Quiz

BuzzFeed Staff

Geeky

Words are fun, entertaining, exciting, etc.

"Cookie" with the options "Russian," "Swedish," "German" and "Dutch"

All These Words Originated In Other Languages, Can You Tell Me Which Ones?

Etymology Quiz: How Well Do You Know These Words' Roots?

Do You Know The Roots Of These Words?

Oprah Winfrey saying, "I am so damn cool"

[Ski comes from Norwegian's ski](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ski), which comes from Old Norse's "skīth" (stick of wood). It is also akin to Old English words.

Old Norse

[Taboo comes from "tabu."](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taboo)

Tongan

[Joke comes from "jocus."](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joke) It is also possibly akin to Old High German and Sanskrit words.

Latin

[Robot comes from "robota,"](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/robot) which means "compulsory labor." It is also akin to Old High German and Latin words.

Czech

[Trek comes from Afrikaans](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trek), which in turn comes from the Dutch "trecken" (to pull, haul, migrate). It is also akin to the Old High German word "trechan" (to pull).

Afrikaans

[Jungle originated from Sanskrit's "jaṅgala,"](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jungle) which, very interestingly, means "desert region."

Sanskrit

[Tycoon comes from "taikun."](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tycoon)

Japanese

[Cafeteria comes from "cafetería,"](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cafeteria) which means "coffeehouse." Cafetería comes from "cafetera" (coffee maker), which in turn comes from the French "cafetière," a word based on "café."

American Spanish

[Cookie comes from "koekje,"](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cookie) which is based on "koek" (cake).

Dutch

[Ghoul comes from the Arabic "ghūl."](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ghoul)

Arabic

[Smithereens most likely comes from "smidiríní."](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smithereens)

Irish

You may not know tons about etymology, but that's okay! You have the whole wide world of languages to explore!

You learned new stuff about words today!

Here's one for you now: [ipsedixitism is the insistence that something's a fact, without providing any evidence.](https://twitter.com/susie_dent/status/1302156807368916992)

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You've know some fun word facts, but there's always room for more!

I might as well call you ancestry.com because you know your roots!

You're an etymology expert!

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All These Words Originated In Other Languages, Can You Tell Me Which Ones?

I think etymology – a word's origin and how its meaning has changed over time – is fascinating. I spend a lot of time thinking about it. Like, a lot of time.

Can you figure out what languages these words originated in?

All These Words Originated In Other Languages, Can You Tell Me Which Ones?

I think etymology – a word's origin and how its meaning has changed over time – is fascinating. I spend a lot of time thinking about it. Like, a lot of time.

Can you figure out what languages these words originated in?

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