Where comes the English word tea from?

The English word "tea" comes from the Amoy dialect of Chinese (a southern Chinese dialect), specifically "tê". This word referred to the drink itself and also to the plant from which it was derived.

The word "tê" was adopted by the Portuguese, who were among the first Europeans to trade with China, as "chá". From the Portuguese, it spread to other European languages, including English.

So, while "tea" might sound like a simple, familiar word, its origins are actually quite fascinating, stemming from a specific Chinese dialect and traveling through several languages before reaching its current form.