View source for Arabic loan words

[[English language|English]] is a [[German]]ic language with a large number of grammatical features and loan words from other languages such as [[French]], [[Latin]], [[Celtic]], and [[Arabic]]. 

==Arabic Loan Words and English synonyms==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Word with Arabic Root<ref>[http://jeffreyhill.typepad.com/english/2008/08/arabic-loan-words-in-english.html Arabic loan words in English]</ref>
! Etymology<ref>http://www.etymonline.com Online Etymology Dictionary</ref>
! Definition
|-
| admiral
| Arabic ''amir-ar-rahl'' (naval commander) via French
| naval officer of general staff rank
|-
| algebra
| Arabic ''al-jebr'' (joining of broken pieces) via Latin
| mathematical system of symbols and rules to manipulate them
|-
| algorithm
| Arabic ''al-Khwarizmi'' (name of outstanding mediaeval mathematician) via Greek, Latin and French
| step-by-step computational procedure
|-
| arsenal
| Arabic ''dar-as-sina'ah'' (workshop) via Venetian ''arzenale''
| armory, stockpile
|-
| assassin
| Arabic ''hashishiyyin'' (hashish-users) via Italian and French
| killer or hitman, usually with political connotations.
|-
| coffee
| Probably name of Ethiopian region Kaffa via Arabic ''qahwah'', Turkish and Italian
| popular stimulating drink
|-
| cotton
| Possible Egyptian via Arabic ''qutn'', via a southern Romance language and French
| plant material from which a wide variety of fabrics are made
|-
| elixir
| Greek ''xeros'' (dry) via Arabic ''al-iksir'' and Latin
| potion<ref name=elixir>Note the irony: in English, an ''elixir'' is an [[alcoholic drink]] of [[medicine|medicinal]] value&mdash;in short, a cocktail.</ref>
|-
| Gibraltar
| Arabic ''Jebel-al-Tariq'' (mountain of Tariq = name of 8th century commander)
| A large rock on the northern side of the Pillars of Hercules; also the city-state built on the rock
|-
| haboob
| Arabic ''habub'' (strong wind)
| violent sandstorm
|-
| lemon
| Sanskrit ''nimbu'' (lime) via Persion, Arabic ''laimun'', Provençal and French
| a citrus fruit
|-
| lime
| Arabic ''limah'' (citrus fruit) via Spanish
| a tropical citrus fruit
|-
| mattress
| Arabic ''matrah'' via Sicilian, Italian and French
| thick pad for resting or sleeping on
|-
| orange
| A Dravidian language (fragrant + fruit) via Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic ''naranj'', Italian or Provençal, and French
| a citrus fruit and the colour after which it is named
|-
| safari
| Arabic ''safar'' (journey) via Swahili
| trip, especially to watch or photograph wild animals
|-
| scarlet
| Possibly Arabic ''siqillat'' (fine cloth) via Latin and French
| bright red
|-
| soda
| Arabic ''suwwad'' (name of a plant) via Italian or Latin
| pop, soft drink
|-
| sugar
| Sanskrit ''sharkara'' via Persian, Arabic ''sukkar'', Latin and French
| 
|-
| tariff
| Arabic ''ta'rif'' = information via Latin and Italian
| tax
|-
| zero
| Arabic ''sifr'' via Latin and Italian
| none
|}

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[[Category:Linguistics]]