American English has borrowed vocabulary from which groups?

• A. Spanish, French, Yiddish, and Native American languages
• B. German, Italian, Russian, and Greek
• C. Portuguese, Dutch, Arabic, and Swahili
• D. Mandarin, Hindi, Swahili, and Turkish

Answer: (A)

The concept here is how language borrows, or loanwords, flow from one language into another through contact and daily use. American English has a long history of taking vocabulary from other languages that people spoke in the country, leading to a diverse lexicon shaped by different regions and communities. The most influential sources among those groups are Spanish, French, Yiddish, and Native American languages. Spanish entered American English widely through early colonization and ongoing interaction in the Southwest and West, giving words like canyon and patio that became common in everyday speech. French influence spread through exploration, trade, and settlement across areas such as Louisiana and Canada, bringing terms like rendezvous, barbecue, and etiquette that became standard parts of the language. Yiddish contributions come from large waves of Jewish immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries, enriching American English with words such as schlep, kosher, mensch, and shtick that entered common usage in urban life. Native American languages supplied many place-based and culturally specific terms—plus names for local flora and fauna—such as canoe, moose, and tomahawk, reflecting direct interaction with Indigenous communities and environments. Other groups may contribute words as well, but these four sources have left especially broad and recognizable imprints on everyday American English.