In this series we're gonna look at a list of "loanwords" and/or borrowings.These words are derived from others languages. Be sure not to confuse them with "cognates" and "calques" and "false friends". What are those? I'm glad you ask.
As I'm paging through my notes from my varsity days- calques are word-for-word translations borrowed from another language. For instance, 'it goes without saying' calques the French ça va sans dire.
And cognates... don't get me started on those S.O.Bs. Well, basically, cognates share a common etymological origin. Lert's see, dish, desk and disk and tisch (German) are cognates, and they all come from discus (Latin). What do they have in common? Flat surfaces, of course.
There are words that look similar, but their meanings are different. These lil rascals are "false friends". That's why I'm a proud introvert circa 2010. But I digress. False friends... easy! Estate means summer in Italian.
Feel like a dummy yet?
So, here we go words from all over the world- in alphabetical order- we have
words derived from Arabic:
sequin
As in the monster...
not the word the Brits use to call their moms.
![How to Pronounce "Borax" [Video] |](https://www.digitalscrapbook.com/sites/default/files/styles/456_scale_watermark_premium/public/s3fs-user-content/graphic-image/user-2/node-139594/kenya-wordart-gazelle-graphic-african-travel-safari-animals-zoo-orange-brown.png)
And of course alcohol.
Ralph? A genius? Who knew?
P.S. MARY, I think I sorta found out the reason why no word rhymes with orange.
Comments
"Mummy - not the word the Brits use to call their moms." .- hahaha... I never thought about it like that till now that you said it... If I know myself well, I think i'm gonna laugh next time i hear a british talkin' about his/her mum XD
:D
[laughsinamericanenglish]
"Your posts are adding flames to my growing interest about etymology."
Mission accomplished.
"Thanks for a nice and organized and entertaining post."
You are very welcome, Shaheen . =] About your question: Well, they're shiny and kinda look like tiny coins, and if I'm not mistaken; in Arabic sikka means minting die for coins; sikka... sequin... makes sense, doesn't it? Also, die here means an inverse version of an image that is struck to a coin. Here's a pic:
Thanks for droppin' by. Happy learning. ^_^
Earlier I knew that Coffee was derived from Turkish, now it seems to me that it was from Arabic, Okay, What are your ideas about sequin? Are they cognates or calques about the ideas of you clothing? Do like sequin fabric clothing!
I like the word azure, a vivid imagery word. btw, Your posts are adding flames to my growing interest about etymology. Thanks for a nice and organized and entertaining post.