When you're reading or listening in English, do you ever come across words that feel familiar—almost like you’ve seen them before in your own language?
That’s because English, like all languages, has borrowed thousands of words from other cultures and tongues.
These borrowed words are called loanwords, and they show how languages grow and evolve through interaction with people from different parts of the world.
What is a Loanword?
A loanword is simply a word that’s taken from one language and used in another, often with little or no change in spelling or pronunciation.
For example:
From French: restaurant, ballet, entrepreneur
From Italian: piano, opera, pizza
From Japanese: sushi, karaoke, tsunami
From Arabic: coffee, algebra, safari
And those are just a few examples! English has borrowed words from languages all over the world, making it a truly global language.
Why Does English Borrow So Many Words?
English has always been a language on the move! During the Norman Conquest of 1066, French words flooded into English. Later, trade routes with Italy, Spain, and the Middle East introduced even more new vocabulary.
Borrowing words often happens when a language doesn’t have its own word for a new concept, food, or object.
And in modern times, globalisation and the rise of the internet have allowed even faster word exchanges between languages.
How Can Loanwords Help You Learn English?
When you discover a word in English that looks or sounds familiar, use it as a stepping stone!
Recognising loanwords from your native language can boost your confidence, because it shows that English isn’t as foreign as it might sometimes feel. And it can be fun to see how words have traveled across countries and centuries to end up in your English vocabulary.
Next time you’re reading, see if you can spot any loanwords—chances are, there are more than you think!
Here’s a tip: pay attention to words about food, art, or science. These areas are rich in borrowed vocabulary.
What Are Some Common Loanwords in English?
Here are a few fun examples you might recognise:
Mosquito (from Spanish)
Mosquito means "little fly" in Spanish (mosca meaning fly and the suffix -ito meaning little).
It was used by Spanish and Portuguese explorers, who had plenty of encounters with these pesky insects during their travels!
Chocolate (from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs)
The word chocolate comes from the Nahuatl word xocolatl, which means "bitter water."
The Aztecs drank a bitter, frothy chocolate beverage that was very different from the sweet treat we enjoy today. Chocolate came to Europe in the 16th century, where it was sweetened and became a worldwide favourite.
Robot (from Czech)
This word comes from the Czech word robota, which means "forced labor" or "drudgery."
It was first used in the 1920s in a science fiction play by Czech writer Karel Čapek called R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots), where artificial beings were created to do all the manual labor for humans.
Kindergarten (from German)
In German, Kindergarten literally means "children's garden."
It was used by educator Friedrich Froebel in the 19th century to describe an early type of childhood education, where children could develop in a playful, nurturing environment. The word is now used worldwide, meaning pre-school education.
Tattoo (from Tahitian)
The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word tatau, meaning "to mark."
Tattoos have a rich cultural significance in many Polynesian cultures, showing aspects of identity, status, and spirituality. British explorer Captain James Cook brought the word back to Europe after seeing the practice in Tahiti.
These loanwords show how languages borrow and evolve, reflecting cultural exchange and historical events.
Want to Learn More?
If you’re fascinated by the stories behind the words we use, you'll love our classes at Brighter English. We don’t just focus on grammar and vocabulary—we explore the history and culture that shape the English language.
Join us in one of our group classes or our weekly conversation club to deepen your understanding of English while connecting with other learners from all over the world.
Which loanword surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments!
Very useful and interesting. Many thanks