The word ‘huh’ will unite the world
According to Mark Dingemanse and his colleagues, ‘huh’ is a word that is actually native to all languages. Their fascinating in-depth article talks about the word ‘huh’ as in “Huh?”, or to put it another way “What did you say?” It is claimed that this universal word occurs in a large sample of unrelated languages.
Why “huh”? Based on our previous article on ‘The Root of All Human Languages’, we showed that some languages share the same words within a particular family tree. However, for the most part different languages will have a completely different sound for the same word. (‘dog’: inu in Japanese, chien in French) There is no connection between sound and meaning in words. ‘Huh?’ is a rare exception to this otherwise strong rule.
Here is a sample from the article. Question words (“what?”) and interjections (“huh?”) being roughly the same form in eleven languages: English hã↗
Some points of interest:
- While there were subtle differences in each country, all had a near-identical sound.
- Some languages, like English, use rising intonation, whereas others, like Icelandic, use falling.
- “huh?” Is short, easy to produce, easy to hear, and capable of carrying a questioning tone.
- The sound is calibrated to the local language system, therefore it’s actually a word rather than just a grunt.
- It requires being spelled and conforms to the general principles of each language.
- Although it may seem almost primitive in its simplicity, it still has to be learnt. In fact, it takes children until the age of five to master its use.
It is ironic how the only word that everyone understands, is the word that means you don’t understand.
In Singlish we can write “huh” as ‘ar’ or ‘ah’.
Singapore Has Expanded the Use of ‘Huh’
When time is really limited, please use “ah”. The Versatility of the ‘ah’ sound with the help of intonations.
N.B: ‘ah’ is also inserted between topic and comment to give a negative tone:
“This minion ah, always so naughty one!”
Source article:
Is “Huh?” a Universal Word? Conversational Infrastructure and the Convergent Evolution of Linguistic Items
Frequently Asked Questions:
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Last updated:
March 16, 2023
89 English Words That Come from Other Languages [with Pronunciation and Examples]
You probably already find the number of words in English a little dizzying, but did you know that many of them actually came from other languages? Maybe even from your language?
That means some words will be really easy for you to learn, so you can quickly expand your English vocabulary.
Let’s explore 45 common words that English “took” from other languages.
Contents
- From French
- From German
- From Yiddish
- From Spanish
- From Japanese
- From Native American Languages
- From Chinese
- From Arabic
- From Russian
- From Portuguese
- From Swedish
- From Italian
- From Korean
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From French
In some ways, English, French and German are almost like three siblings who grew up together. Each language influenced the other two in some way, but one of the biggest influences on English was French.
In fact, from the 9th century until the 14th century, a form of French was even the “official” language in the courts of England! During those years, the common (non-royal) people spoke an older form of English, while the kings, queens and members of the court spoke French. And to make it more confusing, most documents were written in Latin.
As you can imagine, there was a lot of mixing between those languages. So let’s look at some interesting English words that still “look French.”
One more note: Be sure to listen to the pronunciations for these originally-French words. Many are probably said differently than you might expect!
1. Art
The word “art” originated from the Latin ars which originally meant “skill” or “craft”. It came to English through Old French.
Example:
She enjoys abstract art.
2. Beef
“Beef” came to English from the Old French word boef. But that’s not the only meat name with French origins! “Mutton,” “veal” and “pork” are all thought to be derived from Old French.
Example:
Cut the beef into slices and serve it with the sauce.
3. Ballet
This is a form of dance that developed in France.
Keep in mind that you don’t pronounce the “t” at the end. Instead, the second syllable should sound like “lay,” with the same vowel sound as the letter “a.”
Example:
My niece and nephew are in ballet class, so I watched their 5-hour ballet performance on Saturday. It was pretty long.
4. Cafe
It is written both with the accent mark (“café”) and without it (“cafe”) in English.
“Cafe” comes from the French word for “coffee,” but it’s also very similar the word for coffee in many other languages.
Example:
I’ve only got about 20 minutes for lunch, so I’ll just stop at a cafe for a quick sandwich.
5. Country
Originally from Latin, the English word “country” likely comes most directly from the Old French word cuntree.
Example:
I prefer to live in a hot country.
6. Croissant
A croissant is a type of pastry or bread that is light and flaky. A similar type of bread in English is a “crescent roll.”
Example:
Tina really loves to make croissants because they taste better than other types of bread.
7. Dance
The word “Dance” likely comes from the Old French verb dancier which means “to dance”.
Example:
He danced her across the floor.
8. Dragon
An awful lot of animal names (mythical and otherwise) can be traced back to French, but let’s face facts: “dragon” is the most fun. Other animals who owe their names to French include griffin, phoenix, dolphin, squirrel and more. You can guess which ones are real.
Example:
A dragon guarded the treasure.
9. Entrepreneur
An “entrepreneur” is a person who starts their own company. Other common forms of the word include “entrepreneurship” (a noun) or “entrepreneurial” (an adjective).
Example:
Elon Musk, the man who started SpaceX and Tesla Motors, is one of the most famous entrepreneurs in the world.
10. Faux pas
This phrase describes making a social mistake. It has several silent letters, including the “x” and the “s.”
If you make a “faux pas”, then the mistake usually isn’t very big and doesn’t hurt anyone physically, but it can make people uncomfortable.
Example:
I committed a pretty big faux pas last night. I kept trying to offer Maria beers, but I completely forgot that she stopped drinking alcohol three years ago!
11. Fruit
The word “fruit” passed through Old French (as fruges) before making its way to English.
Example:
We have a fruit bowl on the table.
12. Genre
In French, this word means “kind” or “style.” In English, it’s used to describe a category of something, especially when talking about entertainment.
You’ll especially hear people using this word to talk about books, movies and music.
Example:
Roy likes many types of music, but his favorite genre is heavy metal.
13. Hors d’oeuvre
These are small bits of food that are served at special events, usually parties. They’re very similar to appetizers, but appetizers are usually served before a larger meal.
Example:
We were invited to Tina and Roy’s engagement party. We expected a big meal, but there were only hors d’oeuvres. That was okay, though, since we weren’t that hungry.
14. Liberty
It means to be free to choose, think and act as you like. While “liberty” is a popular word in the US, it isn’t an original English word. It originated from Latin libertas (“freedom”) before passing through Old French liberté.
Example:
He lost his liberty privileges and, with them, his equilibrium.
15. Lingerie
This is used to describe women’s underwear or sleepwear that is usually sexy or special in some way.
