Arabic language influence on the Spanish language

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History

The Spanish language, also called Castilian, is a Romance language that evolved from the Roman Vulgar Latin in the area of Burgos, Cantabria and La Rioja^{[citation needed]} in what is now northern Spain, the early Kingdom of Castile, prior to its southward expansion. Loan words from Arabic thus entered Castilian during its earliest formative period,^{[citation needed]} particularly as the number of Arabic speakers in the neighboring lower reaches of the Ebro valley gradually increased in the 8th and 9th centuries. This lexical influence reached its greatest level during the Christian Reconquista, when the emerging Kingdom of Castile conquered large territories from Moorish rulers in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. These territories had large numbers of speakers of Arabic, as well as many who spoke local Romance dialects (Mozarabic language) that were heavily influenced by Arabic, both influencing Castilian. Arabic words and their derivatives had also been priorly brought into Castilian by Mozarab Christians who emigrated northwards from Al Andalus in times of sectarian violence, particularly during the times of Almohad and Almoravid rule in the 12th and 13th centuries.

The degree to which the Arabic language percolated through the Iberian Peninsula varied enormously from one area to another and is the subject of academic debate. However, it is generally agreed that Arabic was used among the local elites, Muslim and Christian, and that the prevalent vernacular in many areas was Mozarabic, a continuum of Arabic-influenced local Romance dialects. Only the southern Emirate of Granada in the time of the Nasrid dynasty, which had had a large influx of Arabic speakers as the Reconquista advanced, became totally Arabized, or at least no evidence of a local Romance in the late Middle Ages has been found.

Much of the Arabic influence upon Spanish came through the various Arabized Romance dialects that were spoken in areas under Moorish rule, known today by scholars as Mozarabic. This resulted in Spanish often having both Arabic and Latin derived words with the same meaning. For example, aceituna and oliva (olive), alacrán and escorpión (scorpion), jaqueca and migraña (migraine), alcancía and hucha (piggy bank).

The influence of the Arabized Mozarabic and of Arabic itself is more noticeable in the Spanish dialects from regions with a longer history of Moorish domination than those where it was shorter-lived. For this reason, the dialects of the southern half of the country, known collectively as castellano meridional or Southern Castilian, seem collectively to show a higher degree of preference for Arabisms. Northern Spanish dialects tend to prefer Romance synonyms to terms of Arabic origin, such as the Romance calendario vs. Arabic almanaque, hucha vs. alcancía, espliego vs. alhucema, etc. Because Canarian and all Latin American dialects are mainly derived from Southern Castilian, Spanish words of Arabic origin are common in most varieties of Modern Spanish.

A number of words were also borrowed from Moroccan Arabic principally as a result of Spain's protectorate over Spanish Morocco in the 19th and 20th centuries, although these are of minor significance.

The Spanish spoken in the Canary Islands has also adopted a small number of words from Hassaniya Arabic, principally from Canarian sailors who fish in proximity to the Saharan coast as well as by those Canarians who returned from Western Sahara after the Green March of 1975.

Lexical influence

The influence of Arabic on the Spanish language is fundamentally lexical but its other influences are also briefly examined in this article. It is estimated that there are about one thousand Arabic roots,^[1]^[2] and approximately three thousand derived words, for a total of around four thousand words^[1]^[3]^[4] or 8%^[5] of the Spanish dictionary - the second largest lexical influence on Spanish after Latin.^[6] See Influences on the Spanish language for more on how the number of Arabisms in Spanish has been estimated. The exact number of words of Arabic origin and their derivatives in Spanish is not known, and many words not included on this list are regionalisms: words which are used in certain parts of Spain and/or Latin America but are generally unknown elsewhere.

The high point of Arabic word use in Spanish was in late medieval times and has declined since then, but hundreds are still used in normal conversation. A larger majority of these words are nouns, with a significant number of verbs, adjectives derived directly from these nouns, e.g. arrinconar (to corner) and arrinconado (cornered) from rincón (corner), most of which are excluded from this list. There are also one preposition: hasta ("until") and one adverb he. There has been little influence on the basic grammatical structure of the language.^[7]

List of words of Arabic origin

This is an open list of Spanish words acquired directly from Classical and Andalusi Arabic, listed in alphabetical order. This list includes the Spanish meaning of the word as well as the Arabic etymology. No fixed standard of Arabic transliteration is used.

Rationale for inclusion

Due to the large influence of Arabic on Spanish vocabulary, this list is relatively restrictive:

This list has been edited to include only words which are considered to appertain to the Spanish language and the Hispanic culture and society. Arabic words which may be understood by Spanish speakers, but remain foreign to the Hispanic civilisation such as Ayatolá, Jihad, or Chiita, are excluded from this list.

Only words which have passed directly from Arabic are included. Arabic words which entered the Spanish language through other, non-Iberian, Indo-European languages (such as Ayatolá, Beduino, Sofá, or sorbete) are not included. Included as exceptions to this rule are álcali and álgebra, words of Arabic origin which are thought to have entered Spanish through "Low Latin"^[8]—as suggested by their initial stress (the Arabic definite article al- is not normally borrowed as a stressed syllable).

Generally, only Spanish root words are listed, derivations not being included. For example, aceite (from az-zeit, oil) is included but not aceitería, aceitero, aceitón or aceitoso. On the other hand, aceituna (olive) is included since it derives not from az-zeit but from az-zeituna in Arabic, even though the root of the Arabic word is the same. Aceituno (olive tree), on the other hand, would not be included, since it shares the same root as aceituna. For this reason a significant number of verbs and adjectives are excluded from this list. An exception to this rule may be made when the derived word is much more commonly used than the root word, when the meaning of the derivative has no evident connection with the root word or when it is not clear that one is derived from the other (e.g. horro and ahorrar).

Words derived from Mozarabic are not included (Mozarabic being fundamentally a Romance language), unless the Mozarabic word is itself derived from classical or Andalusi Arabic.

Words acquired from Berber or Hebrew (or other Afro-Asiatic languages) are not included.

The etymology and meaning of most of these words can be verified on the site of the Real Academia de la Lengua Española, although a small minority are only available in other sources or past editions of this dictionary.

Many of these words will be unfamiliar to many Spanish speakers because their use is restricted to certain regions or they are no longer in regular use.

A (Ababol to Alguaza)

