Do You Know the Origins of English? 16 English Phrases with Cool Life Tales
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What if I instructed you that there’s a solution to be taught a number of English phrases on the similar time?
All it’s a must to do is be taught the origin of English phrases together with their definitions. Then, for every new phrase, you’ll really be taught two, three and even ten further phrases!
The origin of a phrase is the language it initially got here from. A majority of English phrase roots come from Latin and Greek, however there are loads from different languages as effectively.
With every phrase under, you will notice a “associated phrases” part. These phrases will likely be damaged down into their roots with parentheses. So “collectively (sym)” tells you that the basis sym means collectively.
Listed below are the origins of 16 English phrases—although you’ll be taught the meanings of greater than 30 different phrases!
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English Phrases with Greek Origins
1. Telephone
That means: A telephone is a tool that’s used to speak with individuals from a distance (you is likely to be utilizing a telephone to learn this!).
Origin: The English phrase telephone is definitely quick for phone, which comes from the Greek phrases for sound (phon) and much away (tele).
Associated phrases: Homophones are phrases that sound (phon) the identical (homo) however are spelled in another way, like hear and right here.
If you happen to like listening to good stuff you would possibly get pleasure from a symphony, which is when many devices play collectively (sym) to make a ravishing sound (phon)… often.
2. Hyper
That means: Somebody who’s hyper could be very energetic and vigorous.
Origin: Hyper is definitely a shortening of the phrase hyperactive, which mixes the Greek phrase which means “over, past” (hyper) and the Latin phrase for one thing that’s carried out (act).
Associated phrases: When somebody tells you they’re so hungry they might eat a horse, you understand they’re simply exaggerating by utilizing a hyperbole—stretching the reality, like throwing (bole) one thing too far (hyper).
Irrespective of how thrilling somebody’s hyperbole is, strive to not hyperventilate! Which means to breathe or blow out air (ventilate) an excessive amount of (hyper) in a approach that makes you dizzy.
3. Sync
That means: When a number of issues occur on the similar time or in the identical approach, they’re in sync. This phrase is a shortening of the phrase synchronize, however it’s used alone these days as a verb (your telephone apps would possibly even sync to verify your information are updated).
Origin: Sync comes from a Greek phrase which means to be collectively (sym or syn).
Associated phrases: A synopsis is a abstract of one thing like a film or a play. It’s a approach for everybody to see (opsis) the which means collectively (syn).
Synopsis and abstract are literally synonyms, that are phrases that share the identical (syn) which means however have a special sound or identify (onym).
Avoid a play if the synopsis says the actors lip-sync. Which means they transfer their lips (lip) collectively (syn) with the music with out really creating the sounds themselves.
4. Air
That means: Air is throughout us. It’s the invisible gasoline that creates our ambiance. With out air, we wouldn’t be capable of breathe!
Origin: The phrase air has gone by way of a number of languages earlier than ending up in English, however it in all probability comes from the Greek phrase aer, which implies to blow or breathe. You may really discover phrases that use each aer and air.
Associated phrases: An airplane is a comparatively flat object (airplane) that flies within the air (air). Airplanes are aerodynamic, which implies they use the air (aer) to energy (dynamic) their flight.
Don’t overlook to look down while you’re in that airplane, since aerial (of the air) views are fairly wonderful!
English Phrases with Latin Origins
5. Dense
That means: One thing dense is packed tightly or very thick. For instance, a fog may be so dense, or thick, you could’t see a lot by way of it.
Origin: Dense comes from the Latin densus, which means “thick.”
Associated phrases: You may see condensation when evaporated water molecules be a part of collectively (con) and turns into thick (dens) sufficient to kind droplets.
Density is the measure of how thickly packed (dens) one thing is, like individuals or issues in a single area.
6. End
That means: To end one thing means to be carried out with it. In a number of seconds you’ll be completed studying this sentence.
Origin: End comes from the Latin phrase finis which implies “finish.” In lots of phrases, that is shortened to fin.
Associated phrases: You’ve in all probability outlined plenty of vocabulary phrases in your English studying, which implies you’ve regarded up what the phrases imply. You might say that you simply’ve introduced an finish (each de and fin) to your lack of knowledge!
Don’t fear, there’s a finite variety of phrases in English, which is a noun (ite) which means one thing that has a restrict or finish (fin). If English had been infinite, or with out (in) a restrict, we might be studying it perpetually!
7. Type
That means: The kind of one thing is its form. As a verb, the phrase to kind means to create one thing in a particular form.
Origin: The phrase kind comes from the Latin phrases for a mould (forma) and the Latin verb to kind or to create (formare).
Associated phrases: Many roles and faculties require individuals to put on a uniform, which is clothes that each one appears the identical or has one (uni) model (kind). When locations don’t have strict guidelines about what garments to put on, they’re casual, or with out (in) a particular form (kind).
