English Words Borrowed from other European Languages 

There are lots of words we use in our daily life when we speak English that come from other languages.  

It is really interesting to know the history behind these words that we use thousands of times and we might not think about where they come from. 

Therefore, we have collected twelve words that come from European languages.

German

Delicatessen: widely known as “deli“. It’s a word that refers to restaurants or shops that sell high-quality food, such as types of cheese and cold cooked meat, often from other countries.

Example: “Anna, if you go to the supermarket ask for our sliced ham at the deli counter, please.”

Kindergarten: It is used to describe the place of education for children under 5 years of age. It is a German word translated as Kind: children/ Garten: garden.

Example: “My son David will start kindergarten in September.” 

Poltergeist: German expression that refers to a “noisy ghost”. “Poltern; to make noise”, “Geist: ghost in German”. Widely used in reference to paranormal activities.

Example: “My friend told me that it was like living in a house with a poltergeist because everything was always on the move.”

Italian

Tarantula: It comes from the Italian word “Tarantola” which means “from Taranto”. The name of the city in the south of Italy where tarantulas are found. 

Example: “They always live alone, it is really difficult to find a group of tarantulas.”

Quarantine: It comes from the Italian word “Quarantina”, a term to talk about a time of a strict isolation to prevent the spread of disease.

Example: “I had to quarantine for 14 days after my trip during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Paparazzi: It’s the plural word from “Paparazzo”. By the late 1960s, the word had entered English as a term for intrusive photographers. 

Example: “In 1999, many people believed that the paparazzi were responsible for Princess Diana’s death. Those photographers were constantly following her everywhere.”

Spanish

Vanilla: This word comes from the Spanish “Vanilla”, the flavouring from a species of orchid of the same name.

Example: “I will need vanilla syrup for the cupcakes I want to make this afternoon”

Patio: An open area or a courtyard attached to a house. 

Example: “It was very hot today in Liverpool, therefore we decided to go out to the patio to drink a cold glass of lemonade”

Siesta: An afternoon rest or nap, especially taken during the hottest hours of the day in a hot climate. It is commonly known in the Mediterranean and Southern Europe and Mainland China. However Spain was the influential country. 

The word “Siesta” derives originally from Latin word “hora sexta” (“sixth hour”) counting from dawn, hence “midday rest”.

Example: “I’m feeling super tired. I think I’ll take a quick siesta before I get back to work.”

French

Garage: This word was introduced to English in 1902 and originates from the French word “garer”. It refers to a specific part of the house. It’s a building where a car is kept, built next to or as part of a house. This language was the one used by diplomats and in the courts during the medieval era.

Example: “The car is still at the garage getting fixed.”

Croissant: Word that comes from French, literally meaning crescent. It is a bakery piece of Austrian origin, whose flaky version was developed in France.

Example: “Fresh-baked croissants are served with breakfast.”

Entrepreneur: is the person who sets up a business taking on financial risks in the hope of profit. It is a word created from “Entreprendre” from French and “enterprise” from English.  Early 19th century it became “Entrepreneur”. 

Example: “Many entrepreneurs see potential in this market”.