Results: Can I borrow A Word Or Two?

The Canadian blogger and free-lance reviewer James Nicoll said this about the English language: "English doesn't borrow from other languages. English follows other languages down dark alleys, knocks them over and goes through their pockets for loose grammar." This vivid image of English, although somewhat harsh, is also based on truth. More than other languages, English has remained somewhat fluid, allowing for new words to be invented or accepted into the official lexicon. The influence of other languages on English is especially visible in the number of borrowed, or loan, words. Here are some words that English "borrowed" from the French. Did you know that all these words were from French?

Other than the obvious -- burrito and tequila come to mind -- Spanish is a language that we love to borrow from. Here's a fun fact: many of the states in the United States are named after Spanish words, including Arizona (from Spanish for "little spring"), California (a fictional island from a 16th century Spanish novel), Montana (Spanish for "mountain") and Nevada ("snowy"). Here's some words that English has adopted from Spanish. Did you know these words were from Spanish?

Italian is one of the most lyrical languages, and three of the words we have adopted from Italian are equally so: alto, soprano and tempo. There are many more, of course. How many of these words did you know were borrowed from Italian?

Some of the words we have borrowed from Arabic will surprise you, such as the word alcohol, which is from old Arabic "al-kuhul" meaning eyeliner, so named for the chemical process required to produce both this make-up powder and subsequently, alcohol). Besides this one, did you know any of these words were also borrowed from Arabic?

Can you think of any words we all use that has a surprising origin in another language?