ababol: Poppy. In Aragon, Navarre, Albacete and Murcia. From Andalusian Arabic Happapáwr, a fusion of the Arabic word Hab (حب‎) "seed" and the Latin papāver.
abacero: owner of an abacería, small food shop. From Andalusi Arabic *ṣaḥb azzád (صاحب الزاد‎) "owner of supplies."
abadí: descendant/lineage of Mohammed ben Abad, founder of the Taifa Kingdom of Seville in the 11th century AD. From Andalusi Arabic 'abbādī (عبّادي).
abalorio: cheap jewellery or jewellery beads. From Andalusi Arabic al ballúri لبلوري‎ (made of) glass From Classical Arabic: billawr. Ultimately from Greek βήρυλλος, "beryl"
abarraz: stavesacre (Delphinium staphisagria), a medicinal plant. From Andalusian Arabic ḥább arrás (حب الرأس‎) "head seeds."
abasí: pertaining to the Abbasid dynasty, which overthrew the Umayyads in the 8th century.
abelmosco: musk seeds, an aromatic plant. From Andalusi Arabic ḥabb al musk (حب المسك‎) literally "musk seeds." Classical Arabic: ḥabbu 'l musk.
abencerraje: used in expression: "Zegríes y abencerrajes", which means "partisans of opposite interests". The Abencerrajes (in Arabic aban as-sarráǧ) was an Arabic family of the Kingdom of Granada, rivals of the Zegríes in the 15th century.
abenuz: ebony. From Arabic abanus (أبنوس‎) of the same meaning.
abismal: screw in head of a spear. From Arabic al-mismar (المسمار‎) "nail."
abitaque: a cut of wood used in construction of a certain shape and dimension. From Arabic Tabaqa (طبقة‎) "layer" or "intermediate chamber."
acebibe: raisin. From Arabic zabib (زبيب‎) of the same meaning.
acebuche: wild olive tree, or wood from such a tree. From Andalusi Arabic azzabbúǧ.
aceche: copper, iron or zinc sulphate. From Hisp-Ar. *azzáj, < az-zāj, < From Classical Arabic الزاج‎ az-zāj.
aceifa: Muslim summer military expedition. From Arabic صيف‎/Saif "summer".
aceite: oil. From Arabic az-zayt (الزيت‎) "oil".
aceituna: olive. From Arabic الزيتون‎ (az-zaytun) "olive".
aceituní: precious cloth from the Orient. From Arabic az-zaytuni, a possible adaptation of the Chinese city Tsö-Thung.
acelga: Chard. From Arabic as-silqa of the same meaning.
acémila: beast of burden; tax formerly paid in Spain. From Arabic az-zamilah "beast of burden."
acemite: wheat husk; a type of wheat porridge. From Arabic as-samid (السميد‎).
acenefa see cenefa.
aceña: watermill. From Arabic as-saniyah "the lifter."
acequia: irrigation canal. From Arabic as-saqiyah (الساقية‎)"the irrigator."
acerola: fruit of the trees Malpighia emarginata or M. glabra, generally found in the Americas, of the Malpighiaceae family. This should be differentiated from the European Service Tree (Sorbus domestica), family Rosaceae. From Arabic zu 'rūrah (زعرورة‎). Originally from Syriac za‘rārā.
acetre: bucket or cauldron used to extract water from a well; small cauldron used to spray holy water in Christian liturgy. From Arabic as-saTl (السطل‎).
aciar: (or acial): instrument used to keep farm-animals still by squeezing their ear or snout. From Arabic az-ziyār.
acíbar: aloe (both the plant and its bitter juice); bitterness, grief, distaste. From Arabic aS-Sabr (الصّبر‎).
acicalar: to clean or polish (Acicalarse in reflexive form); to make oneself look good by combing, shaving etc. From Arabic aS-Siqal, an instrument used for polishing things.
acicate: spurs or the spikes on spurs; incentive. From Arabic (Muzil) as-siqaT "what takes away weaknesses."
acidaque: Muslim dowry. From Arabic as-Sidaq, dowry in Islamic law.
acimut: azimuth, an astronomical concept - the angle with which the meridian forms a vertical circle which passes through a point in the globe. From Arabic assumut plural of samt.
ación: handle on the stirrup. From Arabic suyūr (سيور‎), plural of sayr (سير‎) "strap."
acirate: line of soil used to separate different plots of land; path between two lines of trees. From Arabic SirāT (صراط‎).
acitara or citara: thin wall, normally on a bridge. From Arabic sitārah (ستارة‎), wall to avoid falls.
achacar: to blame. From Arabic tashakkà (تشكى‎): to complain or to blame.
adafina: pot used by Hebrews to cook. It is buried in embers on Friday night, where it cooks until Saturday. From Arabic: dafina (دفينة‎) "buried."
adalid: leader; general of Spanish militia. From Arabic dalil (دليل‎).
adaraja: each of the gaps made by the bricks in a horizonally unfinished wall. From daraja (درجة‎).
adarga: leather shield. From Arabic daraqah.
adárgama:(rarely used today) flour. From Arabic darmaka.
adarme: small portion of something; type of measurement. From Arabic dirham (درهم‎).
adarvar: to shock. From Arabic darb (ضرب‎) "blow."
adarve: wall of a fortress; protection, defense. From Arabic darb (ضرب‎)
adaza: sorghum. From Arabic duqsah.
adefera: a small, square wall or floor tile. From Arabic add-ddafeera.
adehala: that which is granted or taken as obligatory with the price in the leasing or sale of a property. From Mozarabic ad ihala and originally from Arabic ihala "offering credit."
adelfa: oleander. From Arabic ad-difla (الدفلى‎) of the same meaning.
ademán: gesticulation which expresses the will to do something. From Arabic aD-Daman (الضمان‎), literally meaning legal guarantees. The change of meaning is due to the exaggerated promises and gesticulations which were offered in such a plea.
ademe: wooden structures used to strengthen tunnels in mines. From Arabic di'mah.
aderra: cord used to press grapes or olives in order to obtain their juice. From Andalusi Arabic ad-dirra a noose or cord used to punish those who were guilty of fraud.
adiafa: present or refreshment given to sailors when back from a voyage. From Arabic Diyafa (ضيافة‎) "present of hospitality."
adivas: a disease provoking throat inflammation in animals. From Arabic aD-Dibbah "wolverine" - which is the old Arabic name for this disease.
adive: a type of canid similar to a fox. From Arabic di'b (ذئب‎).
adobe: brick made from clay. From Arabic at-tuba (الطوبة‎ from Coptic tôbe) of the same meaning, and from ad-dabba.
adoquín: paving-stone, cobble; block. From Arabic Dukkan bench of rock or wood.
ador: in regions where water for irrigation is restricted and shared out by local authorities, irrigation-time for each farm/field. From Arabic dawr.
aduana: customs house; customs. From Arabic diwan (ديوان‎).
aduar: semi-permanent rural settlement, normally used for Gypsies, bedouins or Amerindians in South America. From Bedouin Arabic duwwar.
adúcar: type of silk made from the outside of the silk-worm's cocoon. From Andalusi Arabic Haduqa.
adufe:tambourine used by Spanish Muslims. From Arabic Duff (دف‎).
adul: in Morocco, asessor of the Cadí. From Arabic adl "trustworthy person."
adula: see dula.
adunia: (adverb) lots. From Andalusi Arabic addunya, originally from classical Arabic duniya (الدنيا) "the (whole) world."
adutaque: same meaning as adárgama. From Arabic duqaq (دقاق) "fine flour."
afán: effort; desire; zeal. From afanar.
afanar: to steal; to work with passion. From Arabic fanaaʔ (فناء) "extinction", "annihilation through passion."
aguajaque: the whitish resin of fennel. From Arabic aw-washaq "contaminated with water."
agüela: Renta de los derechos sobre préstamos consignados en documento público. From Arabic Hawalah.
ajabeba: Moorish flute. From Classical Arabic sabbabah.
ajaquefa: Roof. Same origin as Azaquefa.
ajaraca: Ornamental loop in Andalusian and Arabic architecture. From Andalusi Arabic Ash-sharakah "loop".
ajarafe: terrace. From Classical Arabic saraf "commanding height."
ajebe: Alum; Para rubber tree. From Arabic as-Shabb.
ajedrea: plant in the genus Satureja (family Lamiaceae), about three decimeters in height, with many branches and dark, narrow leaves. It is cultivated as an ornamental in gardens. From Arabic assariyya or assiriyya, ultimately from Latin satureia.

Ajedrez, chess
ajedrez: chess. From Arabic ash shatranj (الشطرنج) which is from Persian Shatranj from the Sanskrit Chaturang (four armed) as was the shape of the original chess board in India
ajenuz: nutmeg flower or Roman Coriander (Nigella sativa). From Andalusi Arabic Shanuz and ultimately Classical Arabic Shuniz.
ajimez: bent; window divided in the center by a vertical divider; salient balcony done of wood and with lattice windows. From Arabic samis.
ajomate: pluricellular alga formed by very thin filaments, without knots, bright and of intense green color. It abounds in fresh waters of Spain. From Classical Arabic gumam.
ajonjolí: sesame; herbaceous, annual plant of the family of the Pedaliaceae, a meter high, straight stem, serrate and almost triangular leaves, white or rosy corolla, and fruit with four delicate, yellowish, oily and edible capsules and many seeds. From Classical Arabic gulgulan "sesame."
ajorca: bangle; type of gold hoop, silver or another metal, used by the women to adorn the wrists, arms or the feet. From Classical Arabic shuruk, ultimately from the word shirāk "strap."
ajorrar: To drag, to tow. See Jorro.
ajuagas: equine animal ulcers. From Classical Arabic shuqaq.
ajuar: a collection of household and personal items (clothes, furniture, jewelry etc...) which women in Spain traditionally prepare from a young age for the day in which they marry and move in with their husband. From Arabic Shawar.
alacena: cupboard. From Classical Arabic ẖizānah (خزانة).
alacet: foundation of a building. From Classical Arabic asas (أساس).

