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Are there any words in common English that come from obscure languages?

While many English words are derived from Latin, Greek, French, and other well-known languages, there are indeed words in common English that come from obscure languages. Here are a few examples:

From Arabic:

* Algebra: Derived from the Arabic word "al-jabr," meaning "the reunion of broken parts," referring to the mathematical concept.

* Alcohol: Derived from the Arabic word "al-kuḥl," referring to a fine powder of antimony used for eye makeup, later used for distilled spirits.

* Admiral: Derived from the Arabic word "amīr al-bahr," meaning "commander of the sea."

From Sanskrit:

* Bungalow: From the Hindi word "bangla," referring to a type of two-story house.

* Cheetah: From the Sanskrit word "chitraka," meaning "spotted."

* Juggernaut: From the Sanskrit word "Jagannatha," a Hindu deity whose chariot was a massive structure, later used figuratively for anything unstoppable or powerful.

From Chinese:

* Ketchup: From the Hokkien Chinese word "kê-tsiap," referring to a fermented fish sauce.

* Typhoon: From the Chinese word "tài fēng," meaning "great wind."

* Kung Fu: From the Chinese word "gōng fú," meaning "skill" or "work."

From Native American Languages:

* Chipmunk: From the Algonquin word "ajikamook," referring to the small rodent.

* Moccasin: From the Algonquin word "makkasin," referring to the soft leather shoe.

* Squash: From the Narragansett word "askutasquash," referring to a type of edible plant.

From Other Obscure Languages:

* Siesta: From the Spanish word "siesta," meaning "nap," derived from the Latin "hora sexta," meaning "sixth hour."

* Cacao: From the Nahuatl word "cacahuatl," referring to the cocoa plant.

* Zombie: From the Kongo word "nzambi," meaning "god," later used in Haitian Voodoo to refer to a reanimated corpse.

These are just a few examples. There are many other words in common English with origins in obscure languages, reflecting the history of the language and its encounters with diverse cultures.

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