Arabic language influence on the Spanish language

Arabic influence on the Spanish language overwhelmingly dates from the Muslim rule primarily in Southern Iberia between 711 and 1492 during the Al-Andalus era. The influence results mainly from the large number of Arabic loanwords and derivations in Spanish, plus a few other less obvious influences which make 8%[1] of the Spanish dictionary - the second largest lexical influence on Spanish after Latin.[2]

History

Chronological map showing linguistic evolution in southwest Europe

The Spanish language, also called Castilian, is a Romance language that evolved from the dialects of Roman Vulgar Latin spoken in the Iberian peninsula. The first documents written in a language with some features specific of modern Spanish are ascribed to a number of documents from different monasteries in the area of Burgos and La Rioja [3] in what is now northern Spain. However, Toledo in central Spain, which became the capital of the early Kingdom of Castile during its southward expansion, is where Spanish began to appear in a written form recognizable today. The pre-existing Mozarabic dialect of this region (i.e. the Romance present during Muslim rule) is therefore likely to have also had an important formative influence on modern Spanish.

The lexical influence of Arabic reached its greatest level during the Christian Reconquista, when the emerging Kingdom of Castile conquered large territories from Moorish rulers particularly in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. These territories, which included the former Taifa of Toledo, had large numbers of Arabic speakers, as well as many who spoke local Romance dialects (Mozarabic language) that were heavily influenced by Arabic, both influencing Castilian. It is possible that Arabic words and their derivatives had also been priorly brought into Castilian by Mozarab Christians who emigrated northwards from Al Andalus in times of sectarian violence, particularly during the times of Almohad and Almoravid rule in the 12th and 13th centuries. As such, Arabic can be considered to have had a formative influence on the Spanish language.

The degree to which the Arabic language percolated through the Iberian Peninsula varied enormously from one period and area to another and is the subject of academic debate. However, it is generally agreed that, in much of the peninsula, Arabic was used among the local elites, Muslims and Christians, and that the prevalent vernacular in many areas was Mozarabic, a continuum of Arabic-influenced local Romance dialects. Only the southern third of the peninsula became totally Arabized as both Mozarabic and Christianity were extinguished following the Almoravid and Almohad periods.

Much of the Arabic influence upon Spanish came through the various Arabized Romance dialects that were spoken in areas under Moorish rule, known today by scholars as Mozarabic. This resulted in Spanish often having both Arabic and Latin derived