Influence of Arabic on Spanish

The Spanish language has been heavily influenced by Arabic as a result of the Islamic presence in the Iberian peninsula between 711 AD and 1492 AD.

Modern day Spanish (or Castilian) first appeared in the small Christian Kingdom of Castile in Northern Spain during this period of Islamic domination over most of the Iberian peninsula. As a result, the language was influenced by Andalusi Arabic practically from its inception. Nevertheless, Arabic imprint on the language increased as it expanded into Muslim lands where the Castilian language had never been spoken and as Christians from Al Andalus emmigrated to Castile during times of sectarian violence in Muslim lands. In most of Al Andalus, Arabic was used among the local élites and local Arabic-influenced Romance dialects, known collectively as Mozarabic were generally used as the vernacular language. Only the kingdom of Granada, under the Nasrid dynasty was totally arabized after many centuries of Muslim rule.

Modern Spanish is thus a mixture of Old Castilian and the Mozarabic dialects which it absorbed. This fusion explains why Spanish has, in many cases, both Latin and Arabic derived words of the same meaning. For example, Aceituna and Oliva, Alacrán and Escorpión, Jaqueca and Migraña or Alcancía and Hucha. The imprint of Mozarabic and Arabic is evidently more noticeable in the dialects of Castilian Spanish spoken in southern Spain, particularly Murcian and Andalusian Spanish, than in northern Spain.

Although the influence of Arabic on Spanish is fundamentally lexical, other influences are also examined in this article.

Lexical influence

It is estimated that there are over 4000 Arabic loanwords in the Spanish language (including derivations) and well over 1000 Arabic roots. A majority of these are nouns, with a more limited number of verbs, adjectives, adverbs and prepositions, thus not substantially changing the grammar or basic structure of the language. The exact number of words of Arabic origin 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.

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. Due to the heavy influence of Arabic on Spanish, this list is relatively restrictive:

Only words which have passed directly from Arabic are included. Arabic words which entered the Spanish language through other, non-Iberian, European languages (such as Beduino, Sofá or sorbete) are not included.

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. 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 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 past editions of this dictionary.