Example:
These days, before some women get married, their friends give them a “lingerie shower.” That’s when the woman’s friends all get together and give her lingerie as a wedding gift.
16. Music
The origins of “music” go back to Greek and Latin, but before hitting the English language, it passed through Old French as musique.
Example:
What type of music are you listening to?
17. People
The Latin word populus transformed into the Anglo-Norman French word poeple, which later became the English word “people.” My, how far we’ve come.
Example:
Around 108 billion people have ever lived on our planet.
18. Renaissance
In French, this means “rebirth,” but in English it is often used to describe the historical period between 1300 and 1600 when art and science developed a lot.
Example:
I don’t know much about art, but I do know that Michelangelo and Raphael were two of the most famous artists from the Renaissance period.
19. Rendezvous
In English, this word is used to describe either a place where people plan to meet, or the action of meeting a person at a specific time.
Example:
We’re in a new city, and I’m sure you all want to explore it a bit. It’s 2:00 now, so let’s rendezvous back here at 6:00. Then we’ll go to dinner.
20. Very
Yes, even a simple word like “very” came through French. It likely originated with the Old French word verai, which meant “true.”
Example:
It’s very likely that he will join us on this trip.
That’s not a comprehensive list and there are still more English words and phrases that come from French.
From German
As I already explained, a lot of German words are also used in English.
21. Delicatessen
A “delicatessen” (abbreviated “deli”) is a shop where you can get sandwiches, coffee and other small foods. This comes from the German word Delikatessen, which means “fine/fancy foods,” but in English it just describes the place where you can buy those foods.
Some of the most famous delis are in New York, including Katz’s Delicatessen.
Example:
Delicatessens used to be more common in New York, but many are going out of business.
22. Fest
A “fest” is any kind of party, celebration or festival. In both English and German, it’s commonly used as a suffix (a word part added to the end of a word), and the most common one is Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest officially happens every year in Munich, Germany, but many other cities have their own Oktoberfests.
Example:
We went to Oktoberfest in Munich, it was crazy. There were so many people, and all of them were drunk!
23. Gesundheit
In German, this word means “health.” Especially in the United States, people often say “Gesundheit!” as a response when someone sneezes (others often say “bless you”).
Example:
When I sneezed, my aunt said “Gesundheit!”
24. Hamburger
A hamburger is a sandwich consisting of fillings—usually a patty of ground meat, typically beef—placed inside a sliced bun. This traditional American cookout food actually comes from the name of the German city, Hamburg.
Example:
They served hot dogs and hamburgers at the cookout.
25. Kindergarten
Translated literally, this word means “children’s garden.” It’s a common type of school in many parts of the world. Children often go to a year or two of kindergarten when they’re 5 years old before they start elementary school.
Example:
Our daughter is going to turn 5 next year, so we’ve been trying to find a good kindergarten for her.
26. Neanderthal
Neanderthals were humans like us, but they were a distinct species called Homo neanderthalensis. The word “Neanderthal” comes from another German place name. Thal used to mean “valley,” though now it’s spelled as Tal. Therefore, Neanderthal refers to the “Neander Valley,” which is where some of the first fossils of Neanderthals were discovered.
It’s now used in English when someone is very old-fashioned and not willing to change.
Example:
They were pushed back by Neanderthal security guards.
27. Nix
This comes from the German word Nichts, meaning “nothing.” So the next time you ask your server to nix the ketchup on your hamburger, you’ve just used two German words and one Chinese word!
Example:
I wanted to get the day off, but my manager nixed it.
28. Poodle
Everyone knows the word “dachshund” comes from German, but they’re not the only German dogs on the block. This canine name originally came from the Low German word puddeln, meaning “splash in water.”
Example:
My friend’s poodle is the best dog I know!
29. Waltz
A “waltz” is a type of formal dance. The word is also used to describe the type of music that plays during those dances, and it can also be used as a verb to describe the action of dancing this dance.
Example:
My friends say that dancing the waltz is easy, but I can’t do it. I’m just not coordinated, and everyone says I have “two left feet.”
30. Rucksack
A rucksack is another name for a backpack. “Ruck” comes from the German word Rücken (back) and sack is another German word which means either “bag” or, as you probably guessed, “sack.”
Example:
Alan is going to travel to Europe this summer, but he’s planning on only taking one rucksack. He’ll have to pack carefully if he wants everything to fit!
For even more words like this, check out this article with 76 other German loanwords.
From Yiddish
You may not have ever heard of Yiddish, but it’s a Germanic language that was common among Jewish people in Eastern Europe. Today it’s mostly spoken in Israel, Eastern Europe and some parts of the United States where Jewish families settled but is an endangered language.
Because of historical immigration, some Yiddish words may be more common in American English than in British English. Also, since it is a Germanic language, many Yiddish words are similar or even the same as German words.
31. Glitch
A “glitch” describes a small problem, but usually it’s a problem that doesn’t make it impossible to finish something.
Example:
I planned to go downtown to meet with Betty, but I ran into a glitch: The bus wasn’t running because it was a holiday. So I took a taxi instead.
32. Klutz
A “klutz” is a person who is very uncoordinated or clumsy. In other words, klutzes often have accidents and break things.
Example:
My cousin Charlotte is a real klutz. Every time she goes into a souvenir shop, she always seems to break two or three things, and then she has to pay for them!
33. Spiel
In Yiddish (and German), this word can mean “play,” but in English it’s used to describe a quick speech or story which has usually been said/told many times. Often a spiel tries to convince you of something.
Example:
My uncle Thomas believes a lot of conspiracy theories. When we ate Thanksgiving dinner, he did his whole spiel about how the government is controlled by lizard people!
34. Schmooze
This is a verb that means to talk with someone in a very friendly way, often to gain some benefit for yourself.
Example:
At the meeting, the professors were schmoozing with the president of the club. They want his club to donate money to the university.
From Spanish
Like French, Spanish is another Latin-based language that has influenced English. A lot of this Spanish influence is especially noticeable in American English, so many of these words could be less common in British English.
35. Guerrilla
In Spanish, this word literally means “little war.” In both Spanish and English it can be used to describe an unofficial group of people fighting the government. In English, it’s most commonly used as an adjective, in phrases like “guerrilla warfare” or “guerrilla marketing.”
Note that in Spanish, the “ll” sound is different than in English. As a result, in English this word sounds basically the same as “gorilla,” the animal.
