Loanwords | Definition & 200+ Examples

A loanword is a word taken from one language to be used in another. Loanwords are also known as borrowed words.

What are loanwords?

Loanwords are words adopted from a source language (or “donor language”) into a target language (or “recipient language”) without direct translation.

A loanword usually keeps a similar meaning, although its spelling and pronunciation may shift to align with the target language’s writing system and phonetics. For example, the French word ballet is used in English with the same spelling but a different pronunciation.

This process of adoption is called borrowing, even though the name is misleading. The source language doesn’t lose anything, and the target language doesn’t usually give the loanword back (although there is a linguistic phenomenon called “reborrowing,” in which the loanword travels back to the source language).

Borrowing can occur through trade, colonization, immigration, academics, art, technology, and cultural exchange. The donor language generally belongs to the culture perceived to be more dominant or prestigious by speakers of the receiving language. Bear in mind that prestige is context-dependent and can vary across time periods and subject areas (e.g., French has been highly influential in English culinary language).

Words are sometimes borrowed from cultures perceived to be less dominant as well, especially when the loanwords relate to unique cultural practices (e.g., “yoga”), food (e.g., “sushi”), or concepts (e.g., “feng shui”).

The borrowing process typically works as follows:

• Interaction: Speakers of different languages communicate.
• Need: The target language lacks a native word for a concept.
• Adoption: The foreign word is used—formally or informally—in the target language.
• Adaptation: Spelling and/or pronunciation may change to fit the target language.
• Integration: The word is used in different ways and contexts, gradually growing in popularity.

Borrowing is sometimes intentional, like when a foreign word is used formally in academic writing to add cultural or scientific prestige. It can also be unintentional, such as when foreign words are used informally in communities made up of various ethnic groups.

Loanwords in English

English has one of the largest vocabularies in the world, partly due to its long history of borrowing loanwords.

Some of the most common source languages for English loanwords are Latin, Greek, French, Italian, Arabic, German, Dutch, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese.

Certain languages are sometimes more influential in certain topic areas. For example, Latin and Greek are highly influential in science, medicine, and religion, while Italian has greatly influenced the English vocabulary for music, art, and food.

Loanwords from Latin

Some Latin loanwords in English are listed below.

1. Abdomen: the belly or lower part of the torso
2. Agenda: a list of items to be discussed at a meeting
3. Agile: able to move quickly and easily
4. Alibi: proof that someone didn’t commit a crime because they were elsewhere
5. Alumni: former students or graduates
6. Anatomy: the structure of living organisms
7. Bonus: extra (and sometimes unexpected) money or goods
8. Census: official population count
9. Data: facts, numbers, and statistics used for analysis
10. Dexterity: skill and ease in using the hands
11. Excavate: to dig out or uncover
12. Fictitious: imaginary or invented
13. Formula: a fixed method or rule
14. Gradual: happening step by step
15. Habitual: done regularly or repeatedly
16. Janitor: caretaker of a building
17. Meditate: to focus or reflect deeply
18. Notorious: famous for something negative
19. Orbit: the path of a celestial body
20. Peninsula: land surrounded by water on three sides
21. Physician: a medical doctor
22. Spine: backbone
23. Status quo: the existing state of affairs
24. Superintendent: a person who oversees or manages
25. Ultimate: final or most extreme
26. Veto: a no vote (or the power to say no) that stops an action
27. Vice versa: the other way around
28. Vindicate: to clear of blame or suspicion

Loanwords from Greek

Many loanwords in English also come from Greek. As you can see below, many of the names for different subjects and disciplines (e.g., “philosophy”) come from Greek.