A

ababol: silly or thoughtless person. Used mainly in the Spanish region of Aragon. 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 SaHb azzád (صاحب الزاد) "owner of the supplies."
abadí: descendant/lineage of Mohammed ben Abad, founder of the Taifa Kingdom of Seville in the 11th century AD. From Andalusi Arabic abbadi.
abalorio: cheap jewelery; jewelery beads. From Andalusi Arabic al balluri (البلوري) "made of glass."
abarraz: stavesacre (Delphinium staphisagria), a medicinal plant. From Andalusi Arabic Hab ar-ras (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 Hab el musk (حب المسك) literally "musk seeds."
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 Arabic zāǧ.
aceifa: Muslim summer military expedition. From Arabic Sa'ifah "harvest" or "summer expedition."
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: water mill. From Arabic as-saniyah "the lifter."
acequia: irrigation canal. From Arabic as-saqiyah "the irrigator."
acerola: fruit of the service tree (the tree itself is called acerolo). From Arabic zu 'rūrah. 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.
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: astrological concept: 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, plural of sayr "strap."
acirate: line of soil used to separate different plots of land; path between two lines of trees. From Arabic SirāT.
acitara or citara: thin wall, normally on a bridge. From Arabic sitārah, 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 "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.
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 propery. 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, beduins 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 etymology as azaquefa.
ajaraca: Loop, lace in Mudejar and Arabic architecture. From Andalusi Arabic Ash-sharaka loop.
ajarafe: terrace. From Classical Arabic saraf "commanding height."
ajebe: Alum; Para rubber Tree. From Arabic as-Shabb.
ajedrea: plant of the family of the Labiadas, about three decimeters of height, very populated with branches and narrow leaves, of dark color. It is cultivated for adornment in the gardens. From Arabic assariyya or assiriyya, ultimately from Latin satureia.
ajedrez: chess. From Arabic ash shitrang (الشطرنج).
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. From Classical Arabic aqrab (عقرب) of same meaning.
aladar: Fringe of hair falling on the sides of the head. From Andalusi Arabic Al Adar. Originally from Classical Arabic Idar.
aladroque:
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 paid to owners of land on which houses are built. From Andalusi Arabic Ashur: Period of ten days before Easter in which debts were paid and alms were given.
alajú: Cake typical of southern Spain made of Almonds, nuts, pine nuts, bread crumbs, spices and honey. From Arabic Hashuu, "filling".
alamar: 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 from al'ubur and from al-hambad)
alamín
alamud
alaqueca
alárabe
alarde/alardear: To boast/to show off.From Arabic ,show ( Alaard العرض)
alarido: Scream.
alarife
alarije
alaroz
alaroza
alatar
alatrón
alazán
alazor
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
albahaca
albahío
albaida
albanar
albanega
albaní
albañal
albañil
albaquía: the remainder. From Arabic al-baqi (الباقي) of the same meaning.
albarán
albarrán
albarazo
albarda
albardán
albardín
albaricoque: apricot. From Arabic al-barqouq (البرقوق) "plum" or "early-ripe."
albarrada
albarrán
albarrana
albatoza
albayalde
albéitar
albenda
albengala
alberca
albérchigo
albihar
albitana
alboaire
albogue: Single-reed clarinet used in Spain. From Arabic al-bûq (البوق): The horn or the trumpet.
alboheza
albohol
albollón
albóndiga: meatball; ball. From Arabic al-bunduqa (البندقة) "the ball."
albórbola
alborga
albornía
albornoz: Bath-robe. From al-burnos (البرنس); "bathrobe".
alboronía
alboroque
alboroto (see root)
alborozo
albotín
albricias
albudeca
albufera
albur
alcabala
alcabor
alcabtea
alcacel
alcachofa: Artichoke. From al-ẖarshoof of the same meaning.
alcaduz
alcafar
alcahaz
alcahuete
alcaicería
alcaide:
alcalde: Mayor.
álcali: alkali. From Arabic qalawi (قلوي) of the same meaning.
alcaller
alcamiz
alcamonías
alcana
alcaná
alcancía: Clay money box, penny or piggy bank. From Andalusi Arabic alkanzíyya, derived from classical Arabic kanz: treasure.
