Spanish's Arab Connection
Spanish's Arab Connection
The introduction of Arabic words into Spanish began in earnest in the eighth century, although even before then some words of Latin and Greek origin had roots in Arabic. People living in what is now Spain spoke Latin at one time, of course, but over the centuries Spanish and other Romance languages such as French and Italian gradually differentiated themselves. The Latin dialect that eventually became Spanish was highly influenced by the invasion of the Arabic-speaking Moors in 711. For many centuries, Latin/Spanish and Arabic existed side by side, and even today many Spanish place names retain Arabic roots. It wasn't until late in the 15th century that the Moors were expelled, and by then literally thousands of Arabic words had become part of Spanish.
Here, we can find some of the most common Arabic-origin Spanish words. Many of the words also are a part of English. Although it is believed that the English words "alfalfa" and "alcove," which originally were Arabic, entered English by way of Spanish (alfalfa and alcoba), most Arabic words in English probably entered English by other routes.
Keep in mind also that Arabic has changed substantially since the 15th century. Arabic words from then aren't necessarily in use today, or they may have changed meaning.
aceite — oil aceituna — olive
adobe — adobe aduana — customs (as at a border)
ajedrez — chess Alá — Allah
alacrán — scorpion albacora — albacore
albahaca — basil alberca — tank, swimming pool
alcalde — mayor álcali — alkali
alcatraz — pelican alcázar — fortress, palace
alcoba — bedroom, alcove alcohol — alcohol
alfil — bishop (in chess) alfombra — carpet
algarroba — carob algodón — cotton
algoritmo — algorithm almacén — storage
almanaque — almanac almirante — admiral
almohada — pillow alquiler — rent
alquimia — alchemy amalgama — amalgam
añil — indigo arroba — @ symbol
arroz — rice asesino — assassin
atún — tuna ayatolá — ayatollah
azafrán — saffron azar — chance
azúcar — sugar azul — blue (same source as English "azure")
balde — bucket barrio — district
berenjena — eggplant burca — burqa
café — coffee cero — zero
chivo — billy goat cifra — cifra
Corán — Koran cuscús — couscous
dado — die (singular of "dice") espinaca — spinach
fez — fez fulano — what's-his-name
gacela — gazelle guitarra — guitar
hachís — hashish harén — harem
hasta — until imán — imam
islam — Islam jaque — check (in chess)
jaque mate — checkmate jirafa — giraffe
laca — lacquer lila — lilac
lima — lime limón — lemon
loco — crazy macabro — macabre
marfil — marble, ivory masacre — massacre
masaje — massage máscara — mask
mazapán — marzipan mezquita — mosque
momia — mummy mono — monkey
muslim — muslim naranja — orange
ojalá — I hope, God willing olé — bravo
paraíso — paradise ramadán — Ramadan
rehén — hostage rincón — corner, nook
sandía — watermelon sofá — sofa
sorbete — sherbet rubio — blond
talco — talc tamarindo — tamarind
tarea — task tarifa — tariff
tártaro — tartar taza — cup
toronja — grapefruit zafra — harvest
zanahoria — carrot zumo — juice
January 11, 2019
