Can You Guess What These Foreign Words And Phrases Mean?
- by Jessica
- – on
- in Mind Twisters
English has borrowed many foreign words and phrases into its everyday usage. Many come from cultural and geographical proximity to Western European nations and so are from romance languages, like French, Spanish, or Italian. When phrases are pulled from Latin there is often semantic shift because we live in a very different era than that of the Romans and Medieval scholars who conversed in this language. However other words come from Native American languages like Inuit or Cherokee (especially when we think of place names or new agricultural items/animals found in the Americas).
Other words included have not necessarily been adopted into English. They come from Tagalog, Welsh, and Russian-- languages English does not often borrow from. However, they describe such a specific feeling/context that we thought you should know them. Taking this quiz will up your cultural knowledge, allow you to catch more references, and even teach you a little of these respective languages. Today, English is the established lingua franca which means that most of the world is doing their business in English, though people predict that Mandarin will soon overtake it. Even so, English speakers are still interested in learning different languages. Hopefully this quiz will inspire you to learn one.
Many words are untranslatable, but we'll try our best.
Do you know what these foreign words and expressions mean?
Volià
Like a majority of English loanwords this expletive has been borrowed into English from French. It is enthusiastically used by every French teacher to transmit their enthusiasm about the language of love to their students. It is pronounced in a somewhat smug manner because it means something like "tada," referring to something that has just instantiated. If you are ever wandering around Paris saying this word multiple times along with "vite, vite" (quickly, quickly) will help to fool passers-by that you are a French local. That is, until someone approaches you speaking French.
Smörgåsbord
This very fancy looking word originated in Sweden and was borrowed into English in 1939 during the New York World Fair. It originally described food because the compound literally meant smörgås (sandwich) and bord (table). Other Scandinavian and Eastern European countries have varying versions of this type of feast around Christmastime. It consists of both hot and cold dishes and was originally served as an appetizer but has now moved on to the main course. The word has ben used metaphorically so many times it no longer only describes food but instead pleasant things.
A cappella
This Italian loanword literally means "in chapel style". The genre has its roots in church music or Gregorian chants to differentiate from cantata. Interestingly the genre includes beatboxing, live looping, and vocal percussion. Those who perform a cappella certainly need control over their vocal chords. Obviously, the genre has branched off from its original religious background to imitate any type of music today. If there were more than three a cappella groups at your university odds are you went to a liberal arts college.
Plus ça change...
This expression is French, authored by Jean Baptiste Alphonse Karr who lived through two of the five French Republics. Though the quote may not have specifically noted the exasperation of changing political institutions it certainly serves to describe how political life can seem somewhat circular. The Oxford Dictionary interprets this phrase as meaning the predictability of human nature and its public institutions. It gets at the inability to change the status quo despite public malaise, open protests, or revolutionary action.
Wanderlust
Every Instagram travel persona seems to have a penchant for using this German word. And maybe it's used because Germans are known as great travellers. (Seriously, if you stay in a hostel somewhere and you don't meet some Germans in the communal bar, did you really stay in a hostel?) The word has been branded by a yoga training festival in Brooklyn (are you surprised?). The word was adopted into English in the beginning of the twentieth century, and actually in modern German the word has been replaced with fernweh meaning "farsickness".
Klutz
This word was borrowed into English from Yiddish via German in the late 1960's. Every friend group has a klutz-- they would be the ones with bruised legs or scabby knees. The ones who walked into glass doors or dropped the food on their way to the table. They were the ones who you know would be the first to die in a zombie apocalypse because they would probably trip over something when running away. Another idiomatic word for this type of person could be butterfingers.
Junta
This word comes from Latin from the feminine past participle of "to join". It was adopted into Spanish and Portugese and made its way to English through these two romance languages in the early seventeenth century. However Spanish and Portuguese have a different meaning for this word that is closer to its Latin original-- something like council or committee. English speakers know junta to be flavoured with a different connotation, whether it is describing the historical violent overturn of power in Burma, Chile, or Thailand.
Hoi polloi
This word is dated from mid seventeenth century Greek when scholars were translating Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War. Originally hoi polloi was used to revere the system of Greek democracy, noting that social decisions were decided by the majority (as opposed to decisions made by hoi oligoi, the few, as in an oligarchy). However in English this word has adopted a negative connotation. This might stem from a misunderstanding of the word's original usage and our current individualist lifestyles.
Origami
This Japanese compound is extremely literal in its translation and became popular in the late twentieth century. Different animal shapes are made from this technique but a popular beginner style is definitely the crane. However there have been shapes from bonsais to flamenco dancers along the way.This art has been tracked back to seventeenth century Japan and requires delicate precision. The idea is to make an angular shape without using any outside tools like scissors or glue. Though European traditions have a somewhat similar art in the line of folding napkins, the Japanese art is undeniably more sophisticated.