29. Academy: a place of study or training in a special field
30. Anachronism: something placed in a time period it doesn’t belong in
31. Anatomy: the study of body structure
32. Apology: a statement expressing regret
33. Archaeology: the study of human history through excavation
34. Democracy: a government system by the people of the country
35. Dialogue: a conversation between two or more people
36. Ethics: moral principles that govern behavior
37. Ellipsis: an omission of one or more words from a sentence; the “…” mark
38. Galaxy: a system of stars, gas, and dust
39. Hero: a person admired for courage or noble qualities
40. History: the study of past events
41. Hyperbole: a figure of speech that exaggerates for effect
42. Idiom: a phrase with a meaning not deducible from the words themselves
43. Logic: reasoning conducted according to principles
44. Mathematics: the abstract science of number, quantity, and space
45. Metamorphosis: changing into something completely different
46. Metaphor: a figure of speech for rhetorical effect
47. Philosophy: the study of basic ideas about knowledge, life, reality, religion, truth, nature, etc.
48. Physics: the science of matter and energy
49. Poetry: literary work expressing feelings and ideas with style
50. Psychology: the scientific study of the mind and behavior
51. Scene: the place where an incident occurs or part of a play
52. Symphony: a piece of music for a full orchestra
53. Theater: a place for dramatic performances
54. Therapy: treatment intended to relieve or heal

Loanwords from French

French has also given many loanwords to English, especially for food and art.

55. Baguette: a long, thin, crusty loaf of bread
56. Bouquet: a bunch of flowers
57. Blond/blonde: a person with yellow hair
58. Brunette: a person with dark brown hair
59. Cabernet: a type of red wine
60. Café: a coffee shop
61. Chaise longue: a long reclining chair
62. Champagne: a sparkling wine from the Champagne region
63. Chic: stylish or fashionable
64. Cliché: an overused phrase or idea
65. Croissant: a crescent-shaped buttery pastry
66. Cuisine: a style of cooking, often associated with  a country or culture
67. Debris: scattered fragments, typically of something broken
68. Déjà vu: the feeling that you’ve already experienced something
69. Elite: a group of people considered superior in status
70. Entrepreneur: someone who starts and runs a business
71. Faux pas: a social blunder or mistake
72. Façade: the front of a building; a deceptive outward appearance
73. Fiancé/fiancée: a person engaged to be married
74. Genre: a category of artistic work
75. Hors d’oeuvre: a small appetizer
76. Julienne: food cut in long, thin strips; to cut food that way
77. Liaison: communication or cooperation between groups
78. Quiche: a savory pie with eggs, cheese, and other ingredients
79. Rendezvous: a meeting at an agreed time and place
80. Sabotage: the act of deliberately damaging something
81. Silhouette: the dark shape or outline of someone or something
82. Soirée: an evening party
83. Souvenir: a keepsake or memento from a place or event
84. Touché: acknowledgment of a clever point in a discussion

Loanwords from Italian

Below are some loanwords in English that come from Italian. Similar to French, Italian has donated many words related to art, music, and food.

85. Balcony: a platform enclosed by a wall or railing on the outside of a building
86. Ballad: a type of narrative song
87. Broccoli: a green cruciferous vegetable
88. Cappuccino: a coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk foam
89. Casino: a place for gambling and entertainment
90. Confetti: small pieces of paper thrown during celebrations
91. Cupola: a small dome on top of a building
92. Duo: a pair of performers
93. Espresso: strong black coffee made by forcing steam through ground coffee
94. Fiasco: a complete failure
95. Fresco: a painting done rapidly on wet plaster
96. Graffiti: writings or drawings scribbled on walls or surfaces
97. Grotto: a small cave or cavern
98. Incognito: in disguise or with one’s identity concealed
99. Latte: a coffee made with espresso and steamed milk
100. Lava: molten rock expelled by a volcano
101. Mafia: an organized crime syndicate
102. Motto: a short phrase expressing a principle or ideal
103. Opera: a dramatic performance combining text and musical score
104. Paparazzi: photographers who follow celebrities
105. Piano: a large keyboard musical instrument
106. Quartet: a group of four musicians or singers
107. Regatta: a boat race or series of races
108. Soprano: the highest singing voice in classical music
109. Spaghetti: a type of long, thin pasta
110. Stanza: a grouped set of lines in a poem
111. Studio: a workspace for artists, musicians, or broadcasters
112. Tempo: the speed or pace of a piece of music
113. Torso: the trunk of the human body
114. Umbrella: a device used for protection against rain
115. Vendetta: a prolonged bitter feud
116. Violin: a small, high-pitched string instrument

Loanwords from Arabic

Here are some Arabic loanwords in English.

