15 English Words You Didn't Realise Were Stolen From Spanish

Tornado CC0 Pixabay
Tornado CC0 Pixabay
Tara Jessop

It’s a well known fact that languages are always evolving, whether it’s new words being added to the dictionary or being borrowed from other languages. While English has both Latin, Greek and Germanic origins it has also borrowed a few words directly from its neighbours. Here are fifteen words English has taken from Spanish.

Chilli

Written in Spanish as chili

Chilli /

Armadillo

Written in Spanish as armadillo

Armadillo / Culture Trip

Macho

Written in Spanish as macho

Macho /

Ranch

Written in Spanish as rancho

Ranch /

Mustang

Written in Spanish mesteño

Mustang /

Tornado

Written in Spanish tronada

Tornado /

Alligator

Written in Spanish el lagarto

Alligator /

Avocado

Written in Spanish aguacate

Avocado /

Stampede

Written in Spanish estampida

Stampede /

Lasso

Written in Spanish lazo

Lasso /

Breeze

Written in Spanish brisa

Breeze /

Cockroach

Written in Spanish cucaracha

Cockroach /

Anchovy

Written in Spanish anchoa

Anchovy /

Mosquito

Written in Spanish mosca or mosquito (little fly)

Mosquito /

Savvy

Written in Spanish saber

Savvy /
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