Example:
The guerrilla fighters took control of the capital of the country, which gave them control of the government.
34. Macho
This word describes a person who is very strong or masculine. It can also be used to describe a person who is arrogant about his manhood. It’s also been used in the name of a professional wrestler and a popular disco song from the 1970s.
Example:
Peter is a real macho guy, but that’s annoying sometimes. He says that “real men don’t cry,” but I think he’s wrong.
35. Patio
In English, “patio” generally describes an area outside a house which often has a table and chairs, but no roof.
Example:
It was very hot today, so we decided to go out to the patio to drink a cold glass of lemonade. There are some trees there, too, so the sun wasn’t as bad.
36. Plaza
A “plaza” describes a public open area in a city, which can sometimes be called a “square.”
“Plaza” is also used in the names of many shopping malls, corporate building areas or other large open areas. If you’re a native Spanish speaker, notice that the pronunciation in English has a vibrated “z” sound, not a soft “s.”
Example:
Victoria needed to buy some Christmas presents for her friends, so she went downtown to the new shopping plaza to check out some of the stores that were recently opened.
37. Piñata
This is a happy word that describes a toy that is filled with candy. At parties, children take turns trying to break it open with a stick so the candy will fall out.
Example:
We had a birthday party for our 3-year-old boy, but we thought he was probably too young for a piñata. We thought all the kids would get hit in the head with the stick.
38. Savvy
It’s how we call a person who makes good judgments. The word “savvy” likely originates from the Spanish word sabe, which means “knows.”
Example:
Many people are no that politically savvy.
39. Siesta
A “siesta” is another name for “nap,” but it’s generally a nap that one takes in the middle of the day, especially after eating or while taking a break from work.
People often take siestas in hot countries because the middle of the day is when the heat is most intense. So it’s a good time to stay inside and sleep!
Example:
Wow, I ate that big plate of spaghetti and now I’m feeling super tired. I think I’ll take a quick siesta before I get back to work.
40. Tobacco
“Tobacco” is a type of plant and its leaves are dried and used for smoking. While the word is likely influenced by native languages, the English word “tobacco” was derived from the Spanish word tabaco.
Example:
I have never smoked tobacco in my life.
41. Vanilla
“Vanilla” is a spice that is used to flavor food like ice cream or can also be used in fragrances. The English word “vanilla” likely comes from the Spanish word vainilla, which itself comes from the Latin word for “pod.”
Example:
Vanilla ice cream is my favorite!
From Japanese
While English and Japanese do not share common roots, the cultures have crossed paths many times throughout the years and ultimately borrowed words from each other.
42. Honcho
The Japanese word 班長 (hanchō) refers to a chief or leader in both Japanese and English. It can also be used as a verb meaning to organize or to supervise a project, for example.
Example:
I was recently asked to honcho the new marketing project.
43. Skosh
You might use the word “skosh” without even noticing where it came from. It’s used to refer to a small amount and comes from either the Japanese word 少し (sukoshi) or the word すこし (sukoshi), both of which mean “a little.”
Example:
Next time just add a skosh of salt to your eggs.
44. Karaoke
You probably know what karaoke is. It’s when you sing along with the tune of a popular song while reading the lyrics from a screen. There are karaoke bars in many countries, including the US and the UK, but it’s most commonly associated with Japan.
Example:
Mitch really likes singing karaoke, even though he doesn’t have an amazing voice. But that doesn’t matter—the important thing is to have fun with friends!
45. Karate
Like karaoke, you probably recognize this word. It describes a popular martial art that originated in Japan. There, the word “karate” means “empty hand,” since you don’t need any special equipment or weapons to do it.
Example:
Lisa has a black belt in karate, so you’d better not try to steal her things.
46. Ninja
This word means “spy” in Japanese, but in English it’s used to describe a person who can move and attack silently, without being seen. People also associate ninjas with fighters who wear masks and all-black clothing, even though that may not be historically true.
In modern use, people who can do something incredibly well are often called “ninjas.” This is especially common in technological fields.
Example:
You should try Karl’s cookies—they’re delicious! Karl is a real baking ninja!
47. Origami
“Origami” is the art of folding small pieces of paper in order to form them into interesting shapes. Some origami can be really detailed and incredible!
Example:
If you want to try origami, it’s very easy to start. You just need some small pieces of paper. But if you want to become an expert, it could take years of practice.
48. Tsunami
This is a gigantic (very large) sea wave that is usually caused by an earthquake.
Unfortunately, the word tsunami has become more well-known ever since the 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami and the 2011 Japan tsunami. Those events killed hundreds of thousands of people.
Example:
Those recent tsunamis were terrible, but at least they made people more aware of the dangers of tsunamis.
From Native American Languages
When Europeans arrived to the Americas, they encountered millions of natives. The native groups had their own languages, and many of those influenced English.
Many of the Native American words were for place names, and others were adapted and changed to make them easier to pronounce in English.
These words are usually more common in American English than in British English.
49. Chocolate
“Chocolate” came to English after passing through Spanish, but originally it was xocolatl in the Nahuatl language of modern-day Mexico.
Example:
If you don’t know what chocolate is, then I feel very sad for you.
50. Moccasin
Depending on who you ask, you will probably hear different ideas about what a moccasin is. But at least everyone will agree that it’s a type of informal shoe.
Example:
I don’t like the cold winter weather in general, but I do enjoy wearing my warm moccasins when I’m inside.
From Chinese
In English, “Chinese” is used to refer to the different dialects of the languages in China and Taiwan, even though “Mandarin” is the actual name of the one with the most speakers.
If you look a bit closer, you’ll find that English has actually taken some pretty cool words from Chinese!
51. Dim sum
“Dim sum” is a style of food that’s common in southern China (specifically in and near Hong Kong).
The word originally meant “touch your heart,” but now it’s just used to describe a meal in a restaurant where the guests have many choices of small dishes of food. Many of the foods are steamed in bamboo baskets, and there are also other dishes like soup and fried bread.
Example:
Tony invited us to eat dim sum and we had a wonderful time! The food was delicious, and the little pieces were actually easy to eat with chopsticks.
52. Gung-ho
In Chinese this phrase means “work together,” but in English it’s used casually to express that you’re excited or enthusiastic about something. We generally use it as an adjective.
Example:
I was really gung-ho to eat dim sum, but when we got to the Chinese restaurant it was closed for a holiday! We were all really disappointed.
