Some of the most common words used today actually started as mistakes. The English language is famous for its adaptability, as it borrows words from other languages and turns linguistic accidents into permanent additions. From medieval courtrooms to modern computer science, here are nine fascinating examples of words that became part of our dictionary through memorable misunderstandings.
An algorithm is a set mathematical process with clear steps to arrive at the right answer. But the word “algorithm” is a mistranslation of the name of ninth-century Persian mathematician Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī, which was Latinized into “Algoritmi.” So, a fundamental mathematics term comes from a mispronounced name.
The Old English word fnesan means “to snort.” But as writing and penmanship changed, it caused confusion between the letter “s” and the letter “f.” Fnesan became snesan — the origins of “sneeze.” Gesundheit!
A tornado is a flurry of winds, maybe blowing so loudly that people couldn’t hear the correct word. The etymology of “tornado” is unclear, but it’s close enough to the Spanish words tronada, meaning “thunder,” and tornar, meaning “to turn.” A combination of the two, perhaps due to a conflation of their sounds, created the English word “tornado.”
In the Middle Ages, the language of law was French. This word may have originated from a misinterpretation of a common abbreviation in legal documents, cul.prist. The full phrase was prest d’averrer notre bille, or “we’re ready to prove your indictment.” The abbreviation cul.prist indicated a “guilty” verdict. As English became more common, “culprit” was created by people confusing the verdict for the person.
The word “pea” is a backformation, a word created from an existing word. The original form of the green legume was “pease,” with the plural “pesen.” However, “pease” was mistaken for the plural, and people quickly began calling the singular “pea.” The mistake stuck, and now “peas” is the plural of “pea.”
Like “culprit,” “ammunition” is from French, a dominant Middle Ages language. The word la munition, meaning “weapon,” was misheard by English speakers as “ammunition,” which maintains its firing power today.
Sherry is a strong, sometimes sweet Spanish wine. The name is commonly believed to be a misinterpretation of the Spanish vino de Xeres.
Chassé is a French ballet term, meaning “to move across the floor, jump, and bring your feet together.” But English ears heard it and wrote down “sashay,” meaning “a sassy, dance-like walk.”
“Varsity” now strictly refers to high school sports, but it comes from “university.” It’s a shortening and misspelling based on an archaic pronunciation.
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