Arabic has had a profound influence on many languages, including English. Several Arabic words have been integrated into English, commonly used in everyday conversation. Here, we explore some of these common Arabic words used in English, providing their meanings and usage in both languages.
Alcohol – Originally from the Arabic word “al-kuḥl”, which refers to a body-eating spirit, and in science, it came to denote the distilled substance.
هل يمكنك شراء بعض الكحول للحفلة؟
Algebra – This term stems from “al-jabr”, one of the two operations used to solve quadratic equations as described in the early 9th-century book “The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing” by the mathematician Al-Khwarizmi.
سأحتاج إلى مساعدة في حل هذه المسائل في الجبر.
Coffee – From the Arabic “qahwah”, initially referred to a type of wine, and later to a drink made from roasted coffee beans.
أحتاج إلى فنجان قهوة لأبدأ يومي.
Cotton – Derived from the Arabic word “qutn”, which refers to the soft fiber used to produce various textile goods.
هذا القميص مصنوع من القطن النقي.
Sofa – Originates from the Arabic word “ṣuffah”, which describes a part of the floor raised a bit higher than the rest, covered with rich fabrics and cushions.
الصوفا مريحة جدا للجلوس.
Magazine – Comes from the Arabic “makhāzin”, which means storehouses. It was used metaphorically for compilations of information, which is how it came to denote periodicals.
هل قرأت المجلة الجديدة؟
Orange – This fruit’s name is derived from the Arabic “nāranj”. The word entered English through Old French and Medieval Latin.
البرتقال مفيد جدا لصحتك.
Sugar – Coming from the Arabic “sukkar”, this word was adopted in English via medieval French, reflecting the historical trade connections.
هل تريد السكر في الشاي؟
Mattress – Originates from the Arabic “maṭraḥ”, which means a place where something is thrown, like a mat or a cushion.
المرتبة صلبة جداً.
Zero – The concept of zero as a number, and its notation, came from the Arabic word “ṣifr”, which also gives us “cipher”.
صفر هو نقطة البداية في العد.
Giraffe – This word comes from the Arabic “zarāfah”. The animal was probably known to the Arabs long before it was introduced to the English-speaking world.
الزرافة لها عنق طويل جدا.
Safari – From the Arabic “safar”, meaning journey. The word was adopted into English through Swahili, reflecting its use to describe overland journeys in East Africa.
سفاري في أفريقيا يمكن أن يكون مغامرة مثيرة.
Lemon – Derived from the Arabic “laymūn” or “līmūn”, this citrus fruit’s name reflects its Middle Eastern and South Asian origins.
الليمون حامض جداً.
These are just a few examples of Arabic words that are now commonly used in English. The integration of these words not only enriches the English vocabulary but also reflects the historical exchanges between different cultures and languages. Learning about the origins of these words can provide fascinating insights into the history of language and communication.