Alacrán, scorpion
alacrán: scorpion. From Classical Arabic aqrab (عقرب) of same meaning.
aladar: Tuft of hair which falls on either side of the head. From Arabic idar.
aladroque: Anchovy. From Andalusi Arabic Al Hatruk, "big mouthed".
alafa: wage; pay. From Classical Arabic alafah "subsistence allowance."
alafia: grace; pardon; mercy. From Andalusian Arabic al afya ultimately from Classical Arabic afiyah (عافية) "health."
alahílca: tapestry to adorn the walls. Perhaps of alailaca from Andalusian Arabic ilaqa, and this of Classical Arabic ilāqah (علاقة) perhaps meaning "hanger."
alajor: Tax which was paid to owners of land where buildings were built. From Arabic Ashur, period of ten days before Easter when debts were paid and alms were given.
alajú: Andalusian cake made of almonds, nuts, pine nuts, bread, spices and cooked honey. From al Hashu "filling".
alamar: A type of decorative attachment which is buttoned on clothing. From Andalusi Arabic Alam, decoration (in clothes).
alambique: alembic. From Arabic al-anbiq "the cup/container holding water", in turn fr Greek.
alambor: Two meanings in Spanish with two different etymologies. 1)Embankment, from Andalusi Arabic Harabul "rim", from classical Arabic verb Hawwala, "to alter". 2) Type of Orange tree. From Catalan l'ambor, singular of els zambors, derived from Andalusi Arabic Azzambu.
alamín: Village judge who decided on irrigation distribution or official who measured weights. From Arabic al amin.
alamud: Steel bar used to close windows. From Arabic amud.
alaqueca: A type of blood-coloured quartz. From Arabic 'aqiq.
alárabe: Arab. From Andalusi Arabic (maintaining the definite article al arabi.
alarde/alardear: To boast/to show off. From Arabic ,show (Alaard العرض)
alarife: 1)Architect 2) Builder (in mining) 2) Astute or quick witted person (in Argentina and Uruguay). From Arabic al 'arif: The expert.
alarije (uva): A type of grape. From Arabic al'aris.
alaroz: Crossbar which divides a window or a door. From Arabic al'arud: Obstacle placed to block entry.
alaroza: Fiancée or newly wed wife. From Arabic Andalusi Arabic al arusa.
alatar: Drug, spice or perfume dealer. From Arabic al attar.
alatrón: Nitrate foam. From Arabic nattrun.
alazán/alazano: Reddish cinnamon coloured. (Used commonly to describe horses). From Arabic al ashab.
alazor: safflower. From Arabic al usfur.
albacara: Wall around a fortress (within which cattle were normally kept. From Arabic bab al-baqqara The cattle door. baqara (بقرة) means "cow" in Arabic.
albacea: executor (of a will). From Andalusi Arabic Sahb al Wassiya (صاحب الوصية); "the owner of the will".
albacora: Albacore. From Arabic al-bakura "premature" or al-bakrah "young camel."
albadena: Type of tunic or silk dress. From Arabic badan: Type of shirt which covers the torso.
albahaca: Basil. From Arabic habaqah.
albahío: Pale yellowish colour (used commonly for cattle). From Arabic bahi: Shining.
albalá: Official document. From Arabic al bara'ah.
albaida: Anthyllis cystoides (Flowering plant). From Arabic al baida: "The white one".
albanega:1) Net used for hair. 2) Rabbit trap. From Arabic al baniqa.
albañal: Sewer. From Andalusi Arabic al ballá: "Swallower".
albañil: Construction worker. From Andalusi Arabic al banni. Originally from classical Arabic banna.
albaquía: The remainder. From Arabic al-baqi (الباقي) of the same meaning.
albarán: Invoice. From Arabic al-bara'ah.
albarazo: Vitiligo. From Andalusi Arabic Al-Barash.
albarda: Pack-saddle. From Arabic al-barda'ah.
albardán: Clown or fool. From Andalusi Arabic albardán: "insolent". Originally from Classical Arabic bardan: "Idiot (Cold headed)".
albardín: Plant endemic to the Spanish steppes, similar in nature and use to Esparto. From Arabic "al-bardi": "papyrus".
albaricoque: Apricot. From Arabic al-barqouq (البرقوق) "plum" or "early-ripe."
albarrada: 1) Same meaning as alcarraza (Clay vase). 2) Stone Wall. From Arabic al-barradah: "the cooler".
albarrán: 1) Farm boy 2) Shepherd 3)Person with no fixed residence. From Andalusi Arabic al-barrani: "Outsider".
albatoza: Small, covered boat. From Arabic al-gattosha: grebe (Due to the Arabic custom of giving names of birds to vessels.
albayalde: Cerrusite. From Arabic al-bayad.
albéitar: Vet. From Arabic al-baytar.
albenda: Decorated white linen. From Arabic al-band.
alberca: Water deposit for irrigation. In Mexico and Honduras it is also the term of choice for swimming pool. From Arabic al-birka.
albérchigo: Apricot tree. From Andalusi Arabic albershiq.
albihar: Mayweed.^{[disambiguation needed]} From Arabic Al-Bahar.
albitana: 1)Fence to protect plants in gardening. 2) Prolongation of the keel or stern post of a ship. From Arabic al-bitana.
alboaire: The craft of decorating churches and domes with "azulejos". From Andalusi Arabic al buhaira: Lagoon.
albogue: Single-reed clarinet used in Spain. From Arabic al-bûq (البوق): The horn or the trumpet.
alboheza: Malva, from Andalusi Arabic Hubayza.
albohol: Morning glory, from Andalusi Arabic al hubuul: "rope".
albollón: Drainage or sewage. From Mozarabic Ballaón and ultimately from Classical Arabic balla'ah.
albóndiga: Meatball; ball. From Arabic al-bunduqa (البندقة) "the ball."
albórbola: Joy, celebratory noise. From Arabic walwalah.
alborga: Matweed sandal. From Arabic albúlḡa
albornía: A type of large vase. From Arabic barniya.
albornoz: Bath-robe. From al-burnos (البرنس); "bathrobe".
alboronía: A type of Andalusian vegetable stew. From Arabic al buranniya "Buran's (stew)." Buran was the wife of Caliph Ma'moun.
alboroque: 1) A present or prize given in exchange of a service. 2) The kind treatment and lavish attention offered and received in anticipation of a commercial transaction. From Andalusi Arabic al-borok, possibly ultimately from Classical Arabic arbun.
alboroto: Riot, joy. Comes from arabism alborozo (joy), from andalusí-arab al-burúz derived from Classical Arabic al-burūz, "military parade previous to a campaign".
alborozo :Extreme chaos or happiness. From Andalusi Arabic Al buruz: Military parade prior to an expedition.
albotín: Turpentine Tree. From Arabic butm of the same meaning.
albricias: 1) Term used to congratulate someone. 2) Present or gift provided to a bringer of good news. From Arabic Bushra.
albudeca: A bad watermelon. From Andalusi Arabic al batiHa.
albufera: Lagoon. From Arabic al buhaira.
albur: This term has a wide range of meanings: 1) Flathead mullet (Spain and Cuba), 2) a card combination in a card game known as Banca, 3) a chance occurrence on which an enterprise hedges its bets, 4) an expression which has a double or hidden meaning (Mexico and Dominican Republic) 4)an amourous affair (Nicaragua), 5) a lie, slander or rumour (Puerto Rico and Honduras). From Arabic al-boori.
alcabala: 1) A tax on commercial transactions. 2) Police checkpoint outside cities and on main roads (Colombia and Venezuela). From Andalusi Arabic al qabala.
alcabor: Hollow interior of a chimeney or oven. From Arabic al qabw.
alcabtea: A type of linen. From Arabic al qubtiya, meaning "egyptian" or "coptic".
alcacel or alcacer: 1) Green Barley 2) A Barley field. From Arabic al qasil.
alcachofa: Artichoke. From al-ẖarshoof of the same meaning.
alcaduz: Water pipe. From Arabic Qâdûs (قادوس) meaning "water-wheel scoop"
alcafar: Limbs of a cuadruped (normally a horse). From Arabic al kafal.
alcahaz: Birdcage. From Arabic qafaṣ (قفص) of the same meaning
alcahuete: Accomplice, a person who helps another in a love affair, specially an illicit one; gossipy person. Alcahuete comes from hispanic arabic alqawwad (the messenger), and this from Classical Arabic qawwad. This "messenger" carried messages to a married woman's lover. By extension it became commonly known as any person who sets up a love affair, generally illicit.
alcaicería: In Granada and other towns of the former Nasarid Kingdom, an establishment where silk farmers presented their produce under the rights reserved to the Muslim rulers. From Andalusi Arabic Al-Qaysariya, originally from the Latin Cesarea.
alcaide: Alcaide is a term which historically referred to various positions of government authority. In modern Spanish it most commonly refers to a prison warden. From Arabic al qa'id, "military commander".
alcalde: Mayor. From Arabic al-qadi (the judge). Qadi comes from the verb qada (to judge).
álcali: alkali. From Arabic qalawi (قلوي) of the same meaning.
alcaller: Clay artisan or his helper. From Andalusi Arabic al qallal.
alcamiz: An obsolete term referring to a list of soldiers. Its etymology is an erroneous transmission of at-taymiz, "Military inspection" in Andalusi Arabic and "Distinction" in Classical Arabic.
alcamonías: Seeds used in spice mixes such as anisseed or cumin. It is also a now obsolete expression referring to the act of hiding things. From Arabic kammuniya, a cumin-based concoction.
alcana: Henna or Henna tree. From Arabic, Hinna.
alcaná: Commercial street or neighbourhood. From Arabic qanaah: Drains or water pipes.
alcancía: Clay money box, penny or piggy bank. From Andalusi Arabic alkanzíyya, derived from classical Arabic kanz: treasure.
alcándara: Hook used to hang clothes or fowl. From Arabic Kandarah.
alcandía: Sorghum. From Andalusi Arabic qatniyya.
alcandora: A type of shirt. From Arabic qandura.
alcanería: A now obsolete rural term for a type of artichoke. From Andalusi Arabic al-qannariya, an Arabic rendering of the Latin cannaria.
alcanfor: Camphor. From Andalusi Arabic Al-Kafur.
alcántara/alcantarilla: drain; From Arabic al-qantarah meaning bridge.
alcaparra: caper. From Andalusian Arabic al-kaparra. Via Latin and Greek.
alcaraván
alcaravea
alcarceña
alcarraza
alcarria:
alcatanes
alcatara (or alquitara)
alcatifa
alcatraz: Cormorant. From Arabic القطرس al-qaṭrās, meaning sea eagle.
alcaucil, artichoke. From Spanish Arabic: alqabsíl[a], that comes from mozarab diminutive kapićéḻa, and this from Spanish Latin: capĭtia, head. (Standard latin, Caput-itis)
alcaudon: Shrike. From Andalusi Arabic al-kaptan.
alcavela
alcazaba: palace. From Arabic al-qasbah, (قصبة), "the quarter".
alcázar: citadel; palace. From Arabic al-qasr (القصر) "the citadel."
alcazuz (or orozuz)
alcoba: alcove. From Arabic al-qubba "the vault" or "the arch."
alcohela
alcohol: from Arabic al-kuhul (الكحول) fine powder of antimony sulfide used as eye makeup.
alcoholar
alcolla
alcor
alcora
alcorcí
alcorque
alcorza
alcotán
alcotana
alcrebite
alcuacil
alcubilla
alcuña
alcuza
alcuzcuz
alchub
aldaba
aldea/aldeano: Village/Villager.
aldiza
alefriz
aleja
alejija
alema
alerce
aletría
aleve/alevoso/alevosía
aleya
alfaba
alfábega
alfadía
alfaguara: Geyser. From Arabic fawwâra (فوارة): spout, fountain, jet d'eau
alfahar/alfaharería
alfaida
alfajeme
alfajor: Sweet almond shortbread. From Spanish Arabic fašúr, and this from Persian afšor (juice).
alfalfa: alfalfa. From Arabic al-fafaa literally "the best kind of fodder"
alfaneque (two meanings, a type of bird, from Arabic al-fanak and a tent from Berber afarag)
alfanje: A type of sword. From The Arabic al-janyar "dagger"
alfaque
alfaqueque
alfaquí
alfaquín
alfaraz
alfarda (two meanings from al-farda and from al-fardda)
alfarero: potter
alfardón
alfareme
alfarje
alfarrazar
alfaya
alfayate
alfazaque
alféizar: Window ledge. From Arabic al-Hayzar "the one which takes possession".
alfeñique
alferecía
alferez
alferraz
alferza
alficoz
alfil: bishop, in chess. From Arabic al-feel (الفيل) "the elephant."
alfilel/alfiler
alfinge
alfitete
alfiz
alfolí
alfombra (two meanings from al-jumra and al-humra)
alfóncijo: pistachio. From Arabic al-fustuq.
alfóndega
alforfón
alforja: saddlebag. From Arabic al-khurj ( الخرج ) "saddle-bag", portmanteau
alforre
alforrocho
alforza
alfóstigo
alfoz: Neighborhood, district. From Arabic hauz (حوز) meaning "Precinct" or "City limits"
algaba
algadara
algaida
algalaba
algalia
algalife
algar
algara
algarada
algarabía: incomprehensible talk; gabble; gibberish. From Arabic al-'arabiya: "Arabic".
algarivo
algarazo: Short rainstorm. From Arabic al 'ard: "cloud".
algarrada
algarrobo: carob. From Arabic al-kharouba "the carob."
algavaro
algazafán
algazara
algazul
álgebra: algebra. From the name of al-Khwarizmi' book Hisab al-jabr w’al-muqabala "The Calculus of Subtraction and Equality."
algecireño
algodón, "cotton", from Arabic "al-qúţun (قطن)", meaning "the cotton"
algorfa
algoritmo, algorithm, that comes from the name of Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, محمد بن موسى الخوارزمي, famous mathematician.
algorza:
alguacil, "Sheriff", from Arabic "al-wazîr (الوزير)", meaning "Minister"
alguaquida: fuel for a fire. From Arabic waqîda (وقيدة) meaning "Fuel"
alguaza: Window or door hinge.From Arabic wasl "juncture".

