| In Spanish this is properly dinero, but is also called plata, pasta & many other things |
money |
200 |
November 30, 2022 |
| Sacré Dieu!, "holy God!", evolved into this more familiar & colorful expression |
<i>sacrebleu</i> |
400 |
November 30, 2022 |
| Oddly, in Italian you can wish someone luck with "in bocca al lupo", "in the mouth of" this fierce animal |
a wolf |
600 |
November 30, 2022 |
| A reporter from the U.S. encounters the crime syndicate known by this Japanese name in TV's "Tokyo Vice" |
yakuza |
800 |
November 30, 2022 |
| This word for a coup is used of the unsuccessful Kapp & Beer Hall ones in 1920s Germany |
a <i>putsch</i> |
1000 |
November 30, 2022 |
| Fiat lux translates to "let there be" this |
light |
200 |
March 15, 2022 |
| German for "highway", it actually does have an advisory limit of 81 mph |
<i>autobahn</i> |
400 |
March 15, 2022 |
| As in the song, despacito is Spanish for this adverb |
slowly |
600 |
March 15, 2022 |
| Literally "good word", it's a witty remark; en français, S'il vous plait! |
<i>bon mot</i> |
800 |
March 15, 2022 |
| This word that starts & ends with "U" means freedom in Swahili; it's one letter off from a classic TV character's name |
<i>uhuru</i> |
1000 |
March 15, 2022 |
| This German exclamation means "health" |
<i>gesundheit</i> |
200 |
November 15, 2021 |
| I have found it, it being this Greek word that means "I have found it!" |
<i>eureka</i> |
400 |
November 15, 2021 |
| French for "good journey", it's what you wish someone before they set off on a trip |
<i>bon voyage</i> |
600 |
November 15, 2021 |
| This Spanish phrase literally means "until the view" & is used to mean "see you later" |
<i>hasta la vista</i> |
800 |
November 15, 2021 |
| Let's give thanks in Japanese, this word |
<i>arigato</i> |
1000 |
November 15, 2021 |
| The keffiyeh is worn by Arabs on this body part; it's believed the red-&-white check ones began as a Marxist symbol |
the head |
200 |
April 22, 2021 |
| A song of farewell to Italy's capital is titled this word, "Roma" |
Arrivederci |
400 |
April 22, 2021 |
| This Turkish word is a synonym for destiny or fate |
<i>kismet</i> |
600 |
April 22, 2021 |
| Ballet & French give us this phrase that means "step of two" |
<i>pas de deux</i> |
800 |
April 22, 2021 |
| Add an A to a similar English word to get this Greek word for the type of small restaurant advertised here |
<i>taverna</i> |
1000 |
April 22, 2021 |
| In the original Italian, this coffee drink with steamed milk has "caffé" before it |
latte |
200 |
October 25, 2019 |
| The name of this craft is Japanese for "folding paper" |
origami |
400 |
October 25, 2019 |
| Oy, you're so clumsy--in fact, you're this Yiddish word for a clumsy person, from a word meaning "wooden beam" |
a klutz |
600 |
October 25, 2019 |
| The name of this mythical sea monster was released from the Norwegian language |
the Kraken |
800 |
October 25, 2019 |
| A pair of Mandarin ducks in your home are great for love luck in this harmonious Chinese living space practice |
feng shui |
1000 |
October 25, 2019 |
| Latin: "To a sickening degree" |
<i>ad nauseam</i> |
200 |
October 17, 2018 |
| French: "Pen name" |
<i>nom de plume</i> |
400 |
October 17, 2018 |
| German: "Lightning war" |
<i>Blitzkrieg</i> |
600 |
October 17, 2018 |
| Italian: "In the style of a chapel" |
<i>a capella</i> |
800 |
October 17, 2018 |
| Russian: "Grandmother" |
<i>babushka</i> |
1000 |
October 17, 2018 |
| The name of this strong coffee means "pressed" |
espresso |
200 |
March 21, 2017 |
| This Hebrew phrase literally means "good luck" & is often used for "congratulations" |
