These maps show the etymology of various words around Europe and the cultural background and influence of these words.

“Church” – Greek influence

“Garoful” – only northeastern Italy has kept the ancient Greek word for “rose”

Russia, with its large bear population has influenced “bear”

“Beer” in Europe but “pi” is the prefix for “beer” in some countries.

“Apple” has a lot of diversity and is of Indo-Iranian origin.

“Orange” comes from Sanskrit and means “apple from China”

Most “tea” comes from China

“Cucumber” – a diverse word

“Greece”, “Yunanistan” or “Hellas” – Only Norwegians and the Greeks refer to their country as Hellas and themselves as Hellenes. The name is a derivation of Eloi or Seli from the Greek inhabitants of the area around the sanctuary of Dodona. “Yunan” comes from the old Persian name for Eastern nations that comes from the ancient Greek colony of Ionia.

Perhaps you speak Greek and just don’t know it? Here are the origins of some Greek words (from a book by Annie Stefanides tracing the origin of Greek words titled  “You Speak Greek and You Just Don’t Know It”)