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w1k0 · 12-17-2013, 02:27 PM

Round #3; List by w1k0

Favorite Words From Foreign Languages

#1: Karaoke
Japanese
Karaoke, the beloved/hated entertainment that involves non-professional singers performing without live bands, has a poetic-sounding origin: “empty orchestra.”
It comes from the Japanese kara (“empty”) + ōke, short for ōkesutora (“orchestra”).

#2: Kerfuffle
Scottish Gaelic
Kerfuffle means “disturbance or fuss,” often describing a situation that’s received more attention than it deserves.

#3: Chutzpah
Yiddish
Chutzpah comes from the Yiddish khutspe, meaning “impudence.”
In American English, chutzpah describes a particular kind of nerve, or gall. It refers to the supreme self-confidence that allows a person to do or say things that may seem shocking to others.

#4: Kowtow
Chinese
To kowtow is to agree too easily or eagerly to do what someone else wants you to do, or to obey someone with power in a way that seems weak.
It comes from the Chinese kòutóu – kòu (“to knock”) plus tóu (“head”) – and originally referred to kneeling and touching one’s head to the ground as a salute or act of worship to a revered authority.

#5: Schadenfreude
German
The German Schaden means “damage”; Freude means “joy”; the English Schadenfreude means “enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others.”

#6: Apparatchik
Russian
Nowadays, apparatchik is generally used as a mild insult for a blindly devoted official, follower, or member of an organization, such as a corporation or political party.

#7: Boondocks
Tagalog
Boondocks (and boonies) both mean “a rural area,” particularly one considered backward, dull, or unsophisticated.

#8: Ketchup
Malay
This all-American condiment started out as a spicy, fermented fish sauce in Malaysia.
That version, known as kěchap, made its way first to Europe and then to the New World, where tomatoes eventually became the defining ingredient.

#9: Juggernaut
Hindi
A juggernaut is something (such as a force, campaign, or movement) that is huge and powerful and can’t be stopped.

#10: Hazard
Arabic
In English, hazard eventually came to name any chance, risk, or source of danger.

12-17-2013, 02:27 PM	#10
w1k0 Banned Posts: 48 Karma: 447520 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Poland Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle Paperwhite 2	Favorite Words From Foreign Languages (Round #3) Round #3; List by w1k0 Favorite Words From Foreign Languages #1: Karaoke Japanese Karaoke, the beloved/hated entertainment that involves non-professional singers performing without live bands, has a poetic-sounding origin: “empty orchestra.” It comes from the Japanese kara (“empty”) + ōke, short for ōkesutora (“orchestra”). #2: Kerfuffle Scottish Gaelic Kerfuffle means “disturbance or fuss,” often describing a situation that’s received more attention than it deserves. #3: Chutzpah Yiddish Chutzpah comes from the Yiddish khutspe, meaning “impudence.” In American English, chutzpah describes a particular kind of nerve, or gall. It refers to the supreme self-confidence that allows a person to do or say things that may seem shocking to others. #4: Kowtow Chinese To kowtow is to agree too easily or eagerly to do what someone else wants you to do, or to obey someone with power in a way that seems weak. It comes from the Chinese kòutóu – kòu (“to knock”) plus tóu (“head”) – and originally referred to kneeling and touching one’s head to the ground as a salute or act of worship to a revered authority. #5: Schadenfreude German The German Schaden means “damage”; Freude means “joy”; the English Schadenfreude means “enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others.” #6: Apparatchik Russian Nowadays, apparatchik is generally used as a mild insult for a blindly devoted official, follower, or member of an organization, such as a corporation or political party. #7: Boondocks Tagalog Boondocks (and boonies) both mean “a rural area,” particularly one considered backward, dull, or unsophisticated. #8: Ketchup Malay This all-American condiment started out as a spicy, fermented fish sauce in Malaysia. That version, known as kěchap, made its way first to Europe and then to the New World, where tomatoes eventually became the defining ingredient. #9: Juggernaut Hindi A juggernaut is something (such as a force, campaign, or movement) that is huge and powerful and can’t be stopped. #10: Hazard Arabic In English, hazard eventually came to name any chance, risk, or source of danger.