The English Language

Words Borrowed from Etruscan

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Etruscan is the extinct language of pre-Roman Italy. Very little is known about the language's origins.

These are some of the oldest borrowed words in English. Many of them came via Latin.

There are a number of calendar words, one planet and the name of Rome itself.


Word Meaning Notes
April   The fourth month of the Western calendar.
attrium entrance Part of a temple or church.
baron strong man  
ceremony    
cistern    
Ides   An old calendar term as in "Ides of March".
January from "Janus" (the ancient Italian two faced god) The first month of the Western calendar.
mantissa   A mathematical term.
persona mask  
Rome   Italian city.
Saturn   The sixth planet.

© 2004 KryssTal


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The extinct language of the Roman Empire. It is an Indo-European language.

An extinct language of pre-Roman Italy. It is a member of the Indo-European family.

A short history of the world's most widespread language from its Anglo Saxon origins via Norman and Latin influences to Modern English.

The Etruscan alphabet was an earlier version of the Latin alphabet.