Prima donna
If you were ever in a band you know that the singer always comes up with the name, they are generally the natural head of the group (despite their talent or leadership abilities). The word comes from Italian, and specifically from the grand eighteenth century opera performances. The prima donna was often the soprano in such a performance and was known to have a loud and brash off-stage personality. These people believe they carry great power because they consider themselves the face of the show.
Ombudsman
This word is from Swedish and was adopted into English around 1960. It literally means "commission man" and there is typically one per small municipality. These people are seen as mediators, they investigate complaints by individuals against abuses of the state. The word is not gendered though it ends in "-man" but is just a reflection of Swedish morphology. They often look into things like taxes and are around to ensure the government of whatever locality is serving its people efficiently.
Glas wen
In Welsh this literally means "blue smile". This specific facial expression is used when an acquaintance is telling you how easy something you are struggling to complete is to do. It is used for when you don't want to be outwardly rude but cannot imagine responding in a gracious manner. Though Celtic languages are not often borrowed into English (and so you might not know this expression) it is a good one because it is so relatable and readily translatable into English.
Mea culpa
Like many expressions that originate from Latin, mea culpa has religious connotation. The phrase has been around for a while, having been a culturally recognizable spiritual meaning already in Geoffrey Chaucer's fourteenth century work. It is the early equivalent of my bad. Though, of course, in a context addressed to God. Mea culpa is a sign of the constant repentance Christians were expected to offer up publicly for to ask for mercy and to be redeemed of all their sins.
Ad hoc
Like many expressions adopted in the sixteenth century, the context around ad hoc has changed considerably. It can now mean any later argument added to an earlier scientific or philosophical theory that strengthens the original argument or prevents it from being falsified. However these additions are largely regarded as amateur. This Latin expression denotes something that is created for a specific purpose or thought up in as a tailored solution. It is one of the short Latin interjections that is not italicized in English.
Gung-ho
Originally translated (kung-ho) as "work together" in Chinese, this expression was adopted in World War two and spread throughout the U.S. Marine Corps. Since this adoption it has picked up a new anglicized meaning and pronunciation. Apparently an American general first used the expression to encourage his own soldiers to put more energy into the war effort. Since then, however, gung-ho has acquired a connotation of naiveté and young eagerness especially when someone is confronted with a serious event or task.
Doppelgänger
Adopted from German, this word literally means "double-goer" and originates in folklore. Apparently every living organism has at least a spiritual doppelgänger who is invisible. Spookily enough, this double is sometimes seen as an evil twin, a paranormal spirit, or a sign of bad luck. In the early MySpace days everyone was setting a celebrity doppelgänger as their profile picture (no doubt in high aspirations of what was to come). Doppelgängers do not have to be physically similar but can also share similar mannerisms with the original person.
Bon vivant
This French expression was coined in the seventeenth century and denotes someone who treats herself to the finest wines, the best food, and luxurious living. It comes along with the French expression joie de vivre-- meaning someone who is exercising all the best possibilities of being alive. However, these expressions denote only exterior success and celebration, they do not necessarily denote someone who is morally upright. Everyone wants to be a bon vivant but not everyone can afford to be.
Amok
This Malay word arrived in English via Portuguese. It dates from the seventeenth century and describes when a nonviolent individual would get ahold of a weapon and suddenly go on a maiming spree, sometimes committing suicide immediately afterwards. At first this was considered to be a culture-specific syndrome but has later been diagnosed as a form of psychosis or personality disorder. Since being adopted into English, the meaning has become less violent and the phrase "running amok" has been coined.
Al dente
If you are a bon vivant you know what al dente means. This Italian expression is literally translated as "to the tooth" and is generally used in reference to pasta (Italian we said) though can also be used in reference to vegetables. It is not generally a fashion of cooking you can request in a restaurant like medium rare steaks. The culinary expression was borrowed into English in the 1930's when Italian migrants (and restaurants) began arriving on the East coast of North America.
Caveat emptor
This phrase comes from early sixteenth century Latin and says a lot about their bartering culture. It also says quite a bit about the development of capitalism. Caveat emptor is regarded as a sort of information asymmetry where they seller has more information. However, today there are mechanisms to protect the other side of the transaction through protections like warranties or guarantees of satisfaction. Of course, these things are hard to bind through law. In the sixteenth century it was similarly a dog eat dog market.
Zhaghzhagh
This Persian word denotes a specific bodily instantiation that is in response to an emotion or state. However the bodily function can be in response to two very separate things. Either you are chattering from anger and resentment, in which case taking a deep breath might help you cool down. Or you are chattering from the cold and your body is trying to communicate that you better put a sweater on. The word itself is onomatopoeic of this bodily function.
Didgeridoo
Northern indigenous nations came up with this thing as a form of entertainment. Tribes like the Yolngu, Gupapuygu, or Djinang are thought to have made or traded this wind instrument. They are traditionally made from eucalyptus trees, and those who really know their craft often seek out trees that have obvious termite damage so the carpenters don't have to hollow out the instrument. The word didgeridoo is thought to be a Western onomatopoetic label that describes the sound it emits.
