Etymology – The History of Words
Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words—where they come
from, how they have changed over time, and how different languages have
influenced them.
1. Etymology and the Origin of English Words
The English language has evolved over thousands of years and is influenced
by multiple languages, including Latin, French, Greek, and Germanic
languages.
English words come from three major sources:
1. Native Words – Words that existed in Old English (Anglo-Saxon)
before foreign influences.
o Example: house, mother, night, fire, bread
o Sentence: She stayed at home with her mother all night.
2. Borrowed Words – Words borrowed from other languages.
o Example: piano (Italian), chocolate (Nahuatl), karaoke (Japanese)
o Sentence: He played a beautiful song on the piano.
3. Coined Words – Newly created words in modern English.
o Example: Google, selfie, blog
o Sentence: She took a selfie with her new phone.
2. The Influence of Latin and French on English Vocabulary
The two biggest influences on English vocabulary come from Latin and
French, mainly due to historical events.
A. Latin Influence
Latin was the language of scholars, the church, and law in medieval Europe.
Many scientific, medical, and legal words in English come from Latin.
✅ Common Latin-Based Words in English:
aqua (water) → aquarium (a tank of water for fish)
portare (to carry) → import, transport
scribere (to write) → describe, manuscript
dictare (to say) → dictate, dictionary
✅ Example Sentences:
1. The scientist studied marine life in the aquarium.
2. The country imports most of its food from abroad.
3. The teacher asked students to describe their hometowns.
📌 Fun Fact: Over 50% of English words have Latin roots!
B. French Influence
In 1066, William the Conqueror from France invaded England (Norman
Conquest), and French became the language of the English court and
government. As a result, many English words related to government, law,
and food come from French.
✅ French-Based Words in English:
government (from gouvernement)
parliament (from parlement)
justice (from justice)
beef (from boeuf), pork (from porc), mutton 3-year-old(from mouton)
✅ Example Sentences:
1. The government passed a new law to improve education.
2. He ordered beef and potatoes for dinner.
3. The king ruled with justice and fairness.
📌 Fun Fact: More than 10,000 French words entered English!
📌 Activity Idea:
Give students English words and ask them to guess if they come from Latin
or French.
3. Word Borrowing from Other Languages
English is a global language that has borrowed words from many cultures.
This process is called linguistic borrowing.
✅ Examples of Borrowed Words:
Langua Borrowed Words Example Sentences
ge
Greek democracy, philosophy, theatre Democracy allows
people to vote for their
leaders.
German kindergarten, hamburger, blitz (an She enrolled her child in
intensive or sudden military attack) kindergarten at age four.
Spanish tornado, plaza(an open area or square in They sat outside on the
a town), patio patio, enjoying the sun.
Italian pizza, spaghetti, piano We had pizza for dinner
last night.
Japanes tsunami, sushi, karate He has been practicing
e karate since childhood.
Arabic algebra, coffee, zero Mathematicians use
algebra to solve complex
problems.
Conclusion: Why Study Etymology?
1. It improves vocabulary – Recognizing Latin and Greek roots helps
understand new words.
2. It helps with spelling and pronunciation – Knowing the origin of a
word explains its spelling rules.
3. It makes language learning easier – Many English words exist in
other languages with similar meanings.
