How many languages have contributed words to the English vocabulary?

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Global use of the English language — English language Map showing the use of English as a first language, as an important second language, and as an official language in countries around the world.

The English language is characterized by its openness to vocabulary expansion, a trait that has allowed it to incorporate words from more than 350 languages throughout its history.12

This process of borrowing, known as the use of loanwords, occurs as speakers encounter new objects, concepts, or cultures. While English is fundamentally a Germanic language in its grammar and sound patterns, its lexicon has been significantly shaped by this extensive history of contact with other linguistic groups.12