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About Words With Surprising Origins
Give your memory a workout with Words With Surprising Origins: 15 multiple-choice questions aimed at mixed difficulty, free to play right in your browser. The stories behind everyday words can be truly astonishing. How many of these surprising word origins do you know? Expect to spend about 7 minutes; every question comes with an explanation, so you learn something even when you miss.
A few sample questions
1. The word 'salary' comes from the Latin word for what?
Answer: Salt
2. The word 'quarantine' comes from the Italian 'quaranta giorni'. What does it mean?
Answer: Forty days
3. Where does the word 'ketchup' likely originate?
Answer: Chinese (Hokkien)
4. The word 'disaster' literally means what in its Greek/Latin roots?
Answer: Bad star
5. Where does the word 'cappuccino' get its name?
Answer: The color of Capuchin monks' robes
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my progress if I close the page?
Your overall progress — XP, streaks, and badges — is saved in your browser automatically. A quiz that's underway restarts if you leave mid-game, but at about 7 minutes, Words With Surprising Origins fits comfortably in one sitting.
How many questions are in Words With Surprising Origins?
Words With Surprising Origins has 15 multiple-choice questions. Each one has four answer options and an explanation that appears after you answer, so you learn something even when you miss.
Is Words With Surprising Origins free to play?
Yes. The entire SeniorBrainGames catalog — including Words With Surprising Origins — is free, with no sign-up required, no time limits, and no ads on top of the game. It also works offline once the page has loaded once.
How long does Words With Surprising Origins take?
Most players finish Words With Surprising Origins in about 7 minutes. You can pause between questions, replay it as often as you like, and there is no penalty for taking your time — answers are explained after you submit them.
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