alcándara
alcandía
alcandora
alcanería
alcanfor
alcántara/alcantarilla: drain; sewer. From Arabic al-qantarah.
alcaparra
alcaraván
alcaravea
alcarceña
alcarraza
alcarria
alcatanes
alcatara (or alquitara)
alcatifa
alcatraz
alcaucil, artichoke. From Spanish Arabic: alqabsíl[a], that comes from mozarab diminutive kapićéḻa, and this from Spanish Latin: capĭtia, head. (Standard latin, Caput-itis)
alcavela
alcazaba
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
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
alfaque
alfaqueque
alfaquí
alfaquín
alfaraz
alfarda (two meanings from al-farda and from al-fardda)
alfardón
alfareme
alfarje
alfarrazar
alfaya
alfayate
alfazaque
alféizar
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)
alfóndega
alforfón
alforja
alforre
alforrocho
alforza
alfóstigo
alfoz
algaba
algaida
algalia
algar
algara
algarabía: incomprehensible talk; gabble; gibberish. From Arabic al-garabiya.
algarivo
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-qutn", 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
alguaquida
alguaza
alhadida
alhaite
alhaja: jewel. From Arabic al-hagah "the valuable thing."
alhamar
alhamel
alhamí
alhandal
alhanía
alhaquín
alharaca
alhavara
alhelí
alheña
alholva
alhorí
alhorre (two meanings from al-khur and al-hurr)
alhorría (or ahorría)
alhucema
alhuceña
alhurreca
aliacán
aliara
alicante
alicatar
alicate
alidada
alifa
alifafe (two meanings from an-nafakh and al-lifah)
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. From Arabic al-majzanof makhzan (المخزن) "the storage" or "the depot."
almacería
almáciga
almadén
almádena
almadía
almadraba: Tuna fishing. Word used primarily in Andalusia and particularly in Cadiz province.
almadraque
almagazén
almagra
almahala
almaizar
almaja
almajaneque
almajar
almajara
almalafa
almanaque: almanac. From Arabic al-manakh (المناخ) "the climate." Or possibly 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
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
almizate
almizcle/almizque
almocadén
almocafre
almocárabe
almoceda
almocrebe
almocrí
almodón
almófar
almofariz
almofía
almofrej/almofrez
almogama
almogávar
almohada: Pillow.
almohade
almoharrefa
almohaza
almojábana
almojama (see mojama)
almojarife
almojaya
almona
almoneda
almoraduj/almoradux
almorávide:
almorí
almoronía: See alboronía.
almotacén
almotalafe
almotazaf/almotazán
almozala/almozalla
almud
almuédano
almunia
alpechín
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
alquiler: 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
anfión
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 use to refer to the followers of the Persian Hassan-i-Sabah] (حسن صباح), the Hashshashin.
atabaca
atabal
atabe
atacar
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
atracae
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
azaquefa: Covered portico or patio. From Andalusi Arabic assaqifa, portico.
azar: hazard; luck; chance; random. From Arabic al-zahr "the dice."
azarbe
azarcón
azarja
azarnefe
azarote
azófar
azofra/azofrar
azogue (two meanings: from az-za'uq and from as-suq)
azolvar
azor
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 Lazaward.
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-slipper
badal
badán
badana
badea
badén-dip in land or sidewalk or ford
badial
bagarino
bagre: a freshwater fish that has no scales and has a chin. From Arabic baghir or baghar.
baharí
baída
baja: pasha, Turkish officer or governor of high rank. From Arabic basha ultimately from Turkish pasha of the same meaning.
baladí
balaj/balaje
balate
balda (and baldío)
baldar
balde: from Arabic batil "false" or "useless."
bancal
baño
baraka
barbacana
barcino
bardaje
barragán
barrio-area or district
bata (either from Arabic batt of French ouate)
batán
batea
baurac
bayal
baza (either Arabic or Italian origin)
bazar-bazaar
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 of the same meaning.
cáfila
cafiz (or cahiz)
cafre
caftán
cáid (same origin as alcaide)
caimacán
cala
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
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
chiísmo
chilaba (from Moroccan Arabic)
chiquero
chirivía
chisme
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
corbacho
corma
cotonía
cubeba
cúrcuma
curdo
cuscuta
cuscús (or alcuzcuz/cuzcuz)