8. Letter
That means: A letter is an emblem that represents a sound in a language, like a, b, c or the remainder of the alphabet. A letter can be a message you write and ship to somebody. Emails are digital letters!
Origin: In Latin, a letter was known as a littera, and the lit and liter elements of this phrase seem in lots of English phrases which can be associated to letters.
Associated phrases: If you happen to’re studying this, you’re literate—you understand how to learn (liter). You in all probability learn literature (books) and hopefully don’t take fiction too actually (critically and precisely).
All these phrases are types of the stem liter, however their suffixes flip them into somebody who reads (literate), one thing that exists (literature) and somebody who does issues to the letter (literally).
9. Half
That means: A half is a bit of an entire, one thing that isn’t full. In verb kind, the phrase to half means to divide or take away one thing.
Origin: This phrase comes from the Latin partire or partiri, which implies to divide or share amongst others.
Associated phrases: Someone neutral has no (im) opinion about one thing—they take no half within the debate.
You may be neutral about whether or not you reside in a home or an house. An house is the consequence (ment) of dividing a constructing into smaller areas (half).
Wherever you reside, be sure it’s secure—you wouldn’t need to put your loved ones in jeopardy, which is a harmful scenario or, based on the unique definition, an evenly divided (half) recreation (jeo).
10. Voice
That means: Your voice is the sound you utilize to talk. You can too voice, or state, an opinion.
Origin: The Latin phrase for voice is vox, and the phrase for “to name” is vocare. These two associated phrases are the origin of numerous English phrases associated to speech or voices. They often embrace the basis voc or vok.
Associated phrases: An advocate is somebody who calls (voc) others to assist them (ate) help a trigger or an individual.
Even somebody who means effectively would possibly find yourself frightening somebody who doesn’t agree with them. To provoke somebody means to name somebody (vok) ahead (professional) and problem them in a approach that often makes them indignant.
English Phrases with Outdated Norse Origins
11. Loft
That means: A loft is a room proper below the roof or very excessive up in a constructing. The loft in a home is often used for storage, however constructing lofts are rented out as (often smaller) dwelling areas.
Origin: The Outdated Norse phrase for air or sky was lopt, which is written as loft in English.
Associated phrases: One thing aloft is up in (a) the air (loft). If one thing could be very tall, you’d say it’s lofty, which is the adjective type of loft. In the identical approach, somebody lofty has a really excessive (loft) opinion of themselves, which makes them act proud or snobbish.
English Phrases with French Origins
12. Query
That means: Asking a query means making an attempt to get details about one thing. Questions finish in query marks (?).
Origin: Initially from Latin, English borrowed the Outdated French phrase query and by no means gave it again. The phrase means “to ask” or “to hunt,” and it exhibits up in numerous methods in different phrases, from quire to quest. This one may be robust to identify because it switches between utilizing the French and Latin variations of the phrase.
Associated phrases: Some fantasy books have the primary characters occurring a quest, or an extended and troublesome search (quest) for one thing.
Possibly you’re extra excited about homicide thriller books, which frequently have an inquest, or an official investigation (quest) into (in) somebody’s suspicious dying.
If a lot of these books sound fascinating, you may inquire, or ask (quest) about (in) them at your native library.
13. Peace
That means: Peace is a peaceful state of being. It means no wars or troubles. Peace is an excellent factor!
Origin: The Latin pax and Outdated French pais each imply peace, and English phrases use each as prefixes and suffixes. Search for phrases with pac or peas in them (not the sort of peas you eat—that’s a complete different phrase).
Associated phrases: To pacify means to make (ify) somebody calmer (pac). To calm somebody, you may attempt to appease them, which implies to (a) convey them peace (peas) by giving them what they need.
14. Liberty
That means: Liberty is the state of being free. The Statue of Liberty in New York is an emblem of freedom.
Origin: One other initially Latin phrase, liberty discovered its approach into English by way of the Outdated French liberete, often shortened to lib.
Associated phrases: A liberator is an individual (ator) who units others free (lib) from a scenario like slavery, jail or a nasty chief.
Turning into free means being open to modifications, so it helps should you’re liberal—somebody with a character (al) that’s open to (lib) new concepts or methods of considering.
English Phrases with Italian Origins
15. Gusto
That means: Doing one thing with gusto means actually having fun with it and being smitten by it.
Origin: The Italian phrase gusto really means style, and comes from the Latin for style, gustus.
Associated phrases: You gained’t do one thing with gusto should you discover it disgusting. That’s the adverse feeling you get about one thing you assume is disagreeable—actually, with out (dis) style (gust).
English Phrases with Arabic Origins
16. Examine
That means: To examine means to take an in depth take a look at one thing, or to verify of one thing (confirm it). For instance, earlier than you permit for work within the morning you would possibly examine that you’ve got all the things you want.
Examine can be used as a verb which means to cease or sluggish one thing down.
