The Strange Origins of Everyday English Words
Key Vocabulary
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ordinary | normal; not special or unusual | Shampoo feels like an ordinary English word until you learn its history. |
| borrow | to take a word from another language and use it | English borrowed safari from Swahili. |
| massage | pressing and rubbing someone's body to help them relax | Long ago, shampoo was closer to a massage than to washing hair. |
| journey | a trip from one place to another | In Swahili, safari meant a journey or expedition. |
| respect | a feeling that someone is important and should be treated well | Kowtow first described a deep bow that showed respect. |
Article
You open a bottle in the bathroom. The label says shampoo. It feels like a normal English word, but it actually came from another language.
English has many everyday words like this. They entered English through travel, trade, and contact between cultures. Over time, their meanings changed.
Shampoo came from Hindi. In the 1700s, a related Hindi word meant something like “massage” or “press.” At first, shampooing meant massaging the body. Later, the word became connected with washing hair. [1][2]
Bungalow also came through Hindi. It was linked to Bengal and described a low house in the Bengal style. Today, bungalow usually means a one-story house. [1][2]
Safari came from Swahili, where it meant “journey” or “expedition.” Swahili itself borrowed the word from Arabic. In English, safari became strongly connected with trips to see wild animals. [1]
Kowtow came from Chinese. It first described a deep bow with the forehead touching the ground. In English today, it usually means giving in too easily to someone powerful. [1]
Quarantine came through Italian and was connected with the idea of “forty days.” Ships sometimes had to wait before entering a city during times of plague. Avatar came from Sanskrit and later became the word for a picture or character that represents you online. [1][3]
These words show how English grows. Words can travel, change meaning, and become part of everyday life. The next time you say shampoo or safari, you may remember the long journey hidden inside the word.
Discussion Questions
- Do you know any words in your language that came from English or another language? What are they?
- Think of your favorite food or drink. Does its name come from another language? What is it?
- Which word origin in the article surprised you most, and what made it surprising?
- If you could add one word from your language into English, which word would you choose and why?
- Would you rather stay in a cozy bungalow by the beach or go on a safari, and why?
References
- Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, "shampoo"; "bungalow"; "safari"; "kowtow"; "avatar."
- Merriam-Webster, "10 Words From Hindi & Urdu."
- Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, "quarantine."