53. Kung fu
“Kung fu” is another popular style of martial arts. In kung fu, generally fighters only use their hands and feet, but not weapons.
Example:
I’m tired of bullies beating me up. I’m going to learn kung fu so I can defend myself if they attack me again!
54. Tofu
This is a word that originated from Chinese (as dou fu). But before it was adopted into English, it passed through Japanese and became “tofu.”
In Chinese, dou means “bean” and fu means “rotten” or “sour.” It sounds gross when you put it that way, but it can actually be pretty tasty!
Example:
I know you’re vegetarian, but this restaurant has lots of great options! For many of the dishes you can just substitute the meat with tofu or another vegetarian option.
55. Typhoon
A typhoon is just another name for a hurricane or a cyclone. If it’s in the Pacific Ocean near Asia, it’s called a typhoon.
The word was reinforced by the Chinese word taifeng, which means “big wind.” There were also some possible influences from other languages like Greek, Arabic and Portuguese!
Example:
In 2014 Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines and caused a lot of damage. It was one of the biggest typhoons ever recorded.
56. Yin and yang
In Chinese, yin represents feminine, dark and nighttime, while yang represents the opposite: masculine, light and daytime things. In English, these words are used to represent any opposites.
Example:
Mary is the yin to Peter’s yang. They’re complete opposites, but they have a happy marriage. I guess it’s true that “opposites attract”!
57. Ketchup
Ketchup may seem as American as burgers and cookouts, but the word itself may come from the Cantonese word 茄汁 (qié zhī), which means “tomato sauce.”
Example:
Could you please pass me a bottle of ketchup, please?
58. Chin-chin
In English and Chinese, it’s a drinking toast expressing good wishes before drinking. The word stems from the Mandarin word 請 (qǐng), which means “please.”
Thank you for the great night, let’s have the last drink! Chin-chin!
59. Brainwashing
It’s a term used in English to describe the process of manipulating a person’s beliefs, emotions and behaviors. It might not sound Chinese, but there’s a very good explanation for that.
“Brainwashing” is actually a literal translation of the Chinese word 洗腦 (xǐ nǎo). It originated in Chinese during the Korean War, referring to the practice of coercion and mind control.
It took off in the U.S. soon after.
Example:
The prisoners of war were subjected to intense brainwashing.
From Arabic
Though Arabic and English look incredibly different, many English words have their roots in Arabic since it is one of the oldest languages in the world.
60. Admiral
In English, an admiral is a high-ranking naval officer who is responsible for commanding fleets or groups of ships.
“Admiral” comes from أمير (pronounced amyr and sometimes translated as “emir”), which refers to a leader.
Example:
Horatio Nelson was the greatest admiral in the history of the Royal Navy.
61. Alcohol
We all are probably familiar with this word. But did you know that the word “alcohol” is derived from the word الكحل (alkahal), which meant “the kohl,” which originally referred to a powder.
Example:
I’m seriously thinking about cutting down on alcohol in January.
62. Algebra
“Algebra” is a branch of math where you solve equations. “Algebra” comes from الجبر (aljabar), which originally referred to putting together broken parts.
Example:
Algebra was my least favorite subject at school.
63. Average
In math, it’s the mean number from a set of numbers. In English, we also use this word to describe when something is typical or usual. “Average” originally came from عوار (eawar), which referred to damage to goods. Merchant-marine law changed the meaning.
Example:
It was an average experience for me.
64. Lemon
These bright yellow fruits have an interesting history. Coming from the word ليمون (leemoon), it passed through French before making its way to English.
Example:
Eating lemons can boost your immune system.
65. Sheikh
A “sheikh” is a ruler or leader of a group of people in Arab cultures. It’s used in English as a title for rulers in some countries, instead of words like “king” or “president.”
For example, the current leader of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, is a sheikh.
Example:
When meeting sheikhs, many foreign leaders hold hands with them as a sign of respect or friendship.
66. Sofa
“Sofa” likely started as the Arabic word صفّة (sofa) before entering the Turkish language, then the French language, then the English language. That’s quite a journey!
67. Zero
“Zero” comes from the word صفر (sifr), though it passed through Spanish, Italian and French before it entered the English language.
From Russian
Even though Russian and English look and sound very different they are actually both a part of the huge group of languages known as Indo-European.
68. Beluga
It’s a small whale with white teeth living mainly in Arctic waters. The type of sturgeon comes from the Russian word белуга (beluga), while the type of whale comes from белуха (beluhka). Both ultimately trace back to белый (belee), which means “white.”
Example:
The beluga whale is known as the “canary of the sea” because of its unique vocalizations.
69. Babushka
In Russian, this word means “grandmother,” but in English it usually refers to a scarf or head covering that you might imagine an old Russian woman wearing.
So if a girl or woman wears a scarf to keep her head warm, sometimes people jokingly call her a “babushka.”
Example:
I saw an old lady wearing a babushka walking down the street. She was carrying many shopping bags and having trouble walking, so I offered to help her carry her bags.
70. Disinformation
It means to give false information to mislead someone on purpose. “Disinformation” comes from the Russian word дезинформация (dezinformatsiya), which was the name of a KGB propaganda department.
Example:
The government’s disinformation campaign was designed to confuse the public and conceal the truth about the controversial policy.
71. Mammoth
It’s a large, extinct species of elephant that lived during the Ice Age. In English, this word is also used to say when something is huge or gigantic. “Mammoth” comes from the Russian word мамонт (mamont), which likely had Siberian roots.
Example:
The construction project required a mammoth amount of concrete and steel to complete the towering skyscraper.
72. Shaman
A “shaman” is a mystical expert who can function as a healer. This word for a tribal priest comes from the Russian word шаман (shaman), which likely comes from the Evenki language of Siberia.
Example:
The tribal shaman performed a sacred ritual to connect with the spirits of nature.
From Portuguese
With two languages that take so much of their vocabulary from Latin, you can expect lots of overlap and similarities. Here are the words we have just straight borrowed!
73. Bossa nova
There are many Portuguese loanwords in English. Bossa nova, which means “new wave” in Brazilian Portuguese, describes a kind of relaxing music.
Example:
You may think that you don’t know any bossa nova songs, but you almost certainly have heard a version of the “The Girl From Ipanema.” It’s a great bossa nova song, but it’s also the stereotypical example of “elevator music.”
74. Cashew
It’s a nut in the shape of a kidney that is rich in oil and proteins. “Cashew” is derived from the Portuguese word cajú, which likely came from the now-extinct Tupi language.