A (Alhadida to Azumbre)

alhadida: Old Spanish term for Hadith.
alhaite: jewel. From Arabic al hayt "string".
alhaja: jewel. From Arabic al-hajah "the valuable thing."
alhamar: Red mattress or bed cover. From Arabic hanbal: fur bedcover. also from Arabic Alhamar/Al-Ahmar (the red)
alhamel: (Andalusian Spanish) Beast of burden or human porter. From Arabic hammal.
alhamí: Stone bench normally covered with azulejos. Refers to the Grenadine town of Alhama.
alhandal: Colocynth. From Arabic Alhandhal.
alhanía: 1) Bedroom 2) cupboard 3) A type of small mattress. From Andalusi Arabic al haniyya: Alcove.
alhaquín: Weaver. From Arabic plural Al Hayikeen. Weavers.
alharaca: Violent reaction to a small issue. From Arabic haraka.
alhavara: Flour. From Arabic huwara.
alhelí: Aegean Wallflower. From Arabic hiri.
alheña: Spanish word for Henna and the plant from which it is derived.
alholva:Fenugreek. From Arabic hulbah-
alhorí: Same meaning and etymology as more commonly used term Alfolí.
alhorre: 1) Feaces of newly born child. From Arabic hur: feaces. 2)Skin rash common in babies. Commonly used in expression yo te curaré el alhorre when threatening to beat a child. From Arabic Shakatu el hurr, skin infection.
alhorría: (or ahorría): Expression used for when a slave is freed. From Arabic al-hurriya: Freedom.
alhucema: Lavender. From Arabic: huzama.
alhuceña: Woodruff. From Arabic uhshina.
aliara: Drinking horn. From Andalusian Arabic al fiyara.
alicante: Vernacular name of two different types of posionous snakes present in Spain and Northern Mexico respectively. From Arabic al aqrab: scorpion.
alicatar: To till. From Arabic qat "to cut".
alicate: Pliers. From Arabic laqaat: "tongs.
alidada: Alidade. From Andalusian Arabic: al'idada.
alifa: (Used in Andalusian and Mexican Spanish) Sugar cane which is two years old. From Arabic halifa: "successor".
alifafe: 1)Light indisposition. 2) Type of tumor which develops on the legs of horses from excessive work. From Arabic: ifash: Sowing bag.
alifara
alijar
alimara
alioj
alirón
alizace
alizar
aljaba
aljabibe
aljama
aljamía/aljamiado: Medieval Romance Spanish or Mozarabic written in Arabic script.
aljaraz
aljarfa
aljébana
aljerife
aljez
aljibe
aljófar/aljofarar
aljofifa
aljor (or aljez)
aljuba
aljuma
añagaza
almacabra
almacén: deposit, dry goods store. From Arabic al-majzan of makhzan (المخزن) "the storage" or "the depot."
almacería
almáciga
almadén
almádena
almadía
almadraba: Tuna fishing in Andalusia and particularly in Cadiz province. From Andalusi Arabic Al-madraba, "place where one beats something or fights", in reference to the fishing technique.
almadraque
almagazén
almagra
almahala
almaizar
almaja
almajaneque
almajar
almajara
almalafa
almanaque: almanac (see etymology section in the article for further discussion). From Andalusian Arabic almanáẖ "calendar", from Arabic munāẖ "caravan stop", or from Greek almenichiakon "calendar."
almacebe
almarada
almarbate
almarcha
almarjo
almarrá
almarraja or almarraza
almártaga (two meanings, from al-marta'a and al martak)
almástica
almatroque
almazara: olive press. From Arabic "al-ma'sarah" (المعصرة), "juicer".
almazarrón
almea (two meanings, from almay'a and alima)
almejía
almenara (two meanings, from al-manara and al-minhara)
almez
almíbar
almicantarat
almijar
almijara
almijarra
almimbar
alminar
almiraj/almiraje/almiral
almirez
almirón: Dandelion. From Andalusian Arabic: al Mirun.
almizate
almizcle/almizque
almocadén
almocafre
almocárabe
almoceda
almocrebe
almocrí
almodón
almófar
almofariz
almofía
almofrej/almofrez
almogama
almogávar
almohada: Pillow, from Arabic al-makhada with the same meaning.
almohade
almoharrefa
almohaza
almojábana
almojama (see mojama)
almojarife
almojaya
almona
almoneda: Sale or Auction. From Arabic Munadah.
almoraduj/almoradux
almorávide:
almorí
almoronía: See alboronía.
almotacén
almotalafe
almotazaf/almotazán
almozala/almozalla
almud
almuédano
almuerzo: Lunch.
almunia
alpargata
alpechín
alpiste
alquería: farmhouse. From Arabic al-qaria "the village."
aloque
aloquín
alpargata
alquequenje
alquería
alquermes
alquerque (Two meanings from al-qirq and al-qariq)
alquez
alquezar
alquibla
alquicel
alquilar: Rent.
alquimia
alquinal
alquitira
alquitrán
alrota
altabaca
altamía
altramuz
alubia: pea bean
aludel
aluquete/luquete
alloza
amán
ámbar
ámel
amín
amirí
anacalo
anacora
anafaga
anafalla/anafaya
anafe
anaquel
andorra
andrajo
anea
anejir
anorza
anúteba
añacal
añacea/añacear
añafea
añafil
añagaza
añascar
añazme
añicos
añil (ultimately from Sanskrit nilah "dark blue")
arabí
arancel
arbellón/arbollón
archí
argadillo
argamandel
argamula
argán
argel
argolla
arguello/arguellarse
arije
arimez
arjorán
arnadí
arrabá
arrabal
arracada
arráez
arrayán
arrecife
arrejaque/arrejacar
arrelde
arrequife
arrequive
arriate
arricés
arroba
arrobda
arrocabe
arrope
arroz: Rice.
áscar/áscari
asequi
asesino: assassin. From Arabic hashshshin "someone who is addicted to hashish (marijuana)." Was originally used to refer to the followers of the Persian Hassan-i-Sabah (حسن صباح), the Hashshashin.
atabaca
atabal
atabe
atacar : to tie, to button up. From Andalusi Arabic tákka, originally from classical Arabic tikkah, ribbon used to fasten clothes.
atacir
atafarra/ataharre
atafea
atahona
atahorma
ataifor
ataire
atalaya
atalvina
atambor
atanor
atanquía
ataracea
atarazana
atarfe
atarjea
atarraga
atarraya
ataúd: Coffin.
ataujía
ataurique
atifle
atijara
atíncar
atoba
atocha
atracar: To assault, to burgle, to dock a boat, to get stuck, to gorge oneself with food, to cheat, to get stuck: From Arabic Taraqa, "To rise".
atoque
atríaca/atriaca
atún: Tuna.
atutía
auge: Surge/rise.
aulaga
avería
ayatolá
azabache
azabara
azacán
azacaya
azache
azafate/azafata
azafrán: saffron. From Arabic za'firan of the same meaning. Perhaps from safra "yellow."
azahar: White flower, especially from the orange tree. From Spanish Arabic azzahár, and this from Classic Arabic zahr, flowers
azalá
azamboa
azándar
azaque: from Arabic zakāt (Arabic: زكاة [zæˈkæː], "that which purifies"[1]). See article zakat.
azaquefa: Covered portico or patio. From Andalusi Arabic assaqifa, portico.
azar: luck; chance. From Arabic az-zahr "the dice." or North African Arabic az-zhar "luck".
azarbe
azarcón
azarja
azarnefe
azarote
azófar
azofra/azofrar
azogue (two meanings: from az-za'uq and from as-suq)
azolvar
azorafa
azote: Smacking, beating, scourge. From Arabic Sawt.
azotea: Flat roof or terrace. From Andalusi Arabic assutáyha, diminutive of sath, terrace in classical Arabic.
azoya
azúcar: sugar. From Arabic (سكر) sukkar of the same meaning.
azucarí
azucena
azuche
azud
azufaifa/azufaifo
azul: Blue. Derived from Arabic Azraq (ازرق).
azulaque (or zulaque)
azulejo
azúmbar
azumbre: Measurement for liquids equivalent to around two litres. From Del Andalusi Arabic aTTúmn, and this from classical Arabic: Tum[u]n, "an eighth".

