Vocabulary Worksheet · Grades 4–6
Borrowed Words Worksheet
A printable vocabulary worksheet for grades 4-6 on borrowed words: English words taken from other languages, like pizza from Italian and ballet from French. Students match eight borrowed words to their origin languages, then answer four short questions. A complete answer key is included.
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Subject
Vocabulary
Grades
Grades 4–6
Skill Focus
Borrowed Words, word origins
Lesson Length
20 minutes
Lesson Overview
About this worksheet
English has borrowed thousands of words from other languages over hundreds of years, which is one reason it has such a large vocabulary. A borrowed word keeps a meaning from its home language but is now used in English, and it often keeps a spelling or sound from that language. This worksheet introduces the idea of borrowed words and their origins.
Section A lists eight common borrowed words (pizza, ballet, kindergarten, taco, spaghetti, croissant, pretzel, salsa) and asks students to match each to its origin language from a box (A-D: Italian, French, German, Spanish), two per language. The reference box explains what a borrowed word is.
Section B is short-answer. Students define a borrowed word, explain why English has so many, name one they use, and reason about why many borrowed words name foods or culture. Page 3 is a complete answer key. The skill builds awareness of where words come from and complements Greek and Latin roots.
How to Use This Lesson
Read the reference box aloud and ask students which of the eight words they already use.
Have students read the eight words, then the A-D languages, before matching.
Work Section A item 1 together: pizza came into English from Italian (A).
Use the answer key on page 3 for self-check or teacher review.
Pair with the Greek and Latin Roots Worksheet or the Word Families Worksheet for a word-origins mini-unit.
Printable Resource
A classroom-ready PDF with everything in one printable resource.
Full Member Resource · Printable PDF · 3 pages · Answer Key
Borrowed Words Worksheet
A printable vocabulary worksheet for grades 4-6 on borrowed words: English words taken from other languages, like pizza from Italian and ballet from French. Students match eight borrowed words to their origin languages, then answer four short questions. A complete answer key is included.
For Teachers
Teaching this? Here is the full lesson plan
Word Origins: Tracing Where English Words Come From — a complete 45-minute lesson plan for Grades 6-8: objectives, warm-up, direct instruction, guided and independent practice, assessment, and differentiation. Free to read, no sign-in required. This resource is one of the student materials it uses.
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