D

dado: die. From Classical Arabic a'dad "numbers."
daga-daggar
dahír
daifa
dante
darga (or adarga)-shield
dársena-dock/basin
daza
derviche
descafilar
destartalado
dey
dínar
dirham
diván-divan/couch
droga-drug
druso
dula/dular

E

edrisí
ejarbe
elche
elemí
embelecar/embeleco
emir (or amir)
encaramar
enchufar/enchufe: To plug in/plug; To connect, to offer a 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

faca
falagar
falca
falleba
faltriquera-pocket
falúa/faluca
fanega/hanega
fanfarrón
faranga (or haragán)
farda
fardacho
farfán
farnaca
farota
farruco
felús
fetua
fez
fideo
filelí
foceifiza
fondolí
fondac/fonda
foz
fulano : To refer to "any one" without naming, X of people. Arabic: Fulan.
fustal
fustete

G

gabán
gabela
gacel/gacela
gafetí
galacho
galanga
galbana
gálibo
galima
gandula/gandula
garama
garbino
gardacho
gárgol
garrafa
garrama
garroba
gilí
gomer
granadí
grisgrís
guadamací
guájara
guájete
guala
guarismo
guifa
guilla
gumía
gurapas

H, I

habiz
habús
hachís
hacino
hadruba
hafiz
hálara
hálara
hamudí
haragán
harambel
harbar
harén
harma
harón
Hasaní
hasta: Until. From Arabic hatta (same meaning).
hataca
hazaña
he: Adverb used in a number of ways: (1) "he aquí/ahí/allí": Here it is/there it is. (2) Used in conjunction with pronouns me/te/le/la/lo/las/los to point something out. e.g. Te lo he dicho meaning I have told you (it). From Arabic haa.
hégira
hobacho/hobacha
holgazán
holgar
hoque
horro/horra
imam
imela
islam

J, K

jabalí : Wild Boar. From Arabic jebeli: From the mountains. Perhaps originally from Khanzeer Jebelí: Mountain Pig.
jabalón
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
jametería
jámila
japuta
jaque
jaqueca: Migraine. From Arabic Shaqiqa, with same meaning.
jáquima
jara
jarabe
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
jebe
jeliz
jemesía
jeque
jerife: sheriff. From shereef of the same meaning.
jeta
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
jurdía
kermes

L

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 from Persian lagvard or lazward, ultimately from Sanskrit rajavarta literally meaning "ringlet of the king."
latón: brass. From Arabic latun from Turkish altin "gold."
laúd: lute. From Arabic al 'ud "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 "dairy."
leila: from Arabic layla "night."
lelilí: Shouts and noise made by moors when going into combat or when celebrating parties. From la illaha ilallah: There is no god but Allah; Ya leilí: Night of mine; ya 'ayouni: My eyes.
lima: lime. From Arabic limah of the same meaning.
limón: lemon. From laymoon, derived from the Chinese word limung.
loco: crazy. From Arabic lawqa "fool."

M

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
marras
márraga
marroquí: (adj) Moroccan. From Morrocan Arabic Marrakush: Marrakesh.
masamuda: (adj) Individual from the Berber Masmuda tribe, from which originate the Almohades, a movement which ruled Spain and North Africa in the XII century. From Arabic: Masamuda.
matafalúa
mártaga
máscara
matarife
matraca
matula
mauraca
mazapán
mazarí
mazarrón
mazmodina
mazmorra
mazorca: corn cob; roll of wool or cotton. From Andalusi Arabic: Masurqa, derived from classical Arabic Masura: a tube used as a bobbin (sewing).
meca: Place which is attractive because of a particular activity. From Arabic Mekkah.
mechinal
mejala
mejunje
mengano/mengana
mequetrefe
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.
mihrab:
miramamolín
moaxaja
mogataz
mogate
moharra
moharracho
mohatra
mohedal
mohino
mojí
momia
mona
monfí
morabito
moraga
morapio
mozárabe
mudéjar
muftí
mujalata
mulquía
muslim/muslime: (Adjective) Muslim. From Arabic Muslim.

N, O,P, Q

nabí
nacar
nácara
nadir: the point on the celestial sphere, opposite the zenith directly below the observer. From nadheer.
nádir
nagüela
naife
naipe
naranja: orange (fruit)
narguile
natrón
nazarí
nenúfar
nesga
noria
nuca
ojalá: I hope; I wish. From law šaʾ allāh "God willing."
¡olé!: The most famous expression of approval, support or encouragement, comes from wa-Allah و الله , by Allah!
omeya: adj. Related to the Ummayyad.
oque
orozuz
ox
quermes
quilate/quirate
quilma
quina
quintal

R

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
rejalgar: realgar. From reheg al-ghar: "powder of the cave"
requive
resma
retama
rincón
robda
robo (or arroba)
romí/rumí
ronzal
roque

S

Word	Arabic root	Description
Saharaui
sajelar
salema
sandía
sarraceno
sebestén
secácul
serafín
siroco
sofí
sófora
soldán
soltaní
sufí
sura

T

tabal (or atabal)
tabaque
tabefe
tabica
tabique
taca
tafurea
tagarino/tagarina
tagarnina
taha
tahalí
tahona
Taifa
tajea
talco
talega
talvina
támara
tamarindo
tambor
tara
taracea
taraje
tarasí
tarbea
tarea
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

vacarí: from Arabic baqari "bovine."
velmez: from Arabic malbas "clothing."
visir: vizier. From Arabic wazir "minister."