mazel tov |
400 |
March 21, 2017 |
| This 2-word Arabic salutation means "Peace be with you" |
assalamu alaikum |
600 |
March 21, 2017 |
| If you're learning karate or judo, you go to this type of Japanese-named school |
a dojo |
800 |
March 21, 2017 |
| Similar to a parka, this jacket gets its name from Eskimos |
an anorak |
1000 |
March 21, 2017 |
| This 11-letter word for a nightclub for dancing is French for "library of music records" |
a discotheque |
200 |
January 18, 2017 |
| The name of this type of collective farm is Hebrew for "gathering" or "collective" |
a kibbutz |
400 |
January 18, 2017 |
| The 2-word title of this Wayne Newton song is the German equivalent of "thank you very much" |
"Danke Schoen" |
600 |
January 18, 2017 |
| The Spanish name of these appetizers means "cover" because they were originally put on top of glasses as "lids" |
tapas |
800 |
January 18, 2017 |
| Au revoir, in Russian |
do svidaniya |
1000 |
January 18, 2017 |
| Gracias is Spanish for "thank you" & this phrase means "thank you very much" |
muchas gracias |
200 |
January 9, 2014 |
| In Japanese tani is valley; yama is this |
mountain |
400 |
January 9, 2014 |
| In Portuguese these 2 antonyms are cedo & tarde |
early & late |
600 |
January 9, 2014 |
| Afrikaaners can tell you this is Dutch for "farmer" |
boer |
800 |
January 9, 2014 |
| The ability to say or do the right thing with grace, it's French for "to know how to do" |
savoir-faire |
1000 |
January 9, 2014 |
| Said before a toast & after a sneeze, it means health in German |
<i>Gesundheit</i> |
200 |
December 26, 2011 |
| Someone who takes the opposite side of an argument for argument's sake is "advocatus diaboli", or this |
Devil\'s advocate |
400 |
December 26, 2011 |
| While nom de plume is a pen name, this phrase, "war name", is simply any pseudonym |
<i>nom de guerre</i> |
600 |
December 26, 2011 |
| Italian for "the sweet life", it was popularized by a 1960 Fellini film |
<i>la dolce vita</i> |
800 |
December 26, 2011 |
| This Greek word is also used in English & means a cleansing of the emotions, especially pity & fear |
catharsis |
1000 |
December 26, 2011 |
| This, a collective settlement, usually agricultural, is from the modern Hebrew for "gathering" |
kibbutz |
200 |
November 15, 2011 |
| This 5-letter Latin word meaning "about" or "around" is used of approximate dates |
circa |
400 |
November 15, 2011 |
| Arabic gives us the names of both a plant & this bath sponge made from that plant |
a loofah |
600 |
November 15, 2011 |
| This Italian term describes music that has no instrumental accompaniment |
<i>a cappella</i> |
800 |
November 15, 2011 |
| German for "shape" gives us this name of a school of psychology |
Gestalt |
1000 |
November 15, 2011 |
| Before a trip, it's proper to wish someone "bon" this, whether they're traveling by ship or not |
<i>voyage</i> |
200 |
July 20, 2007 |
| In many places of business, "no zapatos, no service", "zapatos" being Spanish for these |
shoes |
400 |
July 20, 2007 |
| Italian for "to the tooth", it's how to order your pasta if you want it a little firm |
<i>al dente</i> |
600 |
July 20, 2007 |
| Germany's superhighway, it's the equivalent of our expressways |
the Autobahn |
800 |
July 20, 2007 |
| "Seize the day", I tell you, but do it with this Latin phrase |
carpe diem |
1000 |
July 20, 2007 |
| German bibliophiles know that a Buchhandlung is this type of retail store |
a bookstore |
200 |
April 12, 2006 |
| To a Dutchman this clothing accessory is a zakdoek, & is something to sneeze at |
