Foreign Words & Phrases
Latin for the school, college, or university you attended.
What is Alma Mater?
This group of individuals appear on U.S. banknotes.
Who are important figures in the founding of the United States of America?
Louisa May Alcott’s Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy in Little Women.
Who are the March sisters?
Vivian Vance is the sidekick in more than one sitcom to this actress born August 6, 1911.
Who is Lucille Ball?
On August 29, 2005, the New Orleans area was hit with this natural disaster.
What is Hurricane Katrina?
Italian for “outside” or “open air”—most often used with dining.
What is alfresco?
This decreases the purchasing power of money.
What is inflation?
This is Agatha Christie’s amateur female detective.
Who is Miss (Jane) Marple?
Born August 23, 1978, this former Los Angeles Laker NBA player died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
Who is Kobe Bryant?
On August 10, 1846, this museum complex in Washington, D.C., was granted a charter by the U.S. Congress.
What is the Smithsonian Institution?
Yiddish word for gutsy, brash, audacious.
What is chutzpah?
This U.S. law enforcement branch was created to stop counterfeiting.
What is Secret Service?
This is Charlotte Brontë’s eponymous heroine whose life is full of trials and tribulations. After years of separation, she and Rochester finally marry.
Who is Jane Eyre?
Born August 26, 1980, Macaulay Culkin catapulted to stardom in this Christmas movie.
What is Home Alone?
On August 3, 1914, these two European countries kicked off World War I by declaring war.
What are France and Germany?
Latin for “who benefits,” often used in a political context. For example, when something unpopular becomes a law or regulation, people often wonder, “Who benefits?”
What is cui bono?
This country debuted paper banknotes more than 1,000 years ago.
What is China?
From the imagination of Edward Stratemeyer, this iconic, teenage sleuth first appeared in the 1930s.
Who is Nancy Drew?
Born August 31, 1952, this Canadian-born designer is half of the HGTV hit show Love It or List It.
Who is Hillary (Farr)?
On August 22, 564, this monster was allegedly first sighted in Scotland.
What is Loch Ness?
German word you might use to describe taking delight in others’ troubles.
What is schadenfreude?
This country was the first to debut polymer notes.
What is Australia?
In Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, she knits the names of those who would be charged or executed during the French Revolution.
Who is Madame (Thérèse) Defarge?
Born August 8, 1988, she is the eldest daughter of Prince Andrew.
Who is Princess Beatrice (of York)?
On August 31, 1980, this labor union, which led to the demise of Communism in the Eastern Bloc countries, was founded by Lech Walesa.
What is Solidarity?