B

babismo: Babism. From Arabic باب "door."
babucha: Slippers. From Arabic Baboush, derived from Persian "Papoosh" literally meaning "foot covering". The transition from Persian "p" to Arabic "b" occurs due to lack of the letter p in the Arabic alphabet. "Pa-" in Persian means foot and "poosh" means covering. Persian "pa" or foot shares the same root with other Indo-European languages, i.e. Latin pede[m], French "pied", Spanish "pie" and "pata",etc.
badal: Cut of meat from the back and ribs of cattle, close to the neck. From Andalusi Arabic bad'a "Calf muscle" derived from classical Arabic bad'ah "piece".
badán: Trunk of an animal. From Arabic badan.
badana: 1) Sheepskin, 2) hat lining 3) Lazy person. From Arabic bitana, "lining".
badea: 1) Watermelon or Melon of bad quality. 2) Insipid cucumber 3) Weak person 4) Unimportant thing. From Arabic battiha: "bad melon".
badén: Dip in land, road, sidewalk or ford. From Arabic batin: Sunken (land).
bagarino: Free or hired sailor, as opposed to a press-ganged or enslaven one. Same origin as baharí.
bagre: a freshwater fish that has no scales and has a chin. From Arabic baghir or baghar.
baharí: Bird of prey. From Arabic bahri: "from the sea".
baja: pasha, Turkish officer or governor of high rank. From Arabic basha ultimately from Turkish pasha of the same meaning.
baladí: 1) Unimportant thing or matter. 2) Something of the land our country. From Arabic baladiy "From the country".
balaj/balaje: Purple ruby. From Arabic Balahshi: From Balahshan (region in central Asia where these stones are found).
balate
balda (and baldío)
baldar
balde: 1)Free. 2) without cause or 3) in vain. from Arabic batil "false" or "useless."
bancal
baño
baraka: Heavenly providence or unusual luck. From Moroccan Arabic. (Recently introduced word)
barbacana
barcino
bardaje
bardoma/bardomera
barragán
barrio/barriada: Area, district or neighbourhood in a town. From Arabic barri "outside".
bata (either from Arabic batt of French ouate)
batán
batea
baurac
bayal
belez
bellota: acorn, the fruit or seed of the oak tree. From Arabic balluta of the same meaning.
ben
benimerín
benjui
berberí
berberís
bereber
berenjena/berenjenal
bezaar/bezoar
biznaga
bocací
bodoque/bodocal
bófeta
bórax
borní
boronía
botor
bujía
bulbul
burche
buz
buzaque

C

cabila: tribe of Berbers or Bedouins. From Arabic qabila "tribe."
cachera
cadí
cadira
café: coffee. From qahwa (قهوة) of the same meaning.
cáfila
cafiz (or cahiz)
cafre
caftán
cáid (same origin as alcaide)
caimacán
cala
calabaza: Pumpkin or squash. From Arabic qerabat (قربات), plural of qerbah(قربة), meaning wineskin.
calafate/calafatear
calahorra
calí (same root as álcali)
cálibo/calibre
cambuj
camocán
canana-cartridge belt
cáncana/cancanilla
cáncano
cande (in azúcar cande)
canfor
caraba
cárabe
cárabo: owl; dog. Taken from qaraab and kalb "dog", respectively.
caracoa
caramida
caramuzal
caravana
caravasar
carcajada/carcajear
carcax
carmen/carme: From Spanish Arabic kárm, and this from Classic Arabic karm, vine.
carmesí: crimson. From quirmizi
carmín
carraca
carrafa
cártama/cártamo
catán
catifa
cazurro
cebiche
cebtí
ceca
cedoaria
cegatero
cegrí
ceje
celemí/celemín/celeminero
cenacho
cendolilla
cenefa
ceneque
cení
cenia
cenit
cequí
cerbatana
cero: zero. From sifr of the same meaning.
cetís
ceutí
chafariz
chafarote
chaleco
charrán
chifla
chilaba (from Moroccan Arabic)
chiquero
chirivía
chisme: gossip
chivo
choz
chupa
chuzo
cianí
cibica
cica
cicalar
cicatear
cicatero (cicatero has a different root to cicatear)
ciclán
ciclar
ciclatón
cid
cifaque
cifra/cifrar
címbara
cimboga
cimitarra
circón
citara
civeta/civeto
coba/cobista
cofa
coima
coime
colcótar
cora
Corán: from qur'aan (قرآن), the Muslim holy book.
corbacho
corma
cotonía
cubeba
cúrcuma
curdo
cuscuta

D, E

dado: die (cube or stamp). From Classical Arabic a'dad "numbers."
daga - dagger
dahír
daifa
dante
darga (or adarga)-shield
dársena-dock/basin
daza
derviche
descafilar
destartalado
dey
dirham
diván-divan/couch
droga-drug
druso
dula/dular
edrisí
ejarbe
elche
elemí
embelecar/embeleco
emir (or amir)
encaramar
enchufar/enchufe: 1) To plug in/plug; 2) To connect, 3) to offer an unmerited job or a post through personal connections. From Andalusi Arabic Juf derived from Classical Arabic Jawf: stomach; internal cavity.
engarzar-to set/thread
enjalma
enjarje
enjeco
escabeche: Pickle or marinade. From Arabic as-sukbaj. Originally from Persian Sekba.
escafilar (see descafilar)
escaque/escaquear
espinaca-spinach
exarico

