Arabic words in the Spanish language?????

Question

hi everyone i am doing a research about the influence of Arabic language on the modern Spanish language? so i need your help tell me about the Arabic word that u use in your every day life. i have read hundreds of Spanish words with Arabic origin but i wanna know are all these words still alive

Answer 1

Ojalá, God willing or hopefully comes from the Arabic Insallah which also means God willing.

It's a beautiful word even to an atheist. It is used in everyday, sometimes mundane, phrases which don't always seem to deserve "God willing."

Ojalá que pueda encontrar un vestido lindo. Hopefully I can find a nice dress.

• This is so cool to learn! Thanks dandi!! - garytruckey Dec 25, 2009

Answer 2

You can find some here, here, and here

• Wow I had no idea there were so many! - 003487d6 Dec 24, 2009

Answer 3

Yes U R right i have read that "Most of the Spanish words beginning with al- (or with a- since the article was often slurred and left without its letter L) are Spanish versions of Arabi words."

Answer 4

aceite - oil

aceituna - olive

adobe - adobe

aduana - customs

ajedrez - chess

albahaca - basil

albóndiga - meat ball

alcalde - mayor

álcali - alkali

alcohol - alcohol

álgebra - algebra

almacén - warehouse

almohada - pillow

alquilar - rent

asesino - assassin

atacar - attack

azafrán - saffron

azúcar - sugar

etc.

• please i want to know the meaning of this words, thank you - maro Dec 24, 2009

Answer 5

thank U 4 replying and im very glad to be a member of this forum

i need more word plz

Answer 6

I'm not sure but I would guess that many of the words in Spanish that begin with AL are Arabic in origin. I know that Alfombra (rug, carpet) and Almohada (pillow, cushion) both do.

I picture Arabian Nights with tons of lovely, brightly-colored almohadas and alfombras.

Answer 7

Thank U alll i think the Diccionario de Palabras Españolas de Origen Árabe

will help me the most

By the way i do not speak Spanish. I only speak Arabic and English but after so many readings about the Spanish language i become so eager to learn it.

• :) - 003487d6 Dec 24, 2009

Answer 8

I wondered if the word -alquimista (alchemist) is of Arabic origin I am reading the novel "El Alquimista " by Paulo Coelho (slowly) in Spanish - so this word is still alive,to me.

• It is. - lorenzo9 Dec 24, 2009
• Lo he leído en inglés. Por leerlo, se puede entender las razones por las que hay tantas palabras en español de origen árabe. - 003487d6 Dec 24, 2009
• Sí,estoy de acuerdo - pintor Dec 24, 2009

Answer 9

Plz i need more participants i have to prove that the modern Spanish language is still influenced by Arabic

Answer 10

I have wondered for some time if the word 'mesa' (table) originates from the arabic 'mezza' or 'meze' which I recall someone at a hotel in Cairo telling me meant 'table'. Can anyone confirm this?

Also 'camisa' sounds to me as if it must be related to the Arabic 'Qamis' which also means 'shirt'. (and is also used in Urdu - shalwaar kamees)

I'll try to think of more.

hth Sally

• Mesa and camisa both come from Latin. - lorenzo9 Dec 24, 2009
• I live in Turkey which has great influence of Arabic words and meze means cold plate (starters) with alcohol. - neslita Dec 24, 2009
• we have these words in Arabic but i don`t know about thier origin. Arabic has also borrowed words form European languages in modern times - Meriamo Dec 24, 2009
• table in egypt means tarabeza - maro Dec 24, 2009

Answer 11

dado - die

embarazar - to make pregnant

jabalí - warthog

jaque - check

quilate - karat

quiosco - kiosk

zanahoria - carrot

zorzal - thrush

...

etc.

Answer 12

thanx alot waiting 4 more answers from all of U

Answer 13

I thought many words in the Spanish language came from the Arabic language. Is this wrong?

• "It is estimated that there are over four thousand Arabic loanwords in the Spanish language and well over one thousand Arabic roots. A majority of these are nouns, with a more limited number of verbs, adjectives, adverbs and prepositions" - Meriamo Dec 24, 2009

Answer 14

Apparently azulejo (tile) is derived from the Arabic al zulayj meaning polished stone,presumably azul the colour is from the same source.

Answer 15

Do Spanish people or those who speak it still use arabic expressions like Albricias! :Good which is comes from Ar. al-bisharah Or mengano and fulano

• very rare, but yes, we use that expression from time to time. Mengano and fulano are very common too. - Mokay Dec 24, 2009
• nice.. i am very curious to learn more about the similarities between Spanish and Arabic - Meriamo Dec 25, 2009