Difference between revisions of "Arabic loan words"
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(Other languages can do that too, I've seen german words that are obviously not of german origin afteral... and why is it surprising so many come from Arabic? Our numbers come from it) |
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| − | [[English language|English]] is derived from other languages such as [[French]], [[German]], and [[Latin]]. | + | [[English language|English]] is derived from other languages such as [[French]], [[German]], and [[Latin]]. This is a list of familiar English words which are derived either from Arabic or from another language via Arabic. |
==Arabic Loan Words and English synonyms== | ==Arabic Loan Words and English synonyms== | ||
Revision as of 21:19, September 21, 2011
English is derived from other languages such as French, German, and Latin. This is a list of familiar English words which are derived either from Arabic or from another language via Arabic.
Arabic Loan Words and English synonyms
| Word with Arabic Root[1] | Etymology[2] | 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[3] |
| 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, Provencal 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 Provencal, 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 |
- ↑ Arabic loan words in English
- ↑ http://www.etymonline.com Online Etymology Dictionary
- ↑ Note the irony: in English, an elixir is an alcoholic drink of medicinal value—in short, a cocktail.