Arabic loan words

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[edit]

Word with Arabic Root[1] |  Etymology[2] |  Definition

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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

1. ↑ Arabic loan words in English
2. ↑ http://www.etymonline.com Online Etymology Dictionary
3. ↑ Note the irony: in English, an elixir is an alcoholic drink of medicinal value--in short, a cocktail.