Oh yes, summer has arrived. Time to pack your bags, soak up the sun and enjoy a well-earned holiday. Finally relaxing under your parasol? Feel free to entertain your friends and family with one of our language facts: “Do you know where 'bikini' comes from? Once upon a time, …” Score! You’re welcome, and have a great summer!
July and August: Roman roots
Two months of generous sunshine. It shouldn’t be a surprise that the months of 'July' and 'August' owe their names to two important rulers. July was named after the Roman general and conqueror Julius Caesar. Forty years later, his successor Augustus became the first emperor of the Roman Empire. In recognition of his important victories across Europe, he too received his very own month.
Bikini: explosive name
Bikini is an uninhabited island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It doesn't get any more idyllic. And yet the Americans chose this piece of paradise to test their nukes. The inventor of the two-piece bikini recognised an appealing metaphor: his minimalist swimming attire would make an impact like a bomb.
Bermuda shorts: from formal uniform to a look for the summer
Bermuda is a tropical island in the Atlantic Ocean and part of the United Kingdom. The American tourists who flocked there copied the typical shorts worn by British soldiers. A new fashion style was born and the name was quickly found.
Picnic: cosy outdoor dining
Quiz question: where does 'picnic' come from? “Oh, oh … I know, I know: it’s English!” Wrong. The term comes from the French 'piquenique'. Which is a palatable compound of 'piquer' (picking something) and 'nique' (something trivial or small). Definitely something to mention next time you settle down on a patch of fabric in the grass with a plate full of amuse-bouches.
Golf: from the Netherlands to Scotland
The ideal mix of sport and a relaxed stroll on a summery day? A round of golf is the perfect choice. The word originated in the Netherlands. The Dutch would play 'colf' in the 14th century, a game where they would hit a ball with a stick over the ice of frozen canals. A pastime that travelled to Scotland through trade relations, where it continued to develop. The Scots called the game 'goff', which became 'golf' in the 16th century.
Barbecue: hoist the pirate flag
There’s more to barbecuing than letting your meat char and telling your guests that's how it’s supposed to be. You can really sink your teeth in this language lesson. Because BBQ comes from the Caribbean 'barbacoa', a wooden structure for roasting meat. Like true 17th-century foodies, French and English buccaneers adopted the technique of slow-roasting meat to enhance its shelf life from native pirates. And with the technique, they also imported the name.
Carpaccio: art on your plate
In 1950, Giuseppe Cipriani was facing a big problem in the kitchen of Harry's Bar. One of the regulars of the Venice-based café, Countess Amalia Mocenigo, would only eat raw meat for her health. But Madam did not like to waste time. Cipriani came up with a solution. “What if I cut the meat into very thin slices? She’ll finish her meal in no time. Fantastico! I will name my new dish after the blood-red attire seen in the paintings of Vittore Carpaccio.” Easy as pie!
Cocktail: mixed explanations
It’s not entirely clear where the word ‘cocktail’ came from. Some believe it derives from the French 'coquetier', an egg cup that pharmacists in New Orleans would use to serve their mixed drinks. Others refer to a cosy Irish pub in 1779, where landlady Betsy Flanagan served a French customer a mixed drink. To brighten it up a bit, she put two cock feathers in the glass. To which the distinguished Frenchman exclaimed “Vive le cocktail” (“Long live the cock’s tail”). True or not, it’s definitely creative.
Treat yourself to a magnificent summer
Prefer to relax in the summer sun over wrestling with elusive words at your computer? Leave your challenging translations and copywriting to ELAN Languages' experts. They’re sure to capture your audience’s attention.