handkerchief |
400 |
April 12, 2006 |
| In Greek this 2-word phrase means "the many"; it refers to the common people |
<i>hoi polloi</i> |
600 |
April 12, 2006 |
| (Kelly of the Clue Crew gives an etymology lesson on the monitor.) According to Grimm's Law, the ancient "D" became our "T" sound, and the German sound "Ts", so Latin "duo" became "two" in English & this word in German |
<i>zwei</i> |
800 |
April 12, 2006 |
| "Margaritas ante porcos" means this in Latin, not "Your aunt has had too many margaritas" |
pearls before swine |
|
April 12, 2006 |
| If you're really hungry, pig out on one of these, the Swedish equivalent of a buffet |
a smorgasbord |
200 |
November 18, 2004 |
| We commonly use this 4-word French phrase to mean "the best of the best" |
<i>creme de la creme</i> |
400 |
November 18, 2004 |
| It's what the Norwegians call a long, narrow inlet of the sea between steep cliffs |
fjord |
600 |
November 18, 2004 |
| After some fierce flamencoing, you might hear cries of this, Spanish for "water" |
agua |
800 |
November 18, 2004 |
| If you're eager, enthusiastic, rarin' & read to go, you're this, from the Chinese meaning "work together" |
gung-ho |
1000 |
November 18, 2004 |
| It's the Turkish word for fate or destiny |
kismet |
200 |
September 24, 2004 |
| (Cheryl of the Clue Crew eats a slice of pizza on Arthur Avenue in New York.) A motto on Arthur Avenue is "mangia bene, vivi bene", which translates to this |
eat well, live well |
400 |
September 24, 2004 |
| A statement that has nothing to do with the argument at hand, this Latin term literally means "it does not follow" |
<i>non-sequitur</i> |
600 |
September 24, 2004 |
| This 2-word French phrase is used of a monomaniacal obsession |
<i>idée fixe</i> |
800 |
September 24, 2004 |
| Literally Welsh for "session", it's an annual get-together of Welsh bards & musicians |
eisteddfod |
1000 |
September 24, 2004 |
| Frau & fraulein are terms for women in this language |
German |
200 |
May 7, 2004 |
| Literally meaning "to God", it's how you say good-bye in Spanish |
<i>adiós</i> |
400 |
May 7, 2004 |
| If you're in a store in Spain & you see a sign over a door saying "Salida", it means this |
exit |
600 |
May 7, 2004 |
| This Hebrew phrase meaning "good luck" is popularly used to express congratulations |
mazel tov |
200 |
April 15, 2004 |
| Italian for "first lady", it can refer to an opera singer or someone who's just spoiled |
prima donna |
400 |
April 15, 2004 |
| In Japanese umi is sea or ocean & yama is this |
mountain |
800 |
April 15, 2004 |
| An artist or writer's greatest work is often referred to by this 2-word Latin phrase |
magnum opus |
1000 |
April 15, 2004 |
| Germans call a pear birne; a strawberry, erdbeere; & this fruit weintraube |
grape |
|
April 15, 2004 |
| The name of this ceremonial form of Japanese suicide means to "cut your belly" |
hara-kiri (seppuku) |
100 |
April 19, 2001 |
| Yiddish for "a gossipy woman", it's derived from a woman's name |
Yenta |
200 |
April 19, 2001 |
| A Chinese form of self-defense, its name means "work man" |
Kung Fu |
300 |
April 19, 2001 |
| Spanish for "little war", it's a member of a small band of irregular soldiers who harass the enemy by surprise raids |
Guerrilla |
400 |
April 19, 2001 |
| This French phrase for a death blow given to put one out of his misery literally means "stroke of mercy" |
Coup de Grace |
500 |
April 19, 2001 |
| A Spanish–speaking host may say, "Mi casa es su casa", "My" this "is your" this |
house |
100 |
February 9, 2001 |
| It's the English meaning of the title of Wayne Newton's hit song "Danke Schoen" |
