Ojalá and the Moorish Conquest

Question

It is said that the word ‘Ojalá’ comes from the Moorish Conquest in the 8th century, when the Arabs became a powerful influence in Spain.

My question is, what other words came from the Moors being in Spain?

• Nice thread, mike - Heidita Sep 16, 2009
• Shouldn't that read "from the Moors being in Spain" - Eddy Sep 16, 2009
• Actuall, "from the Moors' being in Spain" - samdie Sep 17, 2009

Answer 1

Here is a list of Spanish words derived from Arabic with English translations that I came up when I was doing a paper for some linguistics course in grad school (it is not complete):

ajedrez: chess

Alá: Allah

alacrán: scorpion

albacora: albacore

albahaca: basil

alberca: tank, swimming pool

alcade: mayor

alcatraz: pelican

alcázar: fortress, palace

alcoba: bedroom, alcove

alcohol: alcohol

aldea: village (same source as English word "alderman")

alfombra: carpet

algarroba: carob

algodón: cotton

algoritmo: algorithm

alkimia: alchemy

almacén: storage

almanaque: almanac

almirante: admiral

almohada: pillow

alquiler: rent

amalgama: amalgam

arroz: rice

asesino: assassin

atún: tuna

ayatolá: ayatollah

azafrán: saffron

azúcar: sugar

azul: blue (same source as English "azure")

baño: bathroom

barrio: district

berenjena: eggplant

burca: burqa

café: coffee

cero: zero

chisme: gossip, gadget

Corán: Koran

cuzcuz: couscous

dado: die (singular of "dice")

embarazada: pregnant

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

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

sorbete: sherbet

sofá: sofa

rubio: blond

talco: talc

tamarindo: tamarind

tarea: task

tarifa: tariff

toronja: grapefruit

zanahoria: carrot

• Wow! - justoffnorma Sep 16, 2009
• ¡Muchísimas Gracias! - Mike-LaMar Sep 16, 2009

Answer 2

Mezquita must surely be one.

Answer 3

That is quite a list but I'm not sure I believe all those words came from Arabic.

Answer 4

You are welcome to prove me wrong if you like. Just go do the research.