F, G

faca
falagar
falca
falleba
faltriquera-pocket
falúa/faluca
fanega/hanega
fanfarrón
faranga (or haragán), lazy, idler, loafer
farda
fardacho
farfán
fárfara
farnaca
farota
farruco: Insolent or "cocky". From Andalusian Arabic Farrouj: Cock.
felús
fetua
fez
fideo
filelí
foceifiza
fondolí
fondac/fonda
foz
fulano, "any one" without naming, X of people. Arabic: Fulan.
fustal
fustete
gabán
gabela
gacel/gacela
gafetí
galacho
galanga
galbana
gálibo
galima
gandula/gandula
gañan
garbi: Sirocco wind.
garama
garbino
gardacho
garfa
gárgol
garra
garrafa
garrama
garroba
gazpacho
gilí
gomer
granadí
grisgrís
guadamací
guájara
guájete
guala
guarismo
guifa
guilla
gumía
gurapas

H, I

habiz: Donation of real estate under certain conditions to muslim religious institutions. From Classical Arabic: ḥabīs: amortized.
habús: Same meaning as "Habiz" is Morroco. From Arabic ḥubūs: Property belonging to the deceased used for charity.
hachís: Hashish. From Classical Arabic Hashish": Grass.
hacino: Miser or From Andalusian Arabic ḥazīn".
hadruba: Hump (on someone's back): From Andalusian Arabic ḥadúbba.
hafiz: Guard or Minder. From Andalusian Arabic ḥāfiẓ.
hálara: (Same meaning and etymology as "Fárfara") 1) Interior lining of egg. 2) Coldsfoot. Form Andalusian Arabic: falḡalála.
hamudí: Descendants of Ali Ben Hamud, founders of the Málaga and Algericas Taifas during the 11th century.
haragán: 1) Someone who refuses to work. 2) In Cuba and Venezuela, a type of mop. From Andalusian Arabic: khra kan: "Was shit".
harambel: See "arambel".
harbar
harén
harma
harón
Hasaní
hasta: "Until". From Arabic hatta (same meaning). Influenced by Latin phrase 'ad ista'^[9]
hataca
hazaña
he: Adverb used in following manner: "he aquí/ahí/allí": Here it is/there it is. From Arabic haa.^[9]
hégira
hobacho/hobacha
holgazán: Lazy person. From Arabic Kaslan. Influenced by Holgar.
holgar
hoque/oque
horro/horra
imam, imán
imela
islam

J, K

jabalí : Wild Boar. From Arabic jebeli: From the mountains. Perhaps originally from Khanzeer Jebelí: Mountain Pig.
jabalón
jábega
jabeca
jabeque
jabí : A type of apple and type of grape. From Andalusi Arabic sha‘bí, a type of apple.
jácara
jácena
jacerino
jadraque
jaez
jaguarzo
jaharí
jaharral
jaharrar
jaima
jaique
jalear
jalma (or enjalma)
jaloque
jamacuco
jametería
jámila
japuta
jaque
jaqueca: Migraine. From Arabic Shaqiqa, with same meaning.
jáquima
jara
jarabe: Syrup. From Arabic Sharab. Usually in the context of cough syrup or linctus.
jaraíz
jarcha
jareta
jaricar
jarifo/jarifa
jarquía
jarra: Pitcher or other pot with handle(s). From ǧarrah, same as english jar.
jatib
jazarino/jazarina
jazmín: jasmine. From Arabic yasmin then from Persian word the same word
jebe
jeliz
jemesía
jeque: From Arabic shaikh or sheikh, older
jerife: From Arabic sharif, noble, respected.
jeta: Snout, face, cheek (in both literal and figurative sense). From Arabic khatm: "snout".
jifa
jinete
jirafa: giraffe. From ziraffa of the same meaning.
jirel
jofaina: a wide and shallow basin for domestic use. From ǧufaynah.
jofor
jorfe
joroba
jorro
juba/aljuba/jubón
julepe
jurdía
jurel
kermes

L, M

laca: resinous substance tapped from the Lacquer Tree. From Arabic lak, taken from Persian lak, ultimately from Sanskrit laksha literally meaning "one hundred thousand" referring to the large number of insects that gather and sap out all the resin from the trees.
lacre
lapislázuli: lapis lazuli, a deep blue mineral. From Arabic lazaward (لازورد) from Persian lagvard or lazward, ultimately from Sanskrit rajavarta literally meaning "ringlet of the king."
latón: brass. From Arabic latun from Turkish altın "gold."
laúd: lute. From Arabic al 'ud (العود) "the lute."
lebeche: Southeasterly wind on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. From Andalusi Arabic Labash.
lebení: a Moorish beverage prepared from soured milk. From Arabic labani (لباني) "dairy."
leila: from Arabic layla (ليلة) "night."
lelilí: Shouts and noise made by moors when going into combat or when celebrating parties. From la illaha ila allah( لا إله إلا الله): There is no god but Allah; Ya leilí (ياليلي) : Night of mine; ya 'ayouni (يا عيوني) : My eyes.
lima: lime. From Arabic limah of the same meaning.
limón: lemon. From laymoon (ليمون), derived from the Chinese word limung.
loco: crazy. From Arabic lawqa "fool."
macabro
macsura
madraza
magacén
magarza/magarzuela
maglaca
maharon/maharona
maharrana/marrana/marrano
mahozmedín
maimón
majareta
majzén
mamarracho
mameluco
mamola
mandeísmo
mandil
maquila
marabú
maravedí
marcasita
marchamo
márfega
marfil
marfuz/a
margomar
marjal
marlota
marojo
maroma
marrano pig; cf. Arabic muharram "forbidden".
marras
márraga
masamuda: (adj) Individual from the Berber Masmuda tribe, from which originate the Almohades, a movement which ruled Spain and North Africa in the 12th century. From Arabic: Masamuda.
matafalúa
mártaga
máscara
matarife
mate
matraca
matula
mauraca
mazamorra: Word to designate a number of bread or cereal based dishes typical of Southern Spain and parts of Latin America. From Andalusi Arabic Pishmat.
mazapán
mazarí
mazarrón
mazmodina
mazmorra: Dungeon. From Arabic matmura "silo".
mazorca: corn cob; roll of wool or cotton. From Andalusi Arabic: Masurqa, derived from classical Arabic Masura (ماسورة) : a tube used as a bobbin (sewing) .
meca: Place which is attractive because of a particular activity. From Arabic Mekkah(مكة).
mechinal
mejala
mejunje
mendrugo: Piece of dry or unwanted bread, often reserved to give to beggars. From Andalusi Arabic Matruq "Marked/Touched".
mengano/mengana: Expression of similar meaning as fulano or zutano, used always after the former but after the latter, meaning "whoever". From Arabic man kan meaning "whoever".
mequetrefe: Nosy or useless person. From Andalusi Arabi qatras meaning person of boastful demeanor.
mercal
metical
mezquino
mía: A military term, formerly designating a regular native unit composed of 100 men in the Spanish protectorate of northern Morocco; by analogy, any colonial army. From Arabic Mi'ah: one hundred(مئة).
mihrab:
miramamolín
moaxaja
mogataz
mogate
moharra
moharracho
mohatra
mohedal
mohino
mojama (originally almojama): Delicacy of phoenician origin from the region of Cadiz. It consists of filleted salt-cured tuna. From the Arabic al mushama: "momified or waxed".
mojí
momia
mona
monfí
morabito
moraga
morapio
mozárabe
mudéjar
muftí
mujalata
mulato: Likely from Muwallad, as with the Muladi. Walad (ولد ) means, "descendant, offspring, scion; child; son; boy; young animal, young one". According to DRAE, from mulo (mule), in the sense of hybrid.
mulquía
muslim / muslime: (Adjective) Muslim.^[10] A rare alternative to musulmán. From Arabic Muslim (مسلم).

N, O, P, Q

nabí: Prophet among arabs. From Arabic nabiy.
nácar: Innermost of the three layers of a seashell. From Catalan nacre, derived from Andalusi Arabic naqra, small drum.
nácara: Type of small metallic drum used historically by the Spanish cavalry. Same etymology as nacar.
nadir: Nadir, the point on the celestial sphere opposite the zenith directly below the observer. From nadheer.
nádir: In Morocco, administrator of a religious foundation.
nagüela: Small hut for human habitation. From Andalusi Arabic nawalla: hut.
naife: High quality diamond. From Andalusi Arabic nayif. Originally from classical Arabic na'if: excellent.
naipe: Playing card. From Catalan naíp. Originally from Arabic ma'ib.
naranja: Orange. from Arabic nāranja, fr Persian nārang, fr Sanskrit nāranga, fr a Dravidian language akin to Tamil naŗu "fragrant".
narguile
natrón
nazarí: Related to the Nasrid kingdom or dynasty of Granada.
nenúfar: Water-lily. From Arabic naylufar from Persian nilofer, niloofar, niloufar.
nesga:
noria: Watermill, Ferris wheel. From Arabic na'urah.
nuca: Nape of the neck. From Arabic nuḫā^' نخاع ، منخع, via Medieval Latin nucha.
ojalá: "I hope"; "I wish that...". From law šhaʾ allāh "If God wills." ^[11]
¡ole! (or olé): The most famous expression of approval, support or encouragement, possibly comes from wa-llah و الله, by Allah!
omeya: adj. Related to the Umayyad.
orozuz
ox: Expression to scare away wild and domesticated birds. From Andalusi Arabic Oosh.
papagayo
quermes
quilate/quirate: Carat or Karat. From Andalusi Arabic Qirat.
quilma
quina
quintal: weight unit of about 46 kg. In its current use under the metric system, it represents 100 kg. From Andalusi Arabic Qintar, through Syriac and ultimately Latin.