Example:
Try eating a few cashews as a snack, it’s a healthier option.
75. Cobra
Cobra is a poisonous snake from Africa and southern Asia. The word “cobra” is a shortening of cobra de capello, a Portuguese phrase meaning “snake with hood.”
Example:
At the zoo, we saw a black cobra.
76. Flamingo
While some may claim “flamingo” has Spanish origins, there’s also an argument that it may have come from Portuguese. The bright pink birds have not yet weighed in on the conflict.
Example:
A beautiful flamingo was standing gracefully on one leg in the pond at the zoo.
From Swedish
While the writing and pronunciation of a word may sound quite different in Swedish than in English, there is actually a lot more commonalities than you might expect between these two languages that share Germanic roots.
77. Moped
“Moped” (pronounced with two syllables: mo-ped) is a combination of the Swedish words “motor” and “pedaler.” Those words are nearly the same as their English equivalents “motor” and “pedals.”
It’s basically a bicycle with a motor. Many people call scooters or small motorcycles “mopeds,” but that’s not technically correct.
Example:
When I got my driver’s license, I really wanted a car. But cars are too expensive, so I bought a moped from my friend Ronnie instead.
From Italian
Like many of the other languages on this list, Italy and English share Germanic roots so many words sound similar, but others are just borrowed, like these.
78. Allegro
“Allegro” in music means to be performed at a brisk speed. In Italian, allegro means “cheerful.” Most other musical terms also came from Italian.
Example:
The last piece of the composition was in allegro form.
79. Alto
In English, “alto” often refers to a female singer with a lower voice, though the word actually comes from the Italian word alto, which means “high.”
Example:
Amy Winehouse is one of the best alto singers of all time.
80. Apartment
In English, an apartment is a set of rooms on one floor of a building. “Apartment” likely comes from the Italian word appartamento (though it also passed through French before entering the English language).
Example:
He lives in an apartment on the third floor.
81. Broccoli
It’s a very popular green vegetable. Did you know that the word “broccoli” comes from the Italian word broccoli, which is the plural of broccolo.
Example:
My mom made me eat steamed broccoli with every meal I had for lunch.
82. Cartoon
In English it means a simple drawing in a somewhat humorous style. It’s also an animated film for kids. “Cartoon” likely comes from the Italian word cartone, which were full-scale drawings used to prepare for paintings or frescoes.
Example:
We watched the Pocahontas cartoon on TV last night.
83. Cauliflower
It’s a white vegetable and you can actually make a nice grilled cauliflower steak! “Cauliflower” comes from Italian word cavolfiore, which literally means “flowering cabbage.”
Example:
I tried roasting cauliflower for dinner yesterday and it was delicious.
84. Cello
It’s an instrument in the violin family. “Cello” comes from the Italian word violoncello, which is the diminutive of violone, a type of double bass.
Example:
Have you done an hour of cello practice yet?
85. Paparazzi
“Paparazzi” is actually the plural form of the Italian word paparazzo. It’s used in English to describe a photographer or a group of photographers who take pictures of celebrities. Then they sell the photos to magazines or newspapers.
They’re not a very popular profession, as they take away celebrities’ privacy, but they were the subject of a popular song a few years ago.
Example:
When Princess Diana died in 1999, many people believed that the paparazzi were responsible for her death. Those photographers were constantly following her everywhere.
86. Piano
We are familiar with this large keyboard instrument. Did you know that “Piano” is a shortening of the Italian word pianoforte?
Example:
I learned to play piano in a music school near my house.
87. Soprano
“Soprano” is the highest singing voice and has the same meaning between languages. The word comes directly from the Italian soprano.
Example:
He composed this piece specifically for sopranos.
88. Violin
The violin is a stringed musical instrument that has four strings and is played with a bow. The word “violin” came to English from the Italian word violino, which is a diminutive of viola (a slightly larger stringed instrument).
Example:
The sound of the violin reminds me of my childhood.
From Korean
Just like K-Pop, the Korean language has had an influence on English.
89. Taekwondo
For our final word, we’ll look at another martial arts term. In Korean, taekwondo means “kick fist art” (pretty cool, right?!) and in English it’s used to describe the popular martial art.
Example:
After writing this article, I now want to learn a martial art. I’d like to learn taekwondo, but I want to learn how to use swords and other weapons, so it might not be the best option for me.
Wow! That was a lot of words, but I’m sure that you’ll have no trouble learning them. In fact, you probably already recognized some of them.
You don’t have to memorize this list! In fact, it’s always better to learn new words in context by hearing, seeing and reading them used naturally.
For example, to practice these and other words, consider a resource like FluentU. This program uses native-level English video content (chock-full of all sorts of borrowed words) to teach you new vocabulary while improving your understanding of the culture.
Look for words you recognize in English content and media to discover even more easy vocabulary words you may already know.
Until the next time we rendezvous, I hope you’ll stay gung-ho for learning new English vocabulary! Adios, amigos!
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You can find books dedicated to words that are “untranslatable” from language to language, but what about the words that hardly need translation? The world’s various languages have evolved to be beautifully diverse, and their words often seem to bear little resemblance to each other. However, there are a handful of words which sound strangely similar around the globe.
Maybe there’s just something intrinsically human about the sound of these words. In other cases, certain foodstuffs just managed to retain their tags as they moved from culture to culture. Whatever the reason, here are just a few words in different languages that have managed to stay connected.
10 ‘Pajamas’
A Hindi and Urdu word, pajama, referred to loose pants tied around the waist, a popular fashion in India. After colonization, the British took the clothing home, and over time, the style and word grew far beyond the subcontinent.[1]
What is particularly notable is how far it has gotten (and in such a short time). In almost any language you could name, you can find a derivative of pajama. Whether it is bijama in Arabic or pizsama in Hungarian. The word “pajama” even appears in languages like Basque and Irish.
Add to that the fact that many of these languages must have previously had some term for sleepwear. It was by no means a new concept. Even though previous terms may have been simple compound words (such as “nightgown” in English), they were still doing a pretty sufficient job.
For so many languages to incorporate this new term and use it widely is incredibly unusual. Imagine if kilts suddenly became highly fashionable, and within less than a century, every language was using “kilt” as a word for skirts. You would accept it because that would be awesome, and you would be dead, but it would be strange nonetheless. Similarly, “pajamas” is a great word, and fun to say, but the takeover is pretty hard to explain.