117. Alcohol: the ingredient found in wine, beer, and liquor
118. Algebra: a type of mathematics
119. Algorithm: a set of rules to follow, especially in math or computing
120. Amber: a hard yellowish resin used in jewelry; a yellow color
121. Artichoke: a green vegetable with thick leaves and a tender heart
122. Coffee: a drink made from roasted coffee beans
123. Cotton: a fabric made from cotton plants
124. Crimson: a deep red color
125. Genie: a spirit that can grant wishes
126. Ghoul: an evil spirit or creature that eats the dead
127. Giraffe: a tall animal with a very long neck
128. Jar: a round glass container with a lid
129. Jasmine: a fragrant white flower
130. Lemon: a yellow, sour citrus fruit
131. Mattress: a soft pad placed on top of a bed
132. Monsoon: a seasonal wind that brings heavy rain
133. Saffron: a red-yellow spice
134. Sofa: a piece of furniture
135. Syrup: a thick, sweet liquid
136. Tahini: a paste made from sesame seeds
137. Zero: the number 0

Loanwords from German

German has also given English plenty of loanwords, a few of which are listed below.

138. Angst: a feeling of deep anxiety or dread
139. Blitz: a sudden, intense attack or effort
140. Bratwurst: a type of German sausage
141. Doppelgänger: a look-alike or double of a living person
142. Fest: a festival or celebration
143. Flak: anti-aircraft fire or strong criticism
144. Kindergarten: a preschool for young children
145. Kitsch: art or design considered tacky or in poor taste
146. Lager: a type of beer
147. Noodle: a type of pasta
148. Poltergeist: a noisy, mischievous ghost
149. Poodle: a breed of dog with curly fur
150. Pretzel: a type of bread or snack
151. Rucksack: a backpack
152. Sauerkraut: fermented cabbage
153. Schadenfreude: pleasure derived from another person’s misfortune
154. Schnitzel: a thin slice of meat, breaded and fried
155. Strudel: a layered pastry with fruit or sweet filling
156. Waltz: a ballroom dance in triple time
157. Zeitgeist: the spirit or mood of a particular period in history
158. Zeppelin: a type of large airship

Loanwords from Spanish

Below, find some Spanish loanwords in English.

159. Adobe: sun-dried brick made of clay and straw
160. Alligator: a large reptile similar to a crocodile
161. Alpaca: an animal similar to a llama
162. Armada: a fleet of warships
163. Barricade: a barrier set up to block a passage
164. Bronco: an untrained or wild horse
165. Burrito: a rolled tortilla filled with various ingredients
166. Cafeteria: a self-service restaurant, often in a school or office
167. Cannibal: a person or animal that eats its own kind
168. Canyon: a deep valley with steep sides
169. Embargo: an official ban on trade or other commercial activity
170. Fiesta: a festive celebration or party
171. Guerrilla: a member of a small group engaged in irregular fighting
172. Guitar: a stringed musical instrument
173. Marijuana: a drug from the cannabis plant
174. Mesa: a flat-topped hill with steep sides
175. Mosquito: a small flying insect that bites
176. Mustang: a wild horse of the American West
177. Patio: an outdoor courtyard or paved area
178. Plaza: a public square or marketplace
179. Ranch: a large farm for raising cattle or horses
180. Rodeo: a competition involving cattle herding and riding
181. Tornado: a violent rotating column of air
182. Tortilla: a thin flatbread made from corn or wheat
183. Vigilante: a person who takes law enforcement into their own hands

Loanwords from Japanese

Some Japanese loanwords in English are:

184. Anime: Japanese animation
185. Bonsai: the art of growing miniature trees
186. Futon: a thin mattress used on the floor or a foldable bed
187. Haiku: a short form of Japanese poetry with a 5-7-5 syllable structure
188. Judo: a Japanese martial art focused on throws and grappling
189. Karaoke: singing along to recorded music using a microphone and lyrics
190. Kimono: a traditional Japanese long robe with wide sleeves
191. Manga: Japanese comic books or graphic novels
192. Origami: the art of paper folding
193. Rickshaw: a small two-wheeled passenger cart pulled by one person
194. Samurai: a member of the Japanese warrior class
195. Sashimi: thinly sliced raw fish or seafood
196. Sensei: a teacher or master, especially in martial arts
197. Sushi: filled food containing rice, seafood, and vegetables
198. Tsunami: a large, powerful ocean wave

Loanwords from Chinese

Below are some words that come from Chinese languages (e.g., Mandarin or Cantonese).

