The Cognātarium: Appendix K
Words derived from Oriental Languages
English has adopted—and adapted—many words from various Oriental languages. Many of these words have come to us through other intermediate languages and have been modified along their journey to Modern English. For that reason, and the fact that English speakers have difficulty with the sounds of Oriental languages, most of these words now bear little resemblance to their origins in their parent languages. There are many more such words in English. More will be added to this page in time.
Chinese: ginseng, gung-ho, kowtow, mah-jongg, pekoe, sampan, tea, tycoon, typhoon, wok, yen (craving)
Hindi: avatar, bandanna, bangle, brahmin, bungalow, cheetah, chintz, chit, chukkah, chukker, chutney, coolie, cot (bed), cowrie, cushy, dharma, dinghy, gunny (sack), guru, gymkhana, jungle, jute, lac, lacquer, loot, mandarin, mug (to rob), nabob, pajamas, pug (footprint), pundit, seersucker, shampoo, shikari, swami, thug, toddy, yoga, yogi
Japanese: adzuki (bean), futon, harikiri, hibachi, honcho, hooch (dwelling), karate, kimono, shogun, sukiyaki, sumo, sushi, teriyaki, tofu, zori
Malay: agar, amok (amuck), bamboo, casuarina, cockatoo, compound (enclosed area), cootie, gecko, gingham, junk (ship), kapok, ketchup, orangutan, paddy (rice), sarong
Persian: bazaar, caravan, caviar, mogul, pilaf, pistachio, satrap, shah, shawl
Sanskrit: Aryan, nirvana, swastika
Sinhalese: anaconda
Tamil: catamaran, cheroot, corundum, curry (sauce), mango, mulligatawny, pariah
Tibetan: polo
Turkish: caftan, coffee, dervish, fez, jackal, kiosk, kismet, macramé, sherbet, shish kebab, yogurt
112 entries found.
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