"Thank You" |
200 |
February 9, 2001 |
| From Yiddish, it can mean liquid chicken fat or a sappy, sentimental story |
schmaltz |
300 |
February 9, 2001 |
| Dobre utra means "Good morning" in this language spoken in Omsk & Tomsk |
Russia |
400 |
February 9, 2001 |
| If you meet a fine Finn in a bar, ask for this by saying, "Mika on puhelin numeronne" |
"May I have your phone number?" |
500 |
February 9, 2001 |
| If a Frenchwoman receives a billet-doux, she's gotten one of these |
Love letter |
100 |
November 26, 1999 |
| C-H-O-W is food; pronounced the same but spelled this way, it's Italian for "goodbye" |
C-I-A-O |
200 |
November 26, 1999 |
| An off-the-cuff speech is made this way, from a 2-word Latin phrase that literally means "out of the time" |
extemporaneously |
300 |
November 26, 1999 |
| It's the Arabic equivalent of the Hebrew shalom |
Salaam |
400 |
November 26, 1999 |
| Now hear this! Das ohr is German for this body part |
Ear |
100 |
January 11, 1999 |
| French for "In the fashion", it's a fashionable way to serve pie |
A la mode |
200 |
January 11, 1999 |
| This Yiddish word can mean to lug a load, or to drag oneself |
Schlep |
300 |
January 11, 1999 |
| Practitioners of karate & judo refer to their training school by this 4-letter Japanese name |
Dojo |
400 |
January 11, 1999 |
| Meaning clandestine, the Spanish phrase "capa y espada" translates to this common English phrase |
Cloak and dagger |
500 |
January 11, 1999 |
| Romanians call this day Joi, while Swedes know it as Torsdag |
Thursday |
100 |
June 25, 1997 |
| When sightsseing in France, you should know that entree libre means this |
Free admission |
200 |
June 25, 1997 |
| In Portuguese these 2 antonyms are cedo & tarde |
Early & late |
300 |
June 25, 1997 |
| In Spain you might go shopping for una chaqueta -- a jacket -- made of cuero, this |
Leather |
400 |
June 25, 1997 |
| In the Netherlands this popular winter sport is called schaatsenrijden |
Ice skating |
500 |
June 25, 1997 |
| In German these 2 relatives are der bruder & die schwester |
your brother & your sister |
100 |
January 4, 1996 |
| On a Dutch beach a sign reading "verboden te zwemmen" would indicate this |
swimming is forbidden |
200 |
January 4, 1996 |
| French for "in fashion", it's the phrase used when ordering ice cream on top of pie |
<i>a la mode</i> |
300 |
January 4, 1996 |
| In Greece a doctor would refer to your liver as sikoti & this organ as nefro |
your kidney |
400 |
January 4, 1996 |
| Japanese for "exalted gate", it was the title formerly used for the emperor of Japan |
<i>mikado</i> |
500 |
January 4, 1996 |
| The Spanish term for these scrambled items is huevos revueltos |
eggs |
100 |
September 27, 1995 |
| When shopping in Lisbon, you may want to ask, "Quanto custa?", which means this |
"How much does it cost?" |
200 |
September 27, 1995 |
| In Dutch, apricots are abrikozen, figs are vijgen & this fruit is kokosnoot |
coconut |
300 |
September 27, 1995 |
| The French refer to this season of the year as l'hiver |
winter |
400 |
September 27, 1995 |
| Italians call this country La Svezia |
Sweden |
500 |
September 27, 1995 |
| Romanians call this musical instrument a flaut |
Flute |
100 |
November 17, 1993 |
| Travelers in Italy should know that the sign "Fermata d'Autobus" means this |
bus stop |
200 |
November 17, 1993 |
| "Buon dia" is Portuguese for this greeting |
Good Day! |
300 |
November 17, 1993 |
| In Norwegian this body part is the tommelfinger |
the thumb |
400 |
November 17, 1993 |
| The Spanish word for this ever-popular hobby is jardineria |