R, S, T

rabadán
rabal
rabazuz
rabel
rábida
rafal
rafe
ragua
rahez
ramadán
rambla
rauda
rauta
real: Military encampment; plot where a fair is organized; (in Murcia region) small plot or garden. From Arabic rahl: camping.
rebato
rebite
recamar
recua
redoma
rehala
rehalí
rehén: Hostage or captive. From Arabic رهينة, captive, ransom.
rejalgar: realgar. From Andalusi Arabic reheg al-ghar: "powder of the cave"
requive
resma
retama
rincón: Corner. From Andalusi Arabic rukan, derived from classical Arabic Rukn.
robda
robo (or arroba)
roda
romí/rumí
ronzal
roque
sajelar
salema
sandía: Watermelon. From Arabic Sindiya "from Sindh (province of Pakistan)".
sarasa: Homosexual or effeminate man. From "Zaraza".
sarraceno
sebestén
secácul
serafín
siroco
sofí
sófora
soldán
soltaní
sufí
sura
tabal (or atabal)
tabaque
tabefe
tabica
tabique
taca
tafurea
tagarino/tagarina
tagarnina
taha
tahalí
tahona
tahúr
taifa: Refers to an independent Muslim-ruled principality, an emirate or petty kingdom, of which a number formed in the Al-Andalus (Moorish Iberia) after the final collapse of the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba in 1031. Used in numerous expressions. Can also mean 1) a faction 2) a group of people of ill judgement. 3) un reino de Taifas (a kingdom of Taifas) can also refer to a chaotic or disorderly state of affairs. From classical Arabic Ta'ifah: faction.
tajea
talco
talega
talvina
támara
tamarindo
tambor
tara
taracea
taraje
tarasí
tarbea
tarea: Task. From Arabic ṭaríḥaand root(طرح), "to throw".
tareco
tarida
tarifa
tarima
tarquín
tarraya
taza: cup. From Tasa.
tértil
tíbar
tochibí
tomín
toronja
toronjil
trafalmejas
truchimán/na
trujamán/na
tuera
tumbaga
Tunecí
turbit
turquí (in Azul Turquí)
tutía (or atutía)

V, X, Y, Z

vacarí: from Arabic baqari (بقري) "bovine."
valencí: Uva Valencia. A type of grape from Murcia region in South East Spain.
velmez: from Arabic malbas (ملبس) "clothing."
verdín: Spontaneous growth of grass or sprouting. From Arabic bardi (Same etymology as albardín). Influenced by Spanish word "Verde".
visir: vizier. From Arabic wazir (وزير) "minister."
yébel: from Arabic jabal; "mountain"
zabalmedina: in the Middle Ages, judge with civil and criminal jurisdiction in a city. From Arabic Sahib al Medina "Chief of the City."
zabarcera: women who sells fruits and other food. Same origin as abacero
zabazala: imam who leads Islamic prayer. From Arabic SaHb aS-Salah "Leader of prayer."
zabazoque: same meaning as almotacén. From Arabic SáHb as súq "Leader of the Market."
zábila: aloe vera (used mainly in Latin America) From Andalusi Arabic sabíra, originally from classical Arabic Sibar.
zabra: type of vessel used in the Bay of Biscay in the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern Age. From Arabic zauraq.
zacatín: in some villages, a square where clothes are sold. From saqqatin, plural of saqqat: seller of clothes.
zafar: a number of meanings in Spain and Latin American countries: To free, to untie, to ignore, to unknit among others. From Arabic azaHa: to take away.
zafarí: Granada zafarí: a type of pomegranate. Higo zafarí: a type of fig. From Arabic Safr.
zafariche: Structure used for placing clay urns. Same etymology as jaraíz (see above).
zafio: Uncouth. From Andalusi Arabic Fellah safi: "Mere peasant".
zafrán: See Azafran.
zaga: Backside of something. Cargo on the back of a truck. From Arabic Saqah: Rear, rearguard.
zagal: boy. From Andalusian Arabic zaḡál, traditional Arabic zuḡlūl. Same meaning.
zagaya (or azagaya)
zagua
zaguán: hall. From Andalusian Arabic istawán, traditional Arabic usṭuwān(ah).
zagüía
zaharrón
zahén
zahón
zahora: (Mainly used in Spanish region of La Mancha): Large meal accompanied by dancing or partying. From Arabic Islamic term suhoor.
zahorí
zaida
zaino
zala
zalamelé
zalea/zalear
zalema/zalama
zalmedina: Same meaning and origin as zabalmedina.
zalona
zamacuco
zambra: Traditional festivity of the Moriscos in Spain which is maintained by the Gypsy community of Sacromonte, Granada. From Andalusi Arabic Zamra, originally from classical Arabic Zamr.
zanahoria: carrot, presumably from Andalusi Arabic safunariyya, Classical Arabic: isfanariyya.
zaque: Leather recipient for wine or extracting water from a well. Drunken person. From Andalusi Arabic zaqq. Originally from classical Arabic ziqq.
zaquizamí
zaragüelles
zaranda/zarandillo/zarandaja
zarandear: To shake vigorously / push around / toss about. From Zaranda.
zaratán: Breast cancer. From the Arabic saratan: crab.
zarazán:
zarco
zarracatín
zarzahán
zatara
zéjel
zoco (or azogue): market. From Arabic souk of the same meaning.
zofra
zorzal: Thrush, intelligent person. From Andalusi Arabic Zurzal, originally from classical Arabic zurzur.
zubia: Place where a large amount of water flows. From Arabic Zubya.
zulaque
zulla
zumaque: sumac. From Arabic simaq of the same meaning.
zumo: fruit juice. From Arabic zum.
zuna: Sunnah, from Arabic Sunnah
zurriaga or zurriago: Refers to a type of whip and to a lark. From Andalusi Arabic surriyaqa

Words with a coincidental similarity to Arabic and false arabisms

el: The Spanish definite articles el / la / lo / los / las, like most definite articles in the Romance languages, derive from the Latin demonstratives ille / illa / illud. The similarity to the Arabic article al is a mere coincidence.
usted: The formal second-person pronoun usted is derived from a shortening of the old form of address Vuestra merced, as seen in dialectal Spanish vosted, Catalan vostè, etc. Usted is the remaining form from a number of variants used in Renaissance Spanish, such as Usté, Uced, Vuesa Merced, Vuesarced, Vusted, Su Merced, Vuesasted or Voaced.^[12] The possibility of a link with the Arabic word ustādh ('mister'/'professor'/'doctor') seems very remote.
paella: It is commonly believed in certain arabic countries that the rice dish paella comes from the Arabic baqiya (meaning leftovers). The Spanish pronunciation of paella is similar to the Arabic "baqiya", particularly where the latter is pronounced with a silent qaaf as in a number of eastern Arabic dialects. Nevertheless, the word paella is a Catalan word of Latin in origin and refers to the pan in which it is cooked, with Italian and French cognates Padella and Pôele.

Other influences

The suffix í. Arabic has a very common type of adjective, known as the nisba or relationship adjective, which is formed by adding the suffix -ī (masc.) or ية -iyya (fem.) to a noun. This has given Spanish the suffix -í (both masc. and fem.), creating adjectives from nouns which indicate relationship or belonging. Examples are Marbellí, Ceutí, Maghrebí, Zaragocí, Andalusí or Alfonsí.
Expressions. A number of expressions such as "¡Ole!" (sometimes spelled "olé" ), possibly from wa'llah, or ojalá, from law sha'a Allah, have been borrowed directly from Arabic. Furthermore, many expressions in Spanish might have been calqued from their Arabic equivalent. Examples would be si Dios quiere, que Dios guarde or bendito sea Dios.

Toponyms (place names) in Iberia of Arabic origin

There are hundreds if not thousands of place names derived from Arabic in the Iberian peninsula including provinces and regions, cities, towns, villages and even neighborhoods and streets. They also include geographical features such as mountains, mountain ranges, valleys and rivers. Toponyms derived from Arabic are common in all of Spain (including much of the North of the country) except for those regions which never came under Muslim rule or where it was particularly short-lived. These regions include Galicia and the Northern coast (Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque country) as well as northern Catalonia and Aragon. Regions where place names of Arabic origin are particularly common are the Eastern Coast (Valencia and Murcia) and the region of Andalusia. In Portugal, the frequency of Arabic toponyms increases as one travels south in the country.

