Wanderwort

Wanderwort is a noun that refers to a word from one language that is used in many others. Our word of the day consists of two words that are German in origin, wander, meaning ‘to meander or travel,’ and ‘wort,’ for ‘word.’ Simply put, a wanderwort is a word that has travelled from one language to another — and sometimes to many others. Because it is from German and has landed in English, that means wanderwort itself is a wanderwort.