Multiple choice general knowledge

From which language did the word Bank originate

  1. Arabic

  2. Greek

  3. Egyptian

  4. Italian

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The word 'bank' comes from the Italian 'banca' meaning bench - money lenders sat on benches in marketplaces. Option D is correct. The word did NOT originate from Arabic, Greek, or Egyptian as options A, B, and C suggest.

AI explanation

The English word "bank" comes from the Italian word "banco," meaning bench or counter. During the Renaissance, Italian moneylenders and merchants (notably in cities like Florence and Venice) conducted their financial transactions at outdoor benches or tables in marketplaces, and this practice gave the trade — and eventually the institution — its name. Arabic contributed many finance-related loanwords to English (e.g., "cheque" has disputed Persian/Arabic links), but not "bank." Greek and Egyptian have no etymological connection to this word at all. "Italian" is the historically and linguistically supported origin, tracing further back to a Germanic root (bank/banc, meaning bench) that entered Italian and then spread into French (banque) and English.