Which loan words exist in current German, what is their origin and what role do they play within the German vocabulary as a whole? For the first time, this book describes in a systematic and easy-to-read manner how an important and multifaceted part of German vocabulary has been developing for centuries and still is evolving today. Knowledge of facts is the best advisor even in public controversies on loan words, and this is why the book is aimed at a wider audience. Where special knowledge is required, the reader will find complete and easy-to-understand explanations.