Origin: The phrase examine has an fascinating historical past, transferring from language to language and altering its which means slightly with each. The phrase is initially from Persian after which Arabic, the place it meant “king.”
Over time, examine began getting used within the recreation of chess and was outlined as “to manage.” Finally the phrase’s which means modified to what it’s as we speak. A lot historical past in such a small phrase!
Associated phrases: Leaving one thing unchecked means leaving one thing with out (un) limits or management (examine). If you happen to go away weeds to develop unchecked in your yard, for instance, they’ll take over and destroy your different crops.
The phrase examine by itself additionally refers to a bit of paper value a sure sum of money (you write checks to pay payments).
A raincheck was once a ticket given to individuals attending out of doors occasions that needed to be stopped due to rain. As we speak a raincheck is only a promise to do one thing one other time.
English Is All the time Rising
English is a dwelling language. Which means it’s all the time rising and altering.
Many issues affect the English language and its progress, however irrespective of how new or previous a phrase is, you may in all probability hint it again to an authentic phrase or the second when it was accepted into the language.
Whether or not the phrase is fleek (which means “good,” from 2003) or fleet (which means a gaggle of army ships, from the 12 months 1200), most English phrases got here from some other place.
Some phrases are borrowed from different languages and switch into English phrases with few or no modifications, just like the Italian phrases pizza and zucchini. Different phrases are modified much more and change into barely recognizable, just like the Latin phrase pax which became peace in English.
Irrespective of how totally different a phrase is from its origin, although, realizing the place it got here from can assist you change into a greater English learner.
How Studying Phrase Origins Can Enhance Your English
Once you be taught a brand new phrase, do you keep in mind to be taught its totally different types and tenses as effectively?
For example, realizing the phrase “to see” isn’t sufficient while you need to discuss one thing you noticed final week. It’s essential to say “to see” differently, reminiscent of “I see,” “I noticed,” “I’m going to see” or “you’ve seen.”
You may apply the identical concept to phrase origins. Once you be taught the origin of a phrase, you would possibly see it once more in one other phrase.
That’s as a result of when a overseas phrase is adopted by English, it typically takes on many new types within the English language. It could be mixed with different phrases, and these combos create many extra new phrases—that are all associated to the unique phrase!
When this occurs, you would possibly be capable of get a primary understanding of the brand new phrase. For instance, take a look at these English phrases:
- Transport
- Transgress
- Transaction
Discover something related about them? All of them have the phrase trans in them, which comes from the Latin phrase which means “throughout.” Now, even should you don’t know the total which means of the phrases, you may work out that they take care of one thing going throughout.
Now take a look at the unique meanings of the different elements of the phrases:
Port — To hold
So, it is smart that to transport one thing signifies that you carry one thing throughout an area. For instance, a bus would possibly transport individuals from one metropolis to a different. A airplane would possibly transport individuals from one nation to a different.
Gress — To go
To transgress signifies that you cross a boundary, rule or regulation.
Motion — To do
A transaction often includes an change or commerce of some sort. For instance, while you give cash to a cashier to purchase a brand new shirt, this can be a transaction.
You may in all probability work out what the phrases imply from this data. See how a lot we knew earlier than we even considered opening a dictionary? It’s all due to realizing phrase origins!
The extra origins and authentic meanings you be taught, the extra you’ll see such English phrases with roots in different languages.
Roots, Prefixes and Suffixes
English phrases are sometimes produced from root phrases, with prefixes and suffixes joined to them:
- A prefix is added to the start of a phrase. The bi in bicycle is a prefix which means “two” (as in two wheels).
- A suffix is added to the tip of a phrase. The much less in countless is a suffix which means “with out” (which is why countless means “with out an finish”).
When you take away all of the prefixes and suffixes on a phrase, you’re left with its root, which is the a part of the phrase that provides its major which means. The phrases cycle and finish within the above phrases are roots.
Completely different prefixes and suffixes are added to a root to alter its which means and create new phrases. For instance, the basis phrase hand can change into:
- unhand (to let go)
- handout (one thing you give free of charge)
- handsome (good wanting)
All three phrases have totally different meanings, however they’re all associated in a method or one other to hand.
How is good-looking associated to hand? A very long time in the past, the phrase used to imply “simple to deal with” after which later turned a time period used to point out appreciation for somebody.
So the subsequent time you see a phrase that has hand in it, you’ll be one step nearer to understanding it earlier than you even look it up!
Studying extra concerning the origins of English phrases, together with roots, prefixes and suffixes, will make it simpler to know new phrases and broaden your English vocabulary.
Don’t cease studying right here! Can you discover extra phrases that use the associated roots?
There are all the time new phrases to find, and now you understand precisely what to search for!
Obtain:
This weblog put up is out there as a handy and moveable PDF that you simply
can take wherever.
Click on right here to get a replica. (Obtain)
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