Impossible Language Facts: How High Can You Score?

Question 1 of 10

The word "goodbye" is originally a contraction of which phrase?

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The questions

All 10 questions in this quiz. Correct answers stay hidden until you finish.

1. 1

   The word "goodbye" is originally a contraction of which phrase?

   • God be with you
   • Good day to you
2. 2

   Roughly how many living languages are spoken in the world today?

   • About 2,000
   • About 7,000
3. 3

   Which language has the most native speakers worldwide?

   • Mandarin Chinese
   • English
4. 4

   The word "robot" originates from which language?

   • Greek
   • Czech
5. 5

   The Japanese word "karaoke" literally means:

   • Empty orchestra
   • Singing bar

Score bands

Your final score places you in one of these bands.

Language Novice0-30 pts

The world of languages is vast and you have just stepped in. Every language expert started right here — give it another try!

Word Enthusiast31-60 pts

You know a thing or two about languages and their quirks. Dig a little deeper and you will find the world of words is more fascinating than you thought.

Language Buff61-80 pts

Your language knowledge is solid! Etymology, language families, and writing systems are your territory. One step away from the top.

Linguistics Genius81-100 pts

Your knowledge of languages is remarkable! Word origins, language families, and global language facts — you nailed them. You are a walking linguistics encyclopedia.

How this quiz works

Each question has one correct answer. When you finish, you get your score and can review every question with the correct answer and, where we have one, a short explanation.