Etymology Quiz – Elementary

The English word bungalow traces its origin to which language and style of architecture?

• Persian, Desert Caravanserai

• Hindi, Bengali-style house

• Urdu, Colonial officer’s residence

• Sanskrit, Temple-style residence

Which of the following is the original meaning of the word avatar in Sanskrit?

• Rebirth

• Incarnation

• Descent

• Protector

The English word shampoo is derived from a Hindi word that originally meant…?

• Hair oil

• To press or knead

• To cleanse the scalp

• Medicinal bath

The etymological root of the word sugar passes through Arabic and Persian, but ultimately originates from…?

• Latin

• Tamil

• Sanskrit

• Greek

Which of the following is not a loanword of Indian origin in English?

• Pyjamas

• Yoga

• Algebra

• Bungalow

The word bazaar comes from the Persian bāzār. What is its most accurate original meaning?

• Central square

• Marketplace

• Trading ritual

• Storefront

The Marathi word shikshan shares its etymological roots with which Sanskrit word?

• Shakti

• Shraddha

• Shiksha

• Sharir

Which of the following words originated from Persian and entered both Hindi and Marathi?

• Roti

• Darya

• Yoga

• Guru

The transformation of the word shampoo from “massage” to “hair wash” is an example of which kind of semantic change?

• Broadening

• Pejoration

• Metaphorization

• Narrowing

Which of these correctly traces the journey of the word sugar into English?

• Tamil → Arabic → French → English

• Sanskrit → Persian → Arabic → English

• Greek → Latin → French → English

• Dravidian → Hindi → English