Z

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:
zafio
zafrán
zaga
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
zahorí
zaida
zaino
zala
zalamelé
zalea/zalear
zalema/zalama
zalmedina: Same meaning and origin as zabalmedina.
zalona
zamacuco
zambra
zanahoria: carrot, presumably from Andalusi Arabic. The only Arabic dialect with a cognate form is Tunisian with sfinaria.
zaque
zaquizamí
zaragüelles
zaranda/zarandillo/zarandaja
zaratán
zarco
zarracatín
zarzahán
zatara
zéjel
zoco (or azogue): market. From Arabic souk of the same meaning.
zofra
zorzal: fieldfare.
zubia
zulaque
zulla
zumaque: sumac. From Arabic simaq of the same meaning.
zumo: fruit juice
zuna

Other Influences

The suffix í. Arabic has a very common type of adjective, known as the nisbi or relationship adjective, which is formed by adding the suffix -ī (masc.) o 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, Andalusí or Alfonsí.

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, Cantabrian and the Basque country) as well as most of Catalonia. Regions where place names of Arabic origin are particularly common are the Eastern Coast and the region of Andalusia. In Portugal, the frequency of Arabic toponyms increase 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 the old Arabic pronunciation is noticeable in their modern names: e.g. Cesarea Augusta - سرقسطة Saraqusţah - Zaragoza.

Major towns, cities and regions

Axarquía Eastern region of Malaga province, From Arabic Ash-sharquía: 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 (the plain).
Algarve Region of southern Portugal. From Arabic al gharb, the west.
Algeciras City and port in Cadiz province. Derived from Al Jazeera Al Khadra 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-Busherat: The grasslands.
Badajoz City and province of Extremadura. Badajoz was called Pax Augusta by the romans and most likely the current name is derived from an Arabic corruption of the original Latin name.
Calatayud City of Aragón. Derived from Qal'at Ayyūb (Arabic قلعة أيوب) meaning "Castle of Ayyub".
Guadalajara City and province of Castilla la Mancha. From Wādī al-Jārah (Arabic وادي الحجارة), Wadi or canyon of Stones.
Gibraltar British Colony in Southern Spain. From Jabal Ţāriq (جبل طارق), Mountain of Tariq, (Tariq ibn Ziyad).
Jaén City and province of Andalucía From Arabic Jayyan, crossroads of caravans.
Lisboa (Lisbon). Capital of Portugal. Derived from original Arabic name: al-'Ishbūnah in Arabic الأشبونة
Madrid Capital of Spain. Derived from original Arabic name: al-MagrīT, المجريط: "Source of water".
La Mancha Wide arid steppes covering much of Toledo, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Albacete provinces. Derived from original Arabic name: la'a Ma-anxa : "No water".
Medina Sidonia: Town and municipality in Cadiz province.
Tarifa town in southern Spain. Originally Jazeera Tarif: the island of Tarif. Derived form 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".
Sevilla, city and province in Andalusia. From Arabic Ishbillia, deformation of Latin Hispalis.

Geographical features

Guadiana river. Meaning "Anna river".
Guadalquivir river. Derived from Arabic: al-wādĩ al-kabir الوادي الكبير, "the big river".
Mulhacén. Highest mountain in peninsular Spain. Named after 15th century Arabian 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.

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. ]

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.

Pezzi, Elena. 1995. Arabismos: estudios etimológicos. Almería: Universidad de Almería. 160 p.

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

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

Instituto de Estudios Islámicos y del Oriente Próximo. Search results consisting of Institute publications whose entries contain the word "arabismos" [1]

Universidad de Granada. Holdings under the subject "arabismos" [2]