English is a Germanic  language. That means it shares a common origin with languages like German, Norwegian and Danish, all part of the same Indo-European language family. You might expect, then, that English and German would look very similar—but the reality is more complex. The English language is a blend of influences. Over time, it has absorbed vocabulary from Latin, French , Spanish,  Greek and beyond, especially after the Norman Conquest. Still, many words in English are Germanic in origin, inherited from Old English or borrowed more recently from the German language. This mix makes English a fascinating case study in etymology. Some of the most common English words we use constantly come from Proto-Germanic roots, while others entered the language later as loanwords. You probably already know a few—like gesundheit or kindergarten —but there are many more that might surprise you. Below is a list of Germanic words in English, grouped by theme.…