9 ‘OK’
Often cited as one of the most well-known words in the world, “OK” is doing pretty okay for itself. A common story behind the creation of “OK” was that 1830s newspapers in the US went mad for abbreviations. “OK” came about as a joke. The abbreviation “OK” was used to mean “orl korrekt,” an intentional misspelling of “all correct”[2] which was presumably hysterical in the 1830s.
Okay, well, there are other theories. Some claim it is a corruption of aux Cayes, French for “from Cayes,” referring to a Haitian port with good rum. Or maybe it’s from the Greek ola kala, meaning “it is good” or “all good,” or even derived from the Scots phrase “och aye.” Whatever its origin, the word has quickly spread to be used and understood in almost every country to mean that everything is alright.
There are several theories behind “OK’s” easy travel. One is aesthetics; the curved “O” and straight-lined “K” side by side is distinctive. Another is that the sounds “oh,” “k,” and “ay” exist in most languages. First mentioned in the Slang Dictionary of Vulgar Words, “OK” hasn’t really been accepted into formal speech (though it is recognized by several dictionaries). However, it has found worldwide fame and has become an indispensable go-to word for average situations.
8 ‘Taxi’
“Taxi” is another relatively recent word that has been incorporated into many languages. From the term “taximeter cab” (“tax” from the Medieval Latin taxa for “tax” or “charge”), the shortened word “taxi” has become commonplace all over the world. Though it changes language to language, the sound is almost always “tak-see” or very close.[3]
It may simply be that it is a short and easy word that describes a more complicated idea. In Japan, taxis were bureaucratically referred to as ippan jokyaku ryokaku jidosha (“motor vehicle for general passengers and travelers”). Saving much ink, the word takushii became commonplace from the start.
It may have been a word simply popularized elsewhere by tourism. However, with the US, Europe, and Japan all essentially using the word “taxi,” most countries were importing their vehicles from a country that used the word. British cars were sent to India, and brands like Toyota and Ford became commonly used as taxis around the world, making traveling one word easier for tourists everywhere.
7 ‘Mama’
The word “mama” is the same in a startlingly high number of languages, or at least very similar, such as eomma in Korean or mami in Czech. (Equivalent words for fathers are also similar but vary more widely.) This consistent term for “mother” may lure you into thinking that this word was so strong, so integral, that it survived from early humanity and spread throughout the world.
The real story is even stranger. It independently arose in many different languages. How could this happen? Research suggests it has everything to do with early speech development. A baby’s babbling is not a series of random noises and follows a pattern. In vocal experimentation, babies often arrive at the “ah” sound first. It is the easiest sound to make, as you do not have to do anything with your mouth to make it. Closing our lips to create an “mmm” also comes quite naturally. Think of how often you still do. Mm-hmm?
These sounds combined create a common first word: “mama.” The primary caregiver feels that she is being addressed. The situation plays out all over the world.[4] The same sounds, the same interpretation, the same word. And so, whenever you want to call out for your mama, wherever you are in the world, people will know what’s up.
6 ‘Haha’
“Haha” is our go-to sound for describing laughter. It has been that way since we first started writing it down—all the way back to Chaucer. Other onomatopoeic variations, such as “hehe,” “hee-hee,” or “ho-ho,” just cannot compete. And, looking at the way that other cultures write out laughter at a keyboard, it appears that this is mirrored across much of the world.[5]
Each language, of course, has different ways of expressing and typing this “haha” sound. For instance, Spanish will be “jaja.” In Thailand, the number 5 is pronounced “ha,” so they will often express laughter on the keyboard by typing “55555!”
This common “haha” makes for an easy concept to translate in case you want to be dryly sarcastic in other languages. If you would like to express genuine mirth, then you can, of course, just laugh.
5 ‘Guitar’
The word “guitar” is complicated to trace, as it has applied to different stringed instruments throughout history. It wasn’t until the 19th century that a six-stringed instrument closely resembling the versatile and commonplace guitar we know today was developed.
This modern guitar was derived from Spain and a medieval instrument known as a guitarra latina. Much of Europe takes the word from this. However, going back further, the Spanish word has roots in Greek word kithara and Arabic gitara.
However, both the word and instrument go much further back than this. Tar is a Hindi word for “string,” derived from more ancient Persian and Sanskrit. Tar is seen in many other instrument names, such as the tar and sitar.
This long evolution crisscrossing continents created a common word for the instrument across many cultures, and eventually, it integrated into a vast array of languages. Incredibly, at the end of the process, we (almost) all still describe a Fender with the same “gee-ta” sound.[6]
4 Cha
China exported tea, both the product and the word, around the world. Actually, they exported two different words. “Tea” was pronounced cha in most dialects across China, and this pronunciation was spread via the Silk Road into Persian and then Urdu, Arabic, Russian, and eventually as far as East African languages such as Swahili.
However, a particular dialect pronouncing cha as “te” just so happened to be spoken at two major ports for Dutch trade: the coastal province of Fujian and the island of Taiwan. From Dutch, the word spread into Europe as well as the west coast of Africa and influenced a large number of languages from that point.[7]
There are languages that use neither word. Unsurprisingly, they tend to be countries where tea grows naturally. However, you’ll find the Chinese terms in almost 200 different languages. Cha derivatives are more common, however, and often a name for a type of tea in languages that don’t use one. Chai tea, for instance, is an Indian tea now popular across much of the world. Armed with both words, you can ask for a cup of tea almost anywhere in the world.
3 Kahve
“Kof-ee,” “kahve,” “kava” . . . Make these three sounds, and you’ve come pretty close to saying “coffee” in most of the languages in the world. That is because most languages borrowed the Turkish word kahve (not to be confused with “Java,” which is a slang term from referring to Javanese coffee), which, in turn, was based on the older Arabic word qahua.
And none have drifted too far from that point. In fact, English uses one of the least recognizable forms. Much of Europe changed “v” to “f” (such as the French cafe), but the Dutch also changed the “a” to an “o,” leaving languages such as English, German, and Afrikaans with the sound “kofi.”[8] All, however, are still very recognizably tied to the Turkish word. The popularity of the drink spread quickly, and the word came with it.
Caffeine has remained immensely popular. Should you prefer your caffeinated drinks cold, the global dominance of Coca-Cola means you can probably request this in most places and be understood, too. Or you can just yell out the word “caffeine.” It, too, has hardly changed across languages. Although perhaps it’s better to stick with asking for a drink; people simply yelling out “caffeine” in public spaces may not get the fine cup of coffee they desire.
