It’s amazing how much you are practicing your Arabic vocabulary by speaking everyday English words without even thinking. The language of the Moors spans centuries and has been one of the oldest languages in the world, dating back to prehistory!
Some Arabic words have found their way into the English language through other, older European languages such as Latin and French. These include sugar (coming from sugary), admiral(the flag officer second in command on a ship)
and many more!
Here are some examples of words with Arabic origin:
Alcohol
The word alcohol is derive from the Arabic word al-kuḥl ‘the kohl’ which in early use referred to powders, specifically those obtained by sublimation.
It is also use more generally as a reference for any powder or color matter that could be powder and hence had magical properties.
Algebra
The word “algorithm” comes from the Arabic term al-jabr, which means “the reunion of broken parts”. The 9th-century author was named Al Khwarizmi and this became mathematical meaning for algorithms in their book on math problems with solutions using logic.
The output demonstrates how they used mathematics to solve various kinds of exercises where one set part is missing; by reuniting them again we can have our answer!
Average
The word ‘avarie‘ comes from the Arabic term for damaged goods, which was originally used to describe an eye that had been lost.
Caravan
The word “ caravan” comes from the Arabic term for desert travelers, which was coined during the Christian crusades.
The etymology of this phrase can be traced back to a Persian originally meaning group or troupe in disguise; it is also possible that they were call karwan because their movements look like those made by bending arrows together (kulf).
Checkmate
The word checkmate is an interesting one. It’s originally the Arabic word shah mat “the king died” which according to some etymologists was a misinterpretation of the Persian language and meant “to die”.
Coffee
Coffee has been around for centuries and comes from several sources, but the most popular theory is that it stems back to the Arabic term “qahwah” which means wine. There are also suggestions of where this name come into existence like the Kaffa region in Ethiopia where they call their drink būno before being borrow into English as “coffee.”
Cotton
The word is obtain from the Arabic qutn, meaning “a kind of small building used as a workshop or storehouse.”
Candy
The word “candy” is extracted from the Arabic language. The definition of this tasty treat states that it comes through a combination of sukkar, which means sugar in its most basic form; and qandī (candied).
Ghoul
Ghoul is a legendary evil being that feeds on corpses. The word ghul comes from the Arabic root gala which means “seize” or “to get.”
Giraffe
Zareefah
It’s interesting to note that while most English words come from either Latin or Greek roots, this one is different. Instead of coming through French or Spanish as we know them now, it starts out in Arabic and then switches over to something completely new!
Lemon and Lime
The words lemon and lime come from the Arabic laimun, which according to the Online Etymology Dictionary was brought over by Arabians before being adopt in English.
Mattress
In the 15th century, Arabic matrah introduced sleeping on cushions to Europe. The word “mattress” is an Italian borrowing of this term which was brought over by the Latin language meaning ‘bedstead.’
Magazine
The word “magazine” is a business term that originated from the Arabic language. It means “storehouse” and came into English during 1611 when it was borrowed into Modern Norse as ᛗᚺញ្ὑ Pickering Blundell points out in his article on Etymologicon Blog: The evolution of magazine – Warehouse or place where goods are stored.”
The original meaning has almost become obsolete but we still use them today!
Orange
The Arabic traders who brought the first oranges to Spain called them naranjas, which became Spanish. Then they went by way of French (which we speak today) and into old English as an orange. Then new French again before finding its way onto our plates in England as well where it has been known since 1287!
Saffron
Saffron has been around for centuries and it’s name comes from Arabic. The Online Etymology Dictionary says that Russian shafran‘ is also a word meaning “red”. Which was brought over by people who invade Central Asia in ancient times. But there are still many questions about how this spice got its start!
Safari
When you think of Safari, Africa comes to mind. The Swahili word for an expedition is safar which means journey in Arabic. This ultimately lead to it being associate with travel and tourism on the African continent!
Sofa
The Arabic word suffa mention to a raised, carpeted platform on which people sat. The passage of time caused this item’s name in Turkish and then English for noshing around with friends or family members!
Sugar
Arabic traders were the first people in Europe to use sugar . And they called it sukkar which means “tastes good” or “ enjoyable” in their native language.
Zero
The number zero was first introduced numerals to the European continent by Fibonacci. He was an Italian mathematician who grew up in North Africa and learned Arabic as his native language. He Latinized zephyr (a word from this dialect) into equivoque; then adopted it for use with Roman