Sometime around the late 19th century, between 1885 and 1890, the word 'safari' came into use. Its origins are Swahili and, before that, Arabic.
The Arabic word 'safar' means 'to journey'. As a noun a safari is a journey or expedition for hunting or exploration, primarily in eastern Africa.
2. Android
Answer: Greek
The word 'android' is from the Greek 'andro' (human), and 'eides' (shape or form). The term could also be found in Modern Latin around the 19th century, with the word 'androides' or automatons resembling humans. Android is also the name of a mobile operating system, distributed by Google.
3. Slogan
Answer: Irish/Scottish
'Slogan', an Anglicized version of 'slogorn', is from the Scottish Gaelic and the Irish word 'slaugh-ghairn' which translates to an army shout or a war cry. It was originally used in the 16th century by the Scottish clans. The word has evolved to mean a distinctive word or phrase used in politics or a catch-phrase employed to help sell a product.
4. Robot
Answer: Czech
There was no such word as 'robot' until 1920. It was first used by Czech author and journalist Karel Capek (1890-1938) in his play "R.U.R.", which stands for Rossum's Universal Robots. It is derived from the Czech word 'robota' which means forced labor.
5. Karaoke
Answer: Japanese
Karaoke is a Japanese compound word from 'kara' from 'karappo' and 'oke' from 'okesutura'; the phrase literally means 'empty orchestra'. It came into usage in the 1970s, and has come to mean singing along to a music video or to words on a screen, usually with the original vocals electronically eliminated. You can often find karaoke at bars, since singing while intoxicated tends to make you think you sing better.
6. Piano
Answer: Italian
Piano is an abbreviation of the Italian word pianoforte from the early 19th century. A piano is both a musical instrument with a keyboard and a musical direction 'to be played softly'. As a musical instrument, it had its beginnings in Padua, Italy in 1709, in the shop of a harpsichord maker. That original piano is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
7. Cliche
Answer: French
Cliche comes from the French past participle (used as a noun) of 'clicher', i.e., to stereotype. It is a mid 19th century word which was used in printing. Cliche was the sound a printing plate made when it was used; the printing plate was also called a stereotype. (Not what you expected, right?) The word has come to mean a phrase which was once new and meaningful, but has become a trite, hackneyed phrase or platitude, unoriginal and overused.
Example: There are plenty of fish in the sea.
8. Poltergeist
Answer: German
"THEY'RE BA-ACK!" Poltergeists are mischievous ghosts or other supernatural beings who are said to be responsible for loud noises or objects being moved around. The word originated in the mid 19th century, and is from the German for 'poltern', to create a disturbance or make noise (or rattle or knock) and 'geist', i.e., ghost.
Many of those poltergeist reportings may simply have been squirrels in the attic.
9. Macho
Answer: Spanish/Portuguese
"Macho, Macho Man"...The term 'macho' came long before The Village People. 'Macho' in Portuguese and Spanish is an adjective which means masculine or virile. Its use began in the 1920s when referring to a tough guy. When a man is macho, he is said to have machismo, i.e., manliness or self-reliance. It is an important trait in Latin culture to not back down or lose face.
10. Gung-ho
Answer: Mandarin
'Gonghe' is a Mandarin word which means 'work together in harmony'. It became 'gung-ho' during World War II and was adopted as a slogan by the United States Marines. It has come to mean enthusiastic, eager, psyched, ardent, fired up and zealous. It can also mean so committed that there is a lack of concern for the consequences, which could manifest itself in recklessness.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ponycargirl before going online.
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