Those toponyms which maintained their pre-Islamic name during the Muslim period were generally Arabized, and the mark of either the old Arabic pronunciation or the popular pronunciation from which it derived is noticeable in their modern names: e.g. Hispalis - Ishbiliya - Sevilla.

Major towns, cities and regions

Albarracín City of Aragón. Derived from Al Banū Razin, name of the Berber family of the town.
Alcalá de Henares City in the Community of Madrid. Derived from al-qal'a (القلعة), meaning citadel or fortress.
Axarquía Eastern region of Málaga province, From Arabic Ash-sharquía(الشرقية): The eastern/oriental (region).
Andalucía Most populated and 2nd largest autonomous community in Spain. Derived from الأندلس, Al Andalus, the Arabic name for Muslim Iberia.
Albacete city and province of Castilla-La Mancha. Derived from Arabic Al Basit (البسيط) (the plain).
Algarve Region of southern Portugal. From Arabic al gharb(الغرب), the west.
Algeciras City and port in Cadiz province. Derived from Al Jazeera Al Khadra (الجزيرة الخضراء) meaning the green island.
Almería City and province of Andalucía. From Al Meraya, the watchtower.
Alpujarras (originally Alpuxarras) Region extending South of Granada into Almería. From Arabic al-basharāt: The grasslands.^[13]
Calatayud City of Aragón. Derived from Qal'at Ayyūb (Arabic قلعة أيوب) meaning "(Ayyūb) Job´s Fortress".
Gibraltar British overseas territory and name given to surrounding area in Southern Spain (Campo de Gibraltar). From Arabic Jbel Tariq, "Mountain of Tariq", or Gibr Tariq meaning "Rock of Tariq".
Guadalajara City and province of Castilla la Mancha. From Wādī al-Ḥijārah (Arabic وادي الحجارة), River or canyon of Stones.
Jaén City and province of Andalusia From Arabic Jayyan, crossroads of caravans.
Medina Sidonia: Town and municipality in Cadiz province, from madina, city.
Tarifa town in Cadiz province, Andalusia. Originally Jazeera Tarif (جزيرة طريف): the island of Tarif. Derived from the first name of the Berber conqueror Tarif ibn Malik.
La Sagra, an arid region between Toledo and Madrid. Name derived from arabic Sahra صحراء "desert".
Ubeda, a town in Jaén province, Andalusia. From the Arabic Ubadat el Arab.
Sanlúcar de Barrameda, a city in the northwest of Cádiz province, Andalusia. "Sanlúcar" may have derived from the Arabic shaluqa (شلوقة), the Arabic name for the Levant wind called sirocco or jaloque; "Barrameda" was derived from bar-am-ma'ida, an Arabic phrase for "water well of the plateau".

Geographical features

Guadiana river. Meaning "River Anae" (from the original Latin name Fluminus Anae, "River of Ducks").
Guadalquivir river. Derived from Arabic: al-wādĩ al-kabir الوادي الكبير, "the big river".
Javalambre. Mountain in southern Aragon, Jabal 'Amr, meaning "Mountain of 'Amr".
Mulhacén. Highest mountain in peninsular Spain. Named after 15th century Sultan of Granada Ali Muley Hacén Abu al-Hasan.
Pico Almanzor. Mountain in the Gredos Mountains of Central Spain. Named after "Almanzor" Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir, defacto ruler of Al Andalus in late 10th - early 11th centuries.
Cape Trafalgar. From Andalusi Arabic Taraf-al-gharb ('Western Cape' or 'Cape of the West').

Given names and surnames

Given names

Almudena (from the Virgin of Almudena, patroness of Madrid, Spain) and Fátima (derived from Our Lady of Fátima) are very common Spanish names rooted in the country´s Roman Catholic tradition, but both of which share Arabic etymologies originating in place names of religious significance. Guadalupe, a name present throughout the Spanish-speaking world, but particularly in Mexico, also shares this feature.

A number of given names of Arabic origin have been popular throughout the Spanish-speaking world for some time, such as Omar or Soraya (probably popularized after the late Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari).^{[citation needed]} More recently, some other names have become popular, particularly in the Caribbean area, such as Zahira and Yezid.

Surnames

Surnames of indirect Arabic origin, such as Medina, Almunia, Guadarrama or Alcaide are very common, often referring to toponyms or professions, but they don't have Arabic origin properly speaking. No Arabic surnames remain as a result of Muslim descendence, except for recent immigrants. The reason for it is that, throughout Spanish history, it was common practice for ethnic and religious minorities to change their surnames to escape persecution by the Catholic Church. Furthermore, Spanish Muslims were compelled to adopt Christian surnames by a series of royal decrees in the 16th century. 16th century Morisco leader Muhammad Ibn Ummaya, for example, was born to the Christian name Fernando de Córdoba y Valor.

References

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↑ La extraordinaria riqueza de nuestros arabismos
↑ Corominas, Joan (1973). Breve diccionario etimológico de la lengua castellana (Madrid: Gredos)
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 The Diccionario de la Lengua Española of the Real Academia Española
↑ DRAE: 'muslime'
↑ http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltConsulta?TIPO_BUS=3&LEMA=ojalá DRAE entry
↑ Victoria B. TORRES: 'VUESTRA MERCED Y SUS ALOMORFOS EN EL TEATRO DE CALDERÓN' (In Spanish)
↑ entry for بشرات in almaany.com

Suggestions for further research

In the English language, search the online catalogs of United States university libraries using the Library of Congress (LC) subject heading, "Spanish language foreign elements".

When searching Spanish language Web sites, use the subject term, "arabismos".

Selected reference works and other academic literature

These works have not necessarily been consulted in the preparation of this article.

Abu-Haidar, J. A. 1985. Review of Felipe Maíllo Salgado, Los arabismos del castellano en la baja edad media (consideraciones históricas y filológicas). Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 48(2): 353-354. University of London. Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0041-977X%281985%2948%3A2%3C353%3ALADCEL%3E2.0.CO%3B2-X

Cabo Pan, José Luis. El legado del arabe. Mosaico 8:7-10. Revista para la Promoción y Apoyo a la Enseñanza del Español. Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia del Reino de España, Consejería de Educación y Ciencia en Bélgica, Países Bajos y Luxemburgo. [Article with convenient, short word lists, grouped by theme. In PDF. Refer to Mosaico's portal page. ]

Corominas, Joan. 1980-1991. Diccionario crítico etimológico castellano e hispánico. Madrid: Gredos. The first edition, with the title Diccionario crítico etimológico de la lengua castellana (1954–1957) includes an appendix that groups words according to language of origin.

Corriente, Federico. 2003. Diccionario de arabismos y voces afines en iberorromance. (2nd expanded ed.; 1st ed. 1999) Madrid: Gredos. 607 p.

Real Academia Española (Royal Spanish Academy). Diccionario de la lengua española (DRAE), online.

Maíllo Salgado, Felipe. 1991/1998. Los arabismos del castellano en la Baja Edad Media : consideraciones históricas y filológicas. Salamanca: Universidad de Salamanca. 554 p. [2nd ed., corrected and enlarged; 1st ed. 1983]

Ibid. 1996. Vocabulario de historia árabe e islámica. Madrid: Akal. 330 p.

Marcos Marín, Francisco 1998 Romance andalusí y mozárabe: dos términos no sinónimos. Estudios de Lingüística y Filología Españolas. Homenaje a Germán Colón. Madrid: Gredos, 335-341.

Ibid. 1998 Toledo: su nombre árabe y sus consecuencias lingüísticas hispánicas. Revista del Instituto Egipcio de Estudios Islámicos en Madrid, XXX, 1998, 93-108.

Sola-Solé, Josep María. 1983. Sobre árabes, judíos y marranos y su impacto en la lengua y literatura españolas. Barcelona: Puvill. 279 p.

Spaulding, Robert K. 1942/1971. How Spanish Grew. Berkeley: University of California Press. Chapter 5: "Arabic Spain", pp. 53–62.

Toro Lillo, Elena. La invasión árabe. Los árabes y el elemento árabe en español. In the Cervantes Virtual Library. Includes a brief list of historical sound changes. Useful bibliography.

Selected resource pages of universities and research institutes

External links

La invasión árabe. Los árabes y el elemento árabe en español, by Elena Toro Lillo; Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes
Arabic Influences in Various Languages
Size and nature of the Spanish vocabulary

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[7] La extraordinaria riqueza de nuestros arabismos

[8] Corominas, Joan (1973). Breve diccionario etimológico de la lengua castellana (Madrid: Gredos)

[rae-9] 9.0 ^9.1 The Diccionario de la Lengua Española of the Real Academia Española

[10] DRAE: 'muslime'

[11] ttp://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltConsulta?TIPO_BUS=3&LEMA=ojalá DRAE entry

[12] Victoria B. TORRES: 'VUESTRA MERCED Y SUS ALOMORFOS EN EL TEATRO DE CALDERÓN' (In Spanish)

[13] try for بشرات in almaany.com

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Arabic language influence on the Spanish language

Contents