is to have fun with friends.

16. Karate Karate

It refers to a very popular martial art, which originated in Japan. There, the word karate means empty-handed, without any special equipment or weapons.

Example:

Lisa is a black belt in karate, so you'd better not steal from her.

Lisa is a black belt in karate, so you'd better not steal from her.

17. Ninja Ninja

This word means spy in Japanese, but in English it refers to a person who can move and attack quietly. People will also associate ninjas with warriors who wear masks and are dressed in black.

In modern usage, people who do something unexpectedly are usually called ninjas, especially in the technical field.

Example:

If Bruce Lee fights a ninja, who will win?

Bruce Lee fights with a ninja, who will win?

18. Tsunami tsunami

It refers to very huge waves, usually caused by earthquakes.

The word tsunami became more known after the South Asian tsunami in 2004 and the Japanese tsunami in 20 1 1. These disasters claimed thousands of lives.

Example:

The recent tsunami was terrible, but at least it made people more aware of the danger of tsunami.

These recent tsunamis are terrible, but at least they make people more aware of the dangers of tsunamis.

19. Chocolate chocolate

They came to the English system through Spanish, but it was originally the Nawaldt language of modern Mexico, xococ (bitter) and atl (water), which originally meant "bitter water".

Example:

If you don't know what chocolate is, then I feel very sorry for you.

If you don't know what chocolate is, then I feel sorry for you

20. Paparazzi

Paparazzi is actually the plural form of the Italian word paparazzi. This is not a popular profession because they steal the privacy of celebrities.

Example:

When Princess Diana died in 1999, many people thought that.

Paparazzi are responsible for her death. Those photographers

Follow her around all the time.

After the death of Princess Diana 1999, many people thought that paparazzi should be responsible for her death. These photographers followed her everywhere.

2 1. Taekwondo Taekwondo

In Korean, Taekwondo means punching and kicking, and in English, it is used to represent a popular martial art.

Example:

Now I'm paying for English classes and taekwondo classes.

Now, I am taking English and Taekwondo classes.

22. Dim sum snacks

Dim sum is a common food type in southern China, especially in Hongkong and its neighboring areas. It actually comes from Cantonese, a dialect of Chinese. The word originally meant "touching your heart", but now it is only used to describe eating.

Many kinds of food are steamed in bamboo baskets, and there are other dishes, such as soup and toast.

Example:

Tony invited us to have a snack, and we had a good time!

Tony invited us to eat snacks, and we had a good time!

23. Working together is strong; Reckless; crazy

In English, it is used to show that you are excited or enthusiastic about something. It is usually used as an adjective.

Example:

I really want to eat snacks.

I like snacks very much.

24. China Kung Fu

Kung fu is another popular martial art. Usually, martial arts practitioners only use their hands and feet and have no weapons.

Example:

I'm tired of bullies hitting me. I'm going to learn Kung Fu so that if they attack me again, I can defend myself!

I'm tired of being bullied and threatened. I want to learn kung fu so that I can protect myself when they attack me again.

25. Tofu Tofu

This etymology comes from Chinese doufu, but before it was incorporated into English, it underwent Japanese transformation and became tofu.

In Chinese, "bean" means bean, and "fu" means rotten or sour.

Example:

I know you are a vegetarian, but there are many great things in this restaurant.

Option! For many dishes, you can use meat instead.

Tofu or other vegetarian options.

I know you are a vegetarian, but this restaurant has many good choices. There are many meals where you can use tofu or other vegetarian food instead of meat.

26.typhoon typhoon

The origin of this word is actually very complicated, but some people say that it comes from Taifeng in Chinese, which means strong wind, and may be influenced by Greek, Arabic and Greek.

Typhoon is another name for hurricane and tornado. If it is in the Pacific Ocean near Asia, it is called a typhoon.

Example:

20 14 typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, causing huge losses. This is one of the biggest typhoons in history.

Typhoon Haiyan 20 14 swept the Philippines, causing huge losses. This is one of the biggest typhoons recorded so far.

27. Yin and Yang Yin and Yang

In Chinese, Yin stands for female, darkness and night, while Yang stands for the opposite meaning: male, light and day.

In English, these words are used to mean anything to the contrary.

Example:

Mary is Peter's yin and yang. They are completely opposite, but they

I wish you a happy marriage. I think "opposites attract" is true!

Mary is yin and Pete is yang. They are completely opposite, but they are happily married. I think opposites attract is right.

After reading the stories behind these loanwords, which one do you think is the most interesting?

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