Foreign Words and Phrases quiz

More questions about Foreign Words and Phrases

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1. 1 Easy

   Which reptile gets its English name from Spanish for the lizard?

   Answer: Alligator

   Why: English settlers phoneticized the Spanish phrase el lagarto into the modern word alligator.

2. 2 Medium

   Which plain word does the Swahili "safari" translate to?

   Answer: Journey

   Why: The word traces back to the Arabic noun 'safar', applying in Swahili to any regular trip rather than only wildlife excursions.

3. 3 Hard

   How does the French term coup d'état translate literally?

   Answer: Blow of state

   Why: The French word coup denotes a physical blow, making the phrase a direct strike against the state.

4. 4 Easy

   What does the Spanish root of the word rodeo mean?

   Answer: To round up

   Why: The name comes from rodear because early vaqueros circled around free-roaming cattle to gather them.

5. 5 Medium

   Which Japanese word means buying books and leaving them unread?

   Answer: Tsundoku

   Why: Tsundoku blends tsunde-oku, meaning to pile things up for later, with dokusho, meaning reading books.

6. 6 Hard

   Which English adjective translates Spanish flamenco literally?

   Answer: Flemish

   Why: In Spanish, flamenco means Flemish, though why it was applied to the dance remains debated.