As a global, flexible and versatile language, English is capable of borrowing and altering words from other languages. That said, English speakers have unknowingly adopted many Spanish words. You may have come across some Spanish words that sound similar in English and some are even spelled alike with minute differences.
Below is a list of 15 English words loaned from Spanish with their meaning and etymological origin.
1. Breeze
Spanish word: Brisa
Meaning: A gentle blow or moderate current of air
Origin: 1560s; from Old Spanish briza
2. Ranch
Spanish word: Rancho
Meaning: A large farm to raise livestock or crops
Origin: 1800–10s; rancho – American Spanish originally means a group of people who eat together, like a mess room
New to learning Spanish? Take a look at these 17 common words and phrases to help you get started!
3. Guerrilla
Spanish word: Guerrilla
Meaning: A member of a small independent group taking part in irregular fighting, typically against larger regular forces
Origin: Early 19th century; Spanish, diminutive of guerra war
4. Patio
Spanish word: Patio
Meaning: An open area or a courtyard attached to a house
Origin: Early 19th century; denoting an inner courtyard in Spanish
5. Stampede
Spanish word: Estampida
Meaning: A sudden frenzied rush of people or animals
Origin: Germanic origin; Mexican Spanish estampida, from the Spanish word “uproar or crash”
6. Macho
Spanish word: Macho
Meaning: To have manly characteristics and qualities such as being robust, strong, aggressive, unemotional, etc.
Origin: Early 1920s; macho means male in Spanish
7. Cockroach
Spanish word: Cucaracha
Meaning: An insect with antennae and legs, usually the reddish brown kinds are found as household pests
Origin: Early 17th century; cockroach was derived from the Spanish word cucaracha
8. Avocado
Spanish word: Aguacate
Meaning: A dark green pear-shaped fruit with smooth, light green pulp and one large seed in the center
Origin: 1690–1700; alteration of Spanish aguacate to avocado
9. Plaza
Spanish word: Plaza
Meaning: A public area, in a form of a building with shops and stores
Origin: Late 17th century; from Spanish, that means ‘place’
10. Mustang
Spanish word: Mestengo
Meaning: A small and lightly built American horse
Origin: Early 19th century; from a blend of Spanish mestengo (from mesta ‘company of graziers’) and mostrenco, both meaning wild or masterless cattle
11. Cargo
Spanish word: Cargo
Meaning: Goods that are transported through ship, aircraft, or motor vehicle
Origin: Mid-17th century; from Spanish cargo, cargar – to load
12. Vanilla
Spanish word: Vainilla
Meaning: A sweet substance extracted from vanilla pods, used as a flavor in food or in perfume, etc.
Origin: Mid-17th century; in Spanish, vainilla little pod, equivalent to vaina – a sheath
13. Lasso
Spanish word: Lazo
Meaning: A rope with a knot that forms a ring to catch horses and cattle
Origin: Mid-18th century; Spanish lazo, based on Latin laqueus ‘noose’
14. Canyon
Spanish word: Cañón
Meaning: A deep narrow gorge with steep sides
Origin: Mid-19th century; from Spanish cañón tube
15. Tornado
Spanish word: Tornado
Meaning: A powerful, destructive windstorm that forms itself into a cone-like shape, capable of destroying everything on land
Origin: 1550–60; derived from the Spanish word tronada
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