foreign
UK: ˈfɒr.ɪn | US: ˈfɔːr.ən
adj. belonging to or from another country or nation
adj. unfamiliar or strange
adj. not relevant or appropriate
The word "foreign" traces back to Latin foris ("outside"), reflecting the concept of being "beyond the door" (i.e., not native). It entered English via Old French forain, which originally described something external or alien. Over time, the spelling shifted to "foreign" in Middle English, retaining the core idea of "otherness" or "outsider status." The morpheme for- preserves the "outside" meaning, while -eign subtly hints at relational qualities.
She speaks three foreign languages fluently.
The customs seemed foreign to the travelers.
His argument was foreign to the main topic.
The company expanded into foreign markets.
The concept of privacy is not foreign to their culture.