Spanish, of course, came from Latin, as did French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and several other less widespread European languages. 201 B.C.,the date of Rome's victory over Hannibal's Carthaginian forces marks the formal arrival of Latin in Iberia, the antecedent of the Spanish language. The following are just some of the many Spanish words that have derived from other languages and have influenced English. Credit goes to Joseph J. Keenan for compiling these lists in his book, Breaking out of Beginner's Spanish.
Celtic origin- cerveza, caballo, carro, camisa and camino
A common word with an intricate history is grandmother, the Latin was avia; in France it became grand-mere; in Italian, nonna,(the source for the word "nun"; only Spanish was to hold on to the original Latin by attaching the diminutive suffix -ola. From there aviola became abuela, and the form abuelita, twice diminished, can hardly get any sweeter!
Germanic origin-
orgullo-pride
riqueza-riches
robar-to rob
ganar-to win
bandido-bandit
"Arabisms"-(from Moorish Spain)
azul-blue
escarlata-scarlet
limon-lime
naranja-orange
adobe-adobe
talco-talcum powder
azar-hazard, chance
aceite-oil
cero-zero
cifra-cipher, figure
ajedrez-chess
cenit-zenith
nadir-nadir
jazmin-jasmine
azucar-sugar
azafran-saffran
zanahoria-carrot
aduana-customhouse
tarifa-tariff
arroz-rice
More Spanish words of Arab origin:
algoritmo
algebra
alquimia-alchemy
alcohol
alcoba-alcove
almanaque-almanac
alcanfor-camphor
algodon-cotton
almirante-admiral
alfiler-pin
almacen-warehouse
almohada-pillow
alcalde-mayor
alfombra-rug
almorzar-to eat lunch
French influence-when Napolean controlled Spain:
asamblea
burocrata
controlar
finanzas
pantalon
chaqueta
equipaje
hacer el amor-to court or to woo
Spanish influence in everyday English speech(English Hispanisms):
tuna
chocolate
vanilla
mosquito
cockroach
amigo
comrade
ranch
hacienda
estancia
coconuts
Spanish words that entered English through the U.S. Southwest
canyon
barranca-hillside, slope
arroyo-brook,creek, stream
mesa
cuesta
chaps
stampede
buckaroo
rodeo
coyote
armadillo
chaparral
saguaro
yucca,etc.
Arizona
California
Colorado-red
Nevada-snowfall
Florida-full of flowers
Montana-mountain
cocktail-named after Xochitl, an Aztec princess
taco
burrito
tortilla
frijoles
English-Spanish Cognates/Cognados from Colorin Colorado!
A
accident accidente
accidental accidental
accompany(to) acompañar
acrobatic acrobático(a)
active activo(a)
activities actividades
admire(to) admirar
admit(to) admitir
adult adulto
adventure aventura
adopt(to) adoptar
adoption adopción
African africano
agent agente
air aire
alarm alarma
allergic alérgico (a)
anaconda anaconda
animal animal
announce (to) anunciar
appear (to) aparecer
appetite apetito
area área
arithmetic aritmética
artist artista
association asociación
astronomer astrónomo
atmosphere atmósfera
attention atención
August agosto
autograph autógrafo
automobile autómovil
B
Banana banana
banjo banjo
bicycle bicicleta
biography biografia
blouse blusa
brilliant brillante
C
cabin cabina
cable cable
cafeteria cafetería
camera cámara
camouflage camuflaje
canyon cañón
captain capitán
capture(to) captura
catastrophe catásrofe
cause causa
celebrate(to) celebrar
cement cemento
center centro
ceramic cerámica
cereal cereal
ceremony ceremonia
chimney chimenea
chimpanzee chimpancé
cholera cólera
circle círculo
circular circular
class clase
coast costa
colony colonia
color color
committee comité
common común
complete completo(a)
completely completamente
company compañia
concert concierto
confetti confeti
confusing confusion
constellation constelación
construction construcción
contagious contagioso(a)
continent continente
continue (to) continuar
contract contrato
contribution contribucion
coyote coyote
crocodile cocodrilo
curious curioso(a)
D
December diciembre
decide (to) decidir
decoration decoración, adorno
delicate delicado(a)
depend(to) depender
deport(to) deportar
describe (to) describir
desert desierto
destroy (to) destruir
detain (to) detener
determine (to) determinar
diamond diamante
dictator dictador
different diferente
dinosaur dinosaurio
direction dirección
directions direcciones
directly directamente
director director
disappear(to) desaparecer
disaster deasastre
discrimination discriminación
discuss (to) discutir
disgrace desgracia
distance distancia
distribute (to) distribuir
dollar dólar
double doble
dragon dragón
dymanite dinamita
L
leader lider
lemon limon
lens lente
leopard leopardo
lesson leccion
lessons lecciones
line linea
lion leon
list lista
locate(to) localizer
M
machine maquina
magic magia
magician mago
magnificent magnifico(a)
manner manera
map mapa
March marzo
march(to) marchar, caminar
marionettes marionetas, iteres
medal medalla
memory memoria
metal metal
microscope microscopio
million millon
miniature minatura
minute minuto
minutes minutos
moment momento
monument monutmento
much mucho
music musica
N
natural natural
necessity necesidad
nectar nectar
nervous nervioso(a)
notice noticia
O
obedience obediencia
object objecto
observatory observatorio
occasion ocasion
ocean oceano
October octobre
office oficina
operation operacion
ordinary ordinario
P
palace palacio
panic panico
paper papel
park parque
part parte
patience paciencia
penguin pinguiino
perfect perfecto(a)
perfume perfume
permanent permanente
photo foto
photograph fotografia
photographer fotografo(a)
piano piano
to be continued...
