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- As Latin began to influence English, some of the Arabic words were passed on. To this day, many words commonly used in English have Arabic roots.
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Arabic is a Semitic language and English is an Indo-European language. The following words have been acquired either directly from Arabic or else indirectly by passing from Arabic into other languages and then into English. Most entered one or more of the Romance languages, before entering English.
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Feb 21, 2012 · You already knew about English words which are originally French, German, Spanish, etc. But were you actually aware that several of them also come from ARABIC?
Jul 19, 2017 · As the English language is newer, many of its words have their roots in Arabic. The vast amount of English words that have come from Arabic are the result of years of international trade, conquests, exploration and migration.
The following English words have been acquired either directly from Arabic or else indirectly by passing from Arabic into other languages and then into English. Most entered one or more of the Romance languages before entering English.
- Coffee. In the US, coffee takes the top spot as the most consumed beverage, with a staggering 26,651,000 bags consumed in 2023. But did you know that this popular drink got its name from Arabic?
- Sugar. For those of you who enjoy sweet treats, you owe much of your enjoyment to Arabic traders. During the medieval period, the Arabic-speaking world served as a significant centre for the production and trade of sugar.
- Lemon. The English term “lemon” came from the Arabic word “laimun.” Citrus fruits, including lemons, have a long history of cultivation and trade in regions where Arabic was spoken, especially in the Middle East.
- Algebra. English owes more to Arabic culture in mathematics than just zero and numerals. The term “algebra” has its roots in the Arabic word “al-jabr,” which means “a reunion of broken parts,” similar to setting a bone.
Jan 9, 2019 · You may be surprised to learn that contemporary English borrows heavily from old Arabic phrases. For centuries, people have been buying, selling, and traveling around the Mediterranean. As a result, Arabic words have been assimilated into and shaped by many other languages.
English didn’t borrow all of the words directly; they mostly came filtered through Latin, Turkish, French, Spanish, German, and/or Italian, and have changed in form — and sometimes meaning — since they left Arabic.
