Any Spanish words that are the same in Arabic?
I am from iraq and would like to know if there are words in spanish that are the same in arabic that may help me because i already know arabic and i wouldn't need to learn another spanish word, i can just say it because it will mean the same thing.
5 Answers
There are many Spanish words derived from Arabic.
Top ten spanish words that derive from arabic. Click below:
Here is a very long list of words that share roots with arabic:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_language_influence_on_the_Spanish_language
Some of them are common enough Spanish words, some are words I haven't seen before, some are closer to the Arabic, some more remotely derived. I didn't specifically see anything identical but some look very close.
One such word derived from Arabic that springs to mind is ojalá
Ojalá (can mean) = I hope, or I (Not me personally!) pray to Allah
ex 1 : ¡Ojalá que todo salga bien! = I hope everything turns out alright (well)
Ojalá is often but not always followed by the subjunctve mood, The above example shows the subkunctive mood!
Another example (from the Oxford Spanish Dictionary)
ex 2. ¡Seguro que apruebas ..ojalá! I'm sure you'll pass ..I hope so!
I learnt from a native Spanish speaking (adult) friend years ago, who was the son of a hotel owner in Pineda de Mar *near Barcelona) in the region of Cataluña, that words with X or Z were not Spanish words and had their origin from other languages such as:
caixa = savings bank in names of Catalan savings institutions listed Oxford Spanish Dictionary
izquierda = left eg a la izquierda = on the left Words like this may have their origin from the Azteks or may be Arabic I am not sure!
I hope this helps.
Another common word that has roots in Mesopotamia (Iraq) is toro. In Hebrew, for example, the related word is shor. In Latin, it is taurus, and in Greek tauros.
