1. Germanic (around 40-45%): This is the foundation of English, stemming from Old English (Anglo-Saxon).
* Examples: house, dog, water, strong, sing, good, bad, sleep
2. French (around 28-30%): The Norman Conquest in 1066 brought French influence, especially in legal, governmental, and cultural terms.
* Examples: government, court, parliament, judge, justice, beauty, noble, polite
3. Latin (around 15-20%): Latin was a significant language of scholarship and learning, influencing English through scientific, academic, and religious vocabulary.
* Examples: science, technology, education, religion, philosophy, animal, human, doctor
4. Greek (around 5-6%): Similar to Latin, Greek contributed to scientific and philosophical terminology.
* Examples: philosophy, physics, mathematics, psychology, democracy, atom, biology
5. Other Languages (around 1-2%): While smaller in quantity, contributions come from various sources, including:
* Scandinavian (Old Norse): These words entered English through Viking raids and settlement.
* Examples: skull, anger, knife, take, skirt
* Dutch: Trade and colonization led to Dutch words entering English.
* Examples: boss, yacht, cookie
* Spanish: Spanish colonization and cultural influence.
* Examples: ranch, rodeo, siesta, mosquito
* Arabic: Trade routes and Arabic scholarship.
* Examples: algebra, alcohol, coffee, cotton
* Hindi: British colonialism in India.
* Examples: jungle, bungalow, thug
Important Notes:
* Overlaps: Some words have roots in multiple languages, making categorization tricky.
* Evolution: English continues to evolve, with new words being coined and borrowed from other languages.
* Regional Variation: Different English-speaking regions may have distinct vocabularies influenced by local languages.
This breakdown gives you a good idea of the main sources of English vocabulary. It's fascinating to see how the language has developed through centuries of interaction and influence!