Gardening |
500 |
November 17, 1993 |
| In Esperanto this animal is a porko |
a pig |
100 |
November 9, 1993 |
| Julio isn't just Mr. Iglesias' first name, it's the Spanish word for this month |
July |
200 |
November 9, 1993 |
| If an Italian doctor tells you "apra la bocca", he wants you to open this |
your mouth |
300 |
November 9, 1993 |
| "Bitte stutzen sie den schnurrbart" means "Please trim my moustache" in this language |
German |
400 |
November 9, 1993 |
| In French this piece of camping equipment is un sac de couchage |
a sleeping bag |
500 |
November 9, 1993 |
| "J'ai perdu un verre de contact" means "I've lost a contact lens" in this language |
French |
100 |
February 16, 1993 |
| Your parents might not want you to stay out past mitternacht, which is this time in German |
midnight |
200 |
February 16, 1993 |
| The Esperanto word for this relative is kuzo: if you don't know it, you can figure it out |
cousin |
300 |
February 16, 1993 |
| "Ik spreek geen Nederlands" means "I do not speak" this language |
Dutch |
400 |
February 16, 1993 |
| Yes, it's Swedish for "yes" |
ja |
500 |
February 16, 1993 |
| French for "very much" or "very many", it often comes after "merci" |
beaucoup |
100 |
October 14, 1992 |
| Dorothy Lamour could tell you it's Malay for a long, colorful cloth worn as a skirt or dress |
a sarong |
200 |
October 14, 1992 |
| Skiers use this Norwegian word to describe a zigzag course, or a race on such a course |
a slalom |
300 |
October 14, 1992 |
| In Japanese kon ba wa means "good evening" & this means "good afternoon" |
konnichiwa |
400 |
October 14, 1992 |
| Derived from a word meaning "cup", it's the Scandinavian equivalent of "cheers" or "to your health" |
skol |
500 |
October 14, 1992 |
| This Hebrew drinking toast literally means "To Life!" |
L\'chaim |
100 |
November 7, 1991 |
| For bravery in action a French soldier might receive this decoration meaning "cross of war" |
the Croix de Guerre |
200 |
November 7, 1991 |
| This French term can describe a chicken, ham & cheese dish or the master chef who prepared it |
Cordon bleu |
300 |
November 7, 1991 |
| Negus, Amharic for king, was the title formerly given to emperors of this African country |
Ethiopia |
400 |
November 7, 1991 |
| "Locos y ninos dicen la verdad" is the Spanish way of saying "Fools and children" do this |
Speak the truth |
500 |
November 7, 1991 |
| If you can tell me what "gelt" means in Yiddish, you'll earn some right now |
money |
100 |
October 10, 1991 |
| Benito Mussolini took this title meaning "the leader" |
Il Duce |
200 |
October 10, 1991 |
| French for "false step", it's another way of saying blunder or gaffe |
<i>faux pas</i> |
300 |
October 10, 1991 |
| This 2nd-highest honors distinction at graduation is Latin for "with great praise" |
<i>magna cum laude</i> |
400 |
October 10, 1991 |
| Referring to the sacred books of Hinduism, "Veda" means knowledge in this classical language |
Sanskrit |
500 |
October 10, 1991 |
| The literal meaning of "grand prix", it's what the fastest racer might bring home |
big prize (grand prize) |
100 |
June 13, 1991 |
| Greek for "seat of authority"; the pope speaks "ex" or "from" there |
<i>cathedra</i> |
200 |
June 13, 1991 |
| It's Italian for both "please" & "you're welcome", but not "spaghetti sauce" |
<i>prego</i> |
300 |
June 13, 1991 |
| Yiddish for "piece", it's a performer's piece of business |
<i>shtick</i> |
400 |
June 13, 1991 |
| French for "look for the woman", implying that's where'll find the trouble |
<i>cherchez la femme</i> |
500 |
June 13, 1991 |