Word Origins
Instructions: Where do our everyday words come from? Discover the surprising origins and etymologies of common English words in this fascinating quiz!
- 1.
The word 'salary' comes from the Latin word 'salarium,' which is related to what substance?
AWaterBSaltCGoldDBread - 2.
What language does the word 'ketchup' originally come from?
AItalianBChinese (Hokkien)CFrenchDSpanish - 3.
The word 'disaster' literally means 'bad star' and comes from which language?
ALatinBItalianCGreekDFrench - 4.
The word 'robot' was coined in a 1920 play by a writer from which country?
AGermanyBJapanCRussiaDCzechoslovakia - 5.
The word 'quarantine' comes from the Italian words for what number of days?
AThirtyBSevenCFourteenDForty - 6.
What does the word 'avocado' trace back to in the Nahuatl (Aztec) language?
ATree eggBGreen fruitCButter pearDTesticle - 7.
The word 'candidate' comes from the Latin 'candidatus,' referring to what?
ASomeone wearing whiteBA public speakerCA man of honorDA person who kneels - 8.
Which language gives us the word 'tsunami'?
AJapaneseBIndonesianCChineseDHawaiian - 9.
The word 'sarcasm' comes from a Greek word that literally means what?
ATo tear fleshBDouble meaningCSharp tongueDBitter laughter - 10.
The word 'clue' originally referred to what object in English?
AA signpostBA footprintCA magnifying glassDA ball of thread - 11.
The word 'magazine' originally came from an Arabic word meaning what?
APaperBKnowledgeCStoriesDWarehouse - 12.
The word 'checkmate' in chess comes from the Persian phrase 'shah mat,' which means what?
AThe king is deadBThe king is trappedCThe king surrendersDThe king falls - 13.
The word 'whiskey' comes from the Gaelic 'uisce beatha,' which translates to what?
AFire drinkBStrong brewCWater of lifeDGolden spirit - 14.
The word 'alphabet' is formed from the first two letters of which language?
APhoenicianBLatinCHebrewDGreek - 15.
The word 'shampoo' entered English from which language, originally meaning 'to press or massage'?
AHindiBTurkishCJapaneseDArabic