Words English Took from Other Languages

Many English words come from other languages. People brought them into English through travel, buying and selling, and learning.

"Piano" comes from Italian. It is short for "pianoforte," which brings together the words for "soft" and "loud." Players can make soft or loud sounds by changing how they press the keys. In English, the shorter word became the usual name. But in written music,"piano" can also mean "play softly." Where you see the word helps you understand it.

"Kindergarten," a school or class for young children, comes from German. Its two parts mean "children" and "garden." But an English kindergarten does not need a garden. English took the word as a name for a place where children learn. The children's ages can be different in different countries.

"Ballet," a kind of dance, came into English from French. In standard English, we do not say the final "t." Some words keep parts of their old language.

However, words can change after they enter English. People may say them differently, make them shorter, or use them for fewer things.

Learning where words come from can help you remember them. It cannot explain every spelling or meaning, but it shows how English has grown through contact with other languages.