English has borrowed a large number of words and phrases from foreign languages.
Here are some of them:
Tirade (French) a long angry speech criticizing someone or something, as in a tirade of abuse
Tombola (Italian) a game in which you buy a ticket with a number on it in order to try and win a prize that has the same number.
Tort (French) an action that is wrong but not criminal and can be dealt with in a civil court of law.
Toupee (French) a wig or other hairpiece worn to conceal a bald patch
Tour de force (French) something that is done very skilfully and successfully and is very impressive.
Max’s maiden speech in Parliament was a tour de force.
Tourniquet (French) a band of cloth that is twisted tightly around an injured arm or leg to stop it bleeding
Trauma (Greek) a physical wound or injury; may also refer to a state of mental disorder resulting from emotional or physical stress.
Trek (Afrikaans) a long and difficult journey made especially on foot as an adventure, as in a lonely trek through the forest.
Tricolour (French) a flag with three equal bands of different colours, especially the national flag of France or Ireland
Trio (Italian) a group of three people or things
I was met by a trio of smiling damsels at the airport.
Triskaidekaphobia (Greek) fear of the number13
Triumvirate (Latin) a group of three very powerful people
Trivia (Latin) detailed facts about history, sport, or famous people; unimportant or useless details
Troika (Russian) a group of three people or countries, as in the ruling troika
Troupe (French) a group of singers, actors or dancers who work together
Trousseau (French) the clothes that a woman brings with her when she marries
Tsunami (Japanese) a very large wave caused by extreme conditions such as an earthquake which can cause a lot of damage when it reaches land
Tundra (Russian) the large flat areas of land in the north of Russia and Canada where it is very cold and there are no trees
Tycoon (Japanese) someone who is successful in business or industry and has a lot of money and power, as in a newspaper tycoon
Typhoon (Portuguese) a very violent tropical storm
Ukulele (Hawaiian) a musical instrument with four strings, like a small guitar
Ulterior (Latin) a reason for doing something that you deliberately hide in order to get an advantage for yourself, as in ulterior motives
Ultimatum (Latin) a threat saying that if someone does not do what you want by a particular time, you will do something to punish them
The government has issued an ultimatum for all strikers to report for work by March 1.
Ultimo (Latin) of or relating to the previous month
Ultra (Latin) extremely, as in an ultra-modern building
Utopia (Greek) an imaginary perfect world where everyone is happy
Vacuum (Latin) a space that is completely empty of all gas, especially one from which all the air has been taken away, as in a vacuum cleaner
Vade mecum (Latin) a manual or other reference book usually carried by a person
Valet (French) a male servant who looks after a man’s clothes or serves his meals
Vendetta (Italian) a situation in which one person or group tries for a long time to harm another person
Verbatim (Latin) repeating the actual words that were spoken or written
Versus (Latin) against; used to show that two people or teams are competing against each other in a game or court case.
Veto (Latin) a refusal to give official permission for something, or the right to refuse to give such permission
Vice versa (Latin) used to say that the opposite of a situation you have just described is also true
The boys may refuse to play with the girls, and vice versa.
Vignette (French) a short description in a book or play showing the typical features of a person or situation
Virtuoso (Italian) someone who is a very skilful performer, especially in music
Viva voce (Latin) a spoken examination taken at the end of a university course
Wanderlust (German) a strong desire to travel to different places
Xenophobia (Greek) fear or hatred of foreigners
Zeitgeist (German) the general spirit or feeling of a period in history, as shown by people’s ideas and beliefs at the time
Zen (Japanese) a kind of Buddhism from Japan that emphasizes meditation
(Concluded)