LUMIERE ENGLISH ACADEMY; DISTANCE TEACHING COURSE LESSON 15 - LOAN WORDS

TO THE TUTOR;
ENGLISH HAS BORROWED WORDS FROM OTHER LANGUAGES; THESE ARE KNOWN AS 'BORROWINGS' OR 'LOAN WORDS'.
English has incorporated words from other countries over the centuries.
The loan words have enriched the language. It is important that the student have knowledge of these words. A good grasp of loan words enables the student to increase both fluency and variety of expression.
Here is an example of a list with words which have been incorporated from other countries.

Germany;

Schadenfreude
Meaning; Pleasure derived by someone from another's misfortune.

Gesundheit
Meaning; Wishing good health to someone who has just sneezed.

Wanderlust
Meaning; Yearning to travel

Hausfrau
Meaning; A housewife

Angst
Meaning; Fear

Autobahn
Meaning; Freeway

Dachshund
Meaning; Breed of dog

Delicatessen
Meaning; Shop selling cooked meats, relishes, cheeses

Diesel
Meaning; fuel

Dirndl
Meaning; Traditional dress

Edelweiss
Meaning; Alpine Flower

Frankfurter
Meaning; sausage

Fahrenheit
Meaning; temperature reading

Kaput
Meaning; something broken and without use

France;

Faux pas
Meaning; false step, usually in society

Déjà vu
Meaning; a feeling of already having experienced the present situation

Fleur-de-lis
Meaning; Stylized lily or iris which is used as a decorative design or symbol

En pointe
Meaning; Dance performed on the tips of the toes

Après Ski
Meaning; Any form of entertainment or social events that occur at ski resorts

Italy;

Al dente
Meaning; Pasta or vegetables, rice or beans that are cooked to be firm to the bite

Al fresco
Meaning; In the fresh air, outdoors

Latte
Meaning; Coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk

Cappucino
Meaning; Coffee drink made with espresso and hot milk, and topped with foamed milk

Spaghetti
Meaning; Long, thin, cylindrical pasta

Pasta
Meaning; A dish originally from Italy, consisting of dough made of durum wheat and water which is made into various shapes and then typically cooked in boiling water

India;

Sari [plural saris]
Meaning; A garment worn by women, consisting of a long pice of cotton or silk wrapped around the body with one end draped over the head or over one shoulder. The word itself originated from Hindi and Sanskrit between 1570 AD and 1580 AD

Pyjamas
Meaning; loose fitting jacket and trousers for sleeping in

Dinghy;
Meaning; A small rowing boat. This word derives from Sanskrit.

Cot;
Meaning; Small bed for a baby.

China;

Gung-ho
Meaning; overly enthusiastic and eager, particularly in the context of fighting

Russia;
Mammoth
Meaning; large extinct form of elephant. The word is used in adjectival form, to describe something very large

Spanish language;

Vigilante
Meaning; self appointed group which undertakes law enforcement within their community

Persia;
Shawl
Meaning; fabric worn around head or shoulders, or to wrap a baby

Australian aboriginal;

Kangaroo
Meaning; Marsupial animal

Boomerang
Meaning; Curved flat piece of wood that can be thrown so as to return back to the thrower

To the Tutor;
There are many more examples of loan words. Words have been borrowed from other countries such as Sweden, Arabia, Japan, Malaysia, many countries in Africa, Afrikaans, Czechoslovakia, Netherlands, Etruscan origin, Scotland and many more. It is fascinating to realise how other countries have deeply enriched the English language.

Draw up your own lists for your students. Set your student lists of loan words to learn. Do this at regular intervals. Check the student's knowledge of the loan words by means of verbal and/or written tests.

Best wishes with your tutoring!
Catherine Nicolette Whittle
Diploma TESOL and EDI Level 5 Diploma in Teaching English
London Teacher's Training College