2 ‘Huh’
A 2013 study lauded “huh” as the most universal word in the world. Despite this, the word is not the same across languages.
. . . Huh?
The thing is that while it doesn’t sound exactly the same, there are an incredibly narrow set of parameters that it adheres to. The equivalent words are always monosyllabic, have a questioning intonation, and all have similar vowel and consonant sounds and formation. This may not sound incredible, but a word with these rules is an exceptional discovery. Imagine finding that “dog” or “chair” had an innate form replicated independently across the majority of languages.
And though many might not think of “huh” as a word, it is, with a place in the dictionaries and everything. Specifically, it is a sound that needs to be learned and not one we naturally produce. (Bizarrely, so is most of the noise we make when we sneeze. So, if you have an explosive sneeze, you are the only one to blame.) This is an important point, as otherwise, “huh” would simply be another naturally occurring sound, such as a grunt or cry.
The study suggested that these similarities exist since “huh” has such a unique function. It has to be easily slid into a conversation without disrupting the initial speaker too greatly. As each language evolved, they all independently found that this type of sound best suited the job.[9] With this level of similarity, it is a word that can transcend language barriers. It’s helpful, too, as talking to someone who doesn’t speak your language is going to lead to a whole lot of “huh?”
1 Chocolate
Chocolate is another addiction that became unbelievably popular around the world while the name remained largely unchanged.[10] The word originates in the Nahuatl word xocolatl. In Aztec culture, these cacao beans were widely consumed as a beverage called cacahuatl, a probable origin for the word “cacao.” The Spaniards coined the term “chocolate,” and the word passed from Spanish into many other European languages, including English.
As with coffee, it is perhaps the speed at which new cultures picked up chocolate that kept the name from changing, with dedicated “chocolate houses” springing up in Europe in the 17th and early 18th centuries around a product that had become immediately culturally significant. Today, “chocoholic” is an actual word in actual dictionaries, so not a whole lot has changed.
Reggie is a small being moving around the planet, learning new things, and writing some of them down.
While the exact number remains up for debate, many linguists estimate that there are more than a million words in the English language. An even tougher number to pin down is how many of those words we technically have the right to claim as our own. The truth is, many of the words we use on a regular basis are actually borrowed from other languages—French, Japanese, Spanish, and Yiddish, to name a few. And some of these foreign-language words—also known as «loanwords»—are so woven into our lexicons that we don’t even realize they’re actually not of English origins.
In English, we use the word «genre» to describe a work of art characterized by a particular style, like horror, romance, comedy, and so on. The word, however, comes straight to us from the French language. In French, genre literally translates to «gender,» but it also roughly translates to «type,» which explains its context in the English language.
While Americans no doubt love chocolate, the word doesn’t have origins in the English language. Instead, it was translated to English from Spanish via Nahuatl—the language spoken by the people living in central Mexico during the time of the Spanish conquest. In that language, the word chocolātl was first used to describe a «beverage made by heating cocoa with water or milk,» like hot chocolate.
If you like fumbling through embarrassing renditions 0f your favorite songs in front of friends and strangers then you have Japan to thank for the opportunity to do so. «Karaoke» combines the Japanese words kara—meaning «empty»—and okesutura, meaning «orchestra.» The polarizing pastime was a favorite among Japanese businessmen in the ’70s before gaining popularity in the U.S. in the late ’80s.
Patio is a Spanish word that refers to the courtyards within buildings, which were popular features in medieval Spanish architecture. Spelled the same in English, the word is typically used in reference to seating areas homeowners have in their backyards.
The word «klutz»—commonly used in the English language to describe a clumsy person—actually has Yiddish origins. It comes from klots, which translates to «wooden beam.»
The education class many children in the U.S. attend between preschool and first grade is called kindergarten—a German word that literally means «children’s garden.» The concept was created in Germany in 1837 by 19th century educator Friedrich Froebel.
Commonly used to describe someone who starts their own business, this word is lifted from the French term entreprendre, which means «to undertake.» As an entrepreneur, you’re literally undertaking your own enterprise.
Mosquitos may be a pests all over the world, but their name a a Spanish word that translates directly to «little fly» or «little gnat.»
While it’s used to describe those streets that are closed off at one end in suburban neighborhoods across the U.S., in France—where the term originated—cul-de-sac literally means «bottom of the bag.»
You know it’s the thing you do when responding to an invitation, but maybe not that it is actually an acronym for the French phrase, répondez s’il vous plaî, which mean «please reply.»
In English, «vigilante» describes someone who volunteers willingly to fight or suppress crime, often outside the parameters of the law. It entered our vocabulary in the 19th century and come from vigilante—the Spanish term for a «watchman and guard»— and can be traced back to the Latin word vigilare, which means «to keep awake.»
«Sofa,» another word for a «couch» in the English language is originally a Turkish word meaning «raised section of a floor, covered with carpets and cushions.» And the Turkish word sofa comes from the Arabic term suffah meaning «bench of stone or wood.»
Often used to describes feelings of anger, apprehension, and insecurity during ones teenage years, the word «angst» originated as a German word that means «distress, worry, and anxiety.»
The word «diesel,» which describes both a type of fuel and a type of engine, also has German origins—Rudolf Diesel, a German mechanical engineer in the late 1800s and the inventor of the Diesel engine.
Although a staple in most American kitchens, the name for this tomato condiment didn’t actually originate in the U.S. Instead it comes from the Hokkien Chinese word kê-tsiap, which is a sauce made from fermented fish, according to National Geographic.
The full name of this dog breed is Welsh corgi, so it’s no surprise that the name doesn’t have English origins. Instead it combines the Welsh words of cor meaning «dwarf» and ci meaning «dog.»
While cookies are beloved in the states, the word doesn’t derive from the English word «cook.» The word for these delicious treats came to us from the Dutch language—koekjes means «little cakes,» and is derived from koek, which simply means «cake.»
This shortened form of the German word delikatessen—which translates to «ready-to-eat foods»—has origins that trace back to the French word délicatesse, meaning «delicacy.»
We have the Arabic language to thank for the name of this yellow citrus fruit. In fact, the words «lemon» and «lime» come from the Arabic words laymūn and līm, respectively.
The word for that body art on your bicep is the English adaptation of the Polynesian word tatau, which means «mark made on the skin.» Makes sense to us!
