Difference between revisions of "Arabic loan words"
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| − | [[English language|English]] | + | [[English language|English]] is a [[German]]ic language with a large number of grammatical features and loan words from other languages such as [[French]], [[Latin]], [[Celtic]], and [[Arabic]]. |
==Arabic Loan Words and English synonyms== | ==Arabic Loan Words and English synonyms== | ||
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|- | |- | ||
! Word with Arabic Root<ref>[http://jeffreyhill.typepad.com/english/2008/08/arabic-loan-words-in-english.html Arabic loan words in English]</ref> | ! Word with Arabic Root<ref>[http://jeffreyhill.typepad.com/english/2008/08/arabic-loan-words-in-english.html Arabic loan words in English]</ref> | ||
| − | ! | + | ! Etymology<ref>http://www.etymonline.com Online Etymology Dictionary</ref> |
| + | ! Definition | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | admiral | ||
| + | | Arabic ''amir-ar-rahl'' (naval commander) via French | ||
| + | | naval officer of general staff rank | ||
|- | |- | ||
| algebra | | algebra | ||
| − | | | + | | Arabic ''al-jebr'' (joining of broken pieces) via Latin |
| + | | mathematical system of symbols and rules to manipulate them | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | algorithm | ||
| + | | Arabic ''al-Khwarizmi'' (name of outstanding mediaeval mathematician) via Greek, Latin and French | ||
| + | | step-by-step computational procedure | ||
|- | |- | ||
| arsenal | | arsenal | ||
| + | | Arabic ''dar-as-sina'ah'' (workshop) via Venetian ''arzenale'' | ||
| armory, stockpile | | armory, stockpile | ||
|- | |- | ||
| assassin | | assassin | ||
| − | | killer, | + | | Arabic ''hashishiyyin'' (hashish-users) via Italian and French |
| + | | killer or hitman, usually with political connotations. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| coffee | | coffee | ||
| − | | | + | | Probably name of Ethiopian region Kaffa via Arabic ''qahwah'', Turkish and Italian |
| + | | popular stimulating drink | ||
|- | |- | ||
| cotton | | cotton | ||
| − | | | + | | Possible Egyptian via Arabic ''qutn'', via a southern Romance language and French |
| + | | plant material from which a wide variety of fabrics are made | ||
|- | |- | ||
| elixir | | elixir | ||
| − | | | + | | Greek ''xeros'' (dry) via Arabic ''al-iksir'' and Latin |
| + | | potion<ref name=elixir>Note the irony: in English, an ''elixir'' is an [[alcoholic drink]] of [[medicine|medicinal]] value—in short, a cocktail.</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Gibraltar | | Gibraltar | ||
| − | | Pillars of Hercules | + | | Arabic ''Jebel-al-Tariq'' (mountain of Tariq = name of 8th century commander) |
| + | | A large rock on the northern side of the Pillars of Hercules; also the city-state built on the rock | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | haboob | + | | haboob |
| − | + | | Arabic ''habub'' (strong wind) | |
| violent sandstorm | | violent sandstorm | ||
|- | |- | ||
| lemon | | lemon | ||
| − | | | + | | Sanskrit ''nimbu'' (lime) via Persion, Arabic ''laimun'', Provençal and French |
| + | | a citrus fruit | ||
|- | |- | ||
| lime | | lime | ||
| − | | | + | | Arabic ''limah'' (citrus fruit) via Spanish |
| + | | a tropical citrus fruit | ||
|- | |- | ||
| mattress | | mattress | ||
| − | | | + | | Arabic ''matrah'' via Sicilian, Italian and French |
| + | | thick pad for resting or sleeping on | ||
|- | |- | ||
| orange | | orange | ||
| − | | | + | | A Dravidian language (fragrant + fruit) via Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic ''naranj'', Italian or Provençal, and French |
| + | | a citrus fruit and the colour after which it is named | ||
|- | |- | ||
| safari | | safari | ||
| − | | trip | + | | Arabic ''safar'' (journey) via Swahili |
| + | | trip, especially to watch or photograph wild animals | ||
|- | |- | ||
| scarlet | | scarlet | ||
| − | | red | + | | Possibly Arabic ''siqillat'' (fine cloth) via Latin and French |
| + | | bright red | ||
|- | |- | ||
| soda | | soda | ||
| + | | Arabic ''suwwad'' (name of a plant) via Italian or Latin | ||
| pop, soft drink | | pop, soft drink | ||
|- | |- | ||
| sugar | | sugar | ||
| − | | | + | | Sanskrit ''sharkara'' via Persian, Arabic ''sukkar'', Latin and French |
| − | | | + | | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
|- | |- | ||
| tariff | | tariff | ||
| + | | Arabic ''ta'rif'' = information via Latin and Italian | ||
| tax | | tax | ||
|- | |- | ||
| zero | | zero | ||
| + | | Arabic ''sifr'' via Latin and Italian | ||
| none | | none | ||
|} | |} | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| + | [[Category:Linguistics]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:07, February 24, 2017
English is a Germanic language with a large number of grammatical features and loan words from other languages such as French, Latin, Celtic, and Arabic.
Arabic Loan Words and English synonyms
| Word with Arabic Root[1] | Etymology[2] | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| admiral | Arabic amir-ar-rahl (naval commander) via French | naval officer of general staff rank |
| algebra | Arabic al-jebr (joining of broken pieces) via Latin | mathematical system of symbols and rules to manipulate them |
| algorithm | Arabic al-Khwarizmi (name of outstanding mediaeval mathematician) via Greek, Latin and French | step-by-step computational procedure |
| arsenal | Arabic dar-as-sina'ah (workshop) via Venetian arzenale | armory, stockpile |
| assassin | Arabic hashishiyyin (hashish-users) via Italian and French | killer or hitman, usually with political connotations. |
| coffee | Probably name of Ethiopian region Kaffa via Arabic qahwah, Turkish and Italian | popular stimulating drink |
| cotton | Possible Egyptian via Arabic qutn, via a southern Romance language and French | plant material from which a wide variety of fabrics are made |
| elixir | Greek xeros (dry) via Arabic al-iksir and Latin | potion[3] |
| Gibraltar | Arabic Jebel-al-Tariq (mountain of Tariq = name of 8th century commander) | A large rock on the northern side of the Pillars of Hercules; also the city-state built on the rock |
| haboob | Arabic habub (strong wind) | violent sandstorm |
| lemon | Sanskrit nimbu (lime) via Persion, Arabic laimun, Provençal and French | a citrus fruit |
| lime | Arabic limah (citrus fruit) via Spanish | a tropical citrus fruit |
| mattress | Arabic matrah via Sicilian, Italian and French | thick pad for resting or sleeping on |
| orange | A Dravidian language (fragrant + fruit) via Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic naranj, Italian or Provençal, and French | a citrus fruit and the colour after which it is named |
| safari | Arabic safar (journey) via Swahili | trip, especially to watch or photograph wild animals |
| scarlet | Possibly Arabic siqillat (fine cloth) via Latin and French | bright red |
| soda | Arabic suwwad (name of a plant) via Italian or Latin | pop, soft drink |
| sugar | Sanskrit sharkara via Persian, Arabic sukkar, Latin and French | |
| tariff | Arabic ta'rif = information via Latin and Italian | tax |
| zero | Arabic sifr via Latin and Italian | none |
- ↑ Arabic loan words in English
- ↑ http://www.etymonline.com Online Etymology Dictionary
- ↑ Note the irony: in English, an elixir is an alcoholic drink of medicinal value—in short, a cocktail.