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Where English words come from, Taught not just answered. 

A real-time, 1:1 lesson on Where English words come from: an AI teacher explains it out loud while it visualizes every step. Interrupt it, ask why, and it checks you got it, in 26 languages.

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The idea

What is Where English words come from?

Where English words come from is the study of etymology applied to English, a language with layered vocabulary. Its core everyday words (house, water, strong) are Germanic, inherited from Old English; a large layer of words for law, food and government (justice, beef, parliament) arrived with Norman French after 1066; and learned words in science and philosophy were built from Latin and Greek roots. Later trade and empire added words from Hindi, Arabic, Dutch and many others, such as shampoo, algebra and yacht.

Where it appears: A Level English Language, university linguistics and history of English, GRE and SAT vocabulary study, ICSE English.

Where learners get stuck

Why Where English words come from is hard

Learners see Germanic, French and Latin words for the same idea (kingly, royal, regal) and cannot tell why they differ in tone. Spelling preserves old pronunciations and foreign origins, which makes it look random.

The picture a good explanation starts with: A layered timeline of English from Old English through the Norman conquest to the Renaissance and empire, with sample words stacked in each layer and arrows from their source languages.

A lesson, step by step

How a lesson on Where English words come from goes

  1. 01

    Ask

    Type or say "Why does English have so many words for the same thing?" in your own words, in any of 26 languages.

  2. 02

    Plan

    The tutor plans a storyboard, one picture per idea, starting with a layered timeline of English from Old English through the Norman conquest to the Renaissance and empire, with sample words stacked in each layer and arrows from their source languages.

  3. 03

    Explain

    It explains Where English words come from out loud while the picture builds step by step, pitched to your level (A Level English Language and up).

  4. 04

    Interrupt

    Say "wait, why?" or type a doubt: it stops, answers over the picture, and carries on. Ask for a different explanation any time.

  5. 05

    Check

    A checkpoint question makes sure the idea landed, and Test Lab keeps the practice going.

  6. 06

    Your notes

    Upload a PDF or a photo of your class notes or a past paper and the lesson follows your textbook's terms.

Ask it anything

Questions learners ask about Where English words come from

  • Why does English have so many words for the same thing?
  • Which English words came from Hindi or other Indian languages?
  • How did French end up inside English after 1066?

Any of these, or your own, typed or spoken. The tutor answers on the picture and adapts to how well you are following.

Questions

Asked, Answered

Can LetMeTeach explain Where English words come from?

Yes. Ask in your own words and the tutor plans a lesson on Where English words come from: it starts with a layered timeline of English from Old English through the Norman conquest to the Renaissance and empire, with sample words stacked in each layer and arrows from their source languages. Then it explains each step out loud as the picture builds, stops when you say "wait, why?", and ends with a checkpoint question.

Where does Where English words come from come up?

A Level English Language, university linguistics and history of English, GRE and SAT vocabulary study, ICSE English. The lesson is pitched to your level and the exam or curriculum you follow, and you can upload your own notes or past papers so it uses your textbook's terms.

Can I learn Where English words come from in my own language?

Yes. LetMeTeach teaches in 26 languages and plans the lesson in the language you choose rather than translating an English one, so the terms match what your textbook says. The Free plan includes 7 hours a month with no card.

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How it works