Aficionado
This word went from Latin to Spanish then was borrowed into English. In the mid nineteenth century it was used to describe bullfighting fans because being an aficionado requires a sort of passive respect. For example, you would not typically be called an aficionado of a certain sport if you played that sport professionally. The aficionado must be slightly removed from whatever activity, but interested enough to take a concerted effort to know the history, statistics, and technical rules of the respective game or sport.
Mensch
This Yiddish word comes into English from the explosion of Jewish culture in New York and Western Europe. This vitalization brought in a bunch of Yiddish borrowings whose spelling has been colored by German or Arabic. Mensch has obviously been influenced by German and is mean as the type of person you aspire to be. In The Wedding Crashers the word is used to describe one of the friends in an introduction. The word can pertain to both men and women.
Carpe diem
You see this phrase on all sorts of coffee cups and breakfast bowls. It is a message that is better given in the morning, but could also be appropriate after your 4 o'clock coffee. This inspirational expression (or something to its effect) has been traced back to the king Gilgamesh in Mesopotamian society. The saying encourages people to take advantage of the present and not to take the future for granted. Below we are looking for the literal Latin translation.
Boketto
This Japanese word describes something we have all done at least once. It typically occurs in the awkward crowded space of the subway or some other public transit platform. When you find yourself committing boketto people often think you are staring or looking at them intently. Odds are you were just in your own world, having completely forgotten about your current situation of the transit car packed with strangers. Though maybe the Japanese have a word for this because they value some unoccupied time.
Kummerspeck
German is known for its functional compounds. When English (Germanic language) speakers are learning German for the first time it is not unusual to remark on how logical German nouns are. For example, the German equivalent for refrigerator means something like cold closet. Makes sense, right? Kummerspeck describes how some people might cope with loss. It highlights tendencies to overconsume (whether that be TV, food, social media, etc.) when you're depressed. Below we are looking for the literal translation. How good is your German?
Ipso facto
If you have taken any philosophy course you will know sometimes there was a snotty person that said things like this aloud. Annoying, isn't it? This phrase comes from Latin and has a similar meaning to the English idiom "in and of itself". It is another one of the short Latin phrases that does not need to be italicized. It is often used in written arguments or very formal dusty papers. We are looking for the literal Latin translation below.
Yutta-hey!
This expletive comes from the Cherokee Indians who used to yell this phrase charging into battle. It's pretty poetic because it expresses a peace with the possibility of death while simultaneously raging onto the battlefield. Hearing an opponent going into battle with this phrase (recognition that they are not afraid of death) would be a pretty terrifying tactic. It was also used to band together fellow Cherokee soldiers with the courage of the whole army. Below we are looking for a direct translation.
Razbiluto
This Russian word describes the exact sentiment many people feel towards their past lovers. Even if a relationship sours a few years down the road many people can still remember it fondly, even if they could not imagine being with said person. Razbiluto is a mature feeling, it recognizes tenderly the times you shared with a previous lover but also understands you cannot return to them and you also don't wish to. Most people feel razbiluto towards their first loves.
Iktsuarpok
If you google this word there is a short film depicting exactly what it means. (But only do this after you take the quiz!!) We've all experienced this sensation. It's an Inuit word that has no straightforward equivalent in English. It means something between anxiety and excitement. But instead of being a more general feeling it describes a very specific situation where we've all either been the person causing this feeling or the one experiencing it. Somehow this word always makes me think of a dog.
Szimpatikus
This Hungarian word is only halfway translatable. It can be understood by a handful of positive adjectives but none of them relate its full meaning. Without the extra connotations it can be translated as "likeable". But in Hungarian it describes a scenario where you meet someone and you immediately want to become good friends with them. Sometimes you have a gut feeling towards people before you properly know them. Szimpatikus nails this feeling as it relates to friendships instead of love.
Akihi
This Hawaiian word depicts a slightly embarrassing but funny situation which often occurs when you are visiting a foreign land or somewhere unknown. It describes something you would imagine happening to Mr.Bean. Say you are in Scotland and you ask someone how to get somewhere. They give you an exact answer of where you are and how you can find your way. They even point you towards specific landmarks to look for. Then, as soon as you say goodbye, you forget the first step.
Zeg
(No, this is not the acronym that means zero economic growth). But it means something just as functional. So functional, in fact, it is hard to believe we don't have this word in English. Instead, we have to say four words to give the meaning of this three letter word. Zeg is from Georgian and has not officially been borrowed into English, but is used by those who know it. If today is Sunday, zeg evening is Tuesday. Can you figure out the function?
Kilig
Originally from Tagalog this word was recently added to Oxford English Dictionary in March of 2016. It is considered untranslatable by Filipino English speakers. This is because kilig denotes a feeling and cannot be packaged into an English word because of its cultural ties. Originally it was used to describe a feeling of joy related to love. However, it is no longer restricted to this type of romantic feeling; instead the meaning has broadened to describe happiness or self-found joy.