The word «mammoth» is both the name a long-extinct animal and a term for anything extremely large in size. It came to us via the Dutch word mammut by way of the Russian term mammot, which means «large, terrible beast.»
In 1870s, Irish farmers faced a crisis that could result in a terrible famine similar to that of the 1840s. In order to prevent this, they formed a group that campaigned against rent increases and evictions landlords were proposing. Charles Boycott, a British army captain, was an agent for an absentee landlord at the time and was ostracized by the community when he tried to evict farmers for not paying rent. As a result, his name became the word we now use to describe that protest strategy.
Used to describe both an era and the style that is reminiscent of that era, renaissance is the French word for «rebirth.» And digging even deeper, its origins are in the Old French word renaistre, which translates to English as «to be born again.»
The word «glitch» describes a «minor malfunction,» usually in terms of electronics. And while its origins are still up for debate, many linguists believe it came from the Yiddish word glitsh—meaning «slippery place» in English.
«Defined as «praise given for achievement,» this word originates from the Greek term kydos, which translates as «fame, renown, and glory.»
«Brunette,» which is used in English to describe someone with brown hair, is directly taken from France. However, in French, brunette is a feminine word for a woman with brown hair. If you were describing a man with brown hair in French, you would use the masculine variation: brunet.
«Souvenir» is another French word—describing something kept as a reminder, it literally means «act of remembering.»
The concept of nothing in reference to an amount of something comes to us from the Arabic word ṣifr, a term that was coined by Mohammed ibn-Musa al-Khowarizmi in the ninth century. It came to us as «zero» from Medieval Latin zephirum via French and Italian.
The word «alcohol» also comes to us from the Arabic language. It was derived from al-kuhl, which in Arabic referred to a powdered antimony that was used as eye paint. So, when the word «alcohol» first entered the English language, it described powders such as «kohl,» not the liquid substance we know today.
In English, «boss» describes a person who holds authority and typically manages a group of people in a professional context. The word was directly lifted from the Dutch term baas, meaning «master,» and was first used as «boss» in the early 1800s by Washington Irving.
«Landscape» can describe many different things in the English language, from scenery to the perspective of a photograph is taken. Regardless of what context its used in, the word itself comes from the Dutch term landschap, which combines the terms land and schap, or «land-ship.»
This delicious breakfast food is also brought to us courtesy of the Dutch. Wafel comes from the Proto-Germanic word wabila, meaning «web» or «honeycomb,» which makes sense when you look at the shape and texture of the next waffle you find yourself chowing down on.
No, we’re not talking about the salad dressing, but an area of farmland used for raising horses or cattle that takes its name from the Mexican Spanish word rancho, which literally translates to «small ranch.»
New York City may be the unofficial bagel capital of the U.S., but the actual name for the doughy roll comes from the Yiddish word beygl.
«Shampoo,» which is both a noun for the hair product and a verb for washing your hair with that product, comes from the Hindi and Urdu languages. It’s from the word cā̃po, which is an imperative of the word cā̃pnā, meaning «to press» or «massage.» As in, you massage shampoo into your hair.
You may not be able to order a beer in Iceland, but misunderstand someone asthey’re describing the regional elf lore, and you’re in luck. The expression “huh?” is practically universal, according to a recent study published in the journal PLoS One by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Here’s why this is so unusual.
Most languages sound dramatically different from each other because words aren’t tied to what they stand for—dog and chien both represent a four-legged canine, for example—and each language is basically limited to a finite number of possible sound combinations.
“The likelihood that there are universal words is extremely small,” the authors write. “But in this study we present a striking exception to this otherwise robust rule.”
“Huh” may sound like just an interjection, like a grunt or cry. An almost involuntary response to the phrase, “I’m more than a butt doctor,” for example. But rest assured, it’s a word.
“’Huh?’ may be a non-prototypical word, but it is a word,” they wrote. After all, it requires being spelled and conforms to the general principles of each language.
For the study, linguists Mark Dingemanse, Francisco Torreira, and Nick Enfield compiled information from 31 different languages, and compared the prevalence and use of “huh”-like words.
“Huh” was unlike other question words in those languages—it was always one syllable, consisting of a short vowel sometimes preceded by a glottal consonant sound (one made deep in your throat). It also almost always had a rising pitch, the intonation most languages use for questions. “What,” by contrast, took a number of different phonetic and structural forms across the languages, like “que” in Spanish, or, gloriously, “wat,” in the Netherlands.
The reason is that generally, we only say “huh” to signal to the other person in the conversation that we didn’t understand, and to get them to explain without being too obtrusive.
Ultimately, the authors ask whether “huh” is a universal word and decide on a “qualified yes”—though it doesn’t sound exactly the same everywhere, every language has a “huh,” and it’s almost always used for clarification (or “repair,” as it’s called in linguistic circles).
Here’s their theory as to why it happens: Languages may be specific to place, but conversations serve the same purpose everywhere. Our chatter works kind of like traffic: There’s a set of rules we’ve agreed to follow, and everyone generally tries to make the whole operation run smoothly. Someone asks a question, the other person answers. You try not to pause for too long between sentences. But the time between speakers is only about 200 milliseconds, so we often start preparing for our turn before the first person has finished talking. If we know we don’t understand or didn’t hear something, there’s an incentive to say something—“huh?”—as quickly and decisively as possible in order to get the other person to repeat themselves. No time to formulate an “excuse me?” or even a “pardon?”—this theoretical chat has places to be.
And because “huh” sounds so unlike the other words in most languages, it immediately captures the attention of the speaker.
«The reason you don’t say something longer, like ‘gagagaga,’ is because then the other person might think you are trying to say something,» Dingemanse told me. «But you don’t have anything to say, so you say something very short.»
The researchers also speculate that words like “oh,” “ah,” and “um” might be, like «huh,» universal stoplights in our conversation flow, since iterations of those appear across languages, as well.
“The ultimate fit to the tight constraints of their conversational environments, these words stay put and help us conduct conversation in optimal ways,” the authors note.
For Dingemanse, the research shows that, «language has all these extremely important social roles. We use it for so many things more than conveying information.»
What’s fascinating about this is that languages are otherwise so incredibly not similar. A recent widely circulated set of maps on European languages showed, for example, that “bear” is “medved” in the Czech Republic, and “bar” just across the border in Germany, and “ours” just one country further west, in France.
But “huh” seems to indicate that, around the world, we really all just want to interact as smoothly and clearly as possible. And also that life is full of tiny misunderstandings, no matter where you live.