199. Bok choy: a type of cabbage
200. Dim sum: small dishes typically served with tea
201. Ginseng: a root used in traditional Chinese medicine
202. Gung ho: extremely enthusiastic or dedicated
203. Ketchup: a tomato-based condiment
204. Kung fu: a general term for Chinese martial arts
205. Lychee: a small tropical fruit with sweet white flesh and a rough red skin
206. Mahjong: a tile-based game
207. Tea: a beverage made from steeped tea leaves
208. Wok: a round-bottomed cooking pan
209. Yin yang: a symbol of two complementary parts

Loanwords from other languages

Finally, here are some loanwords in English that come from other languages.

210. Anchovy (from Portuguese): a small fish
211. Boondocks (from Tagalog): remote, rural areas
212. Chocolate (from Nahuatl): a sweet food made from roasted cacao
213. Curry (from Tamil): a type of spiced stew; a spice blend
214. Kangaroo (from Aboriginal Australian): a marsupial
215. Kayak (from Inuktitut): a canoe
216. Landscape (from Dutch): a view of land; a type of painting
217. Pastrami (from Yiddish): a cured meat
218. Reindeer (from Norwegian): a large deer
219. Robot (from Czech): a machine that can carry out tasks automatically
220. Tattoo: permanent skin markings
221. Tundra (from Sámi): a flat, treeless Arctic region
222. Yogurt (from Turkish): a fermented milk product

Frequently asked questions about loanwords

What are 20 English words borrowed from French?

20 English words borrowed from French are:

1. Ballet
2. Buffet
3. Baguette
4. Cuisine
5. Déjà vu
6. Faux pas
7. Genre
8. Encore
9. Resume
10. Rendezvous
11. Café
12. Fiancé
13. Liaison
14. Sabotage
15. Touché
16. Collage
17. Boutique
18. Chic
19. Couture
20. Parfum

If you use these loanwords in your writing, QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can make sure you spell them correctly.

What’s the meaning of calque?

A calque is a loan translation, or a word or phrase from one language that is translated literally into another language.

For example, the English word “skyscraper” becomes “rascacielos” in Spanish (“rasca” is “scrape” and “cielos” is “skies”).

Unlike loanwords, which are borrowed directly, calques are translated versions of the original expression.

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can make sure your writing is free of spelling and grammar errors, even when it includes calques.

Which languages does Swahili include borrowed words from?

Some languages that Swahili has borrowed words from are Arabic, Portuguese, English, German, Hindi, and Urdu.

For example, the Swahili word for “book” is “kitabu,” from the Arabic “كتاب,” transliterated as “kitab.”

Swahili includes loanwords from these languages due to centuries of trade, colonization, and cultural exchange.

If you want to learn more loanwords in Swahili, try asking QuillBot’s AI Chat.

What are some Japanese loanwords?

Some Japanese loanwords are:

• • マイク (transliterated as maiku), “microphone”
  • スーパー (suupaa), “supermarket”
  • ビル (biru), “building”
  • イラスト (irasuto), “illustration”
  • アルバイト (arubaito), “part-time job,” from the German word Arbeit
  • ビール (bīru), “beer,” from the Dutch word bier
  • パン (pan), “bread,” from the Portuguese word pão

Try QuillBot Translate if you want to translate more Japanese words to English.

What are some Korean loanwords?

Some Korean loanwords are:

• 아파트 (romanized as a-pa-teu), “apartment”
• 케이크 (keaikeu), “cake”
• 메뉴 (menyu), “menu”
• 슈퍼 (syu-peo), “supermarket”
• 셀카 (selka), “selfie”
• 매니큐어 (mae-ni-kyueo), “manicure”

These are Korean loanwords from English, but Korean also has loanwords from Chinese, Japanese, and other languages.

QuillBot Translate can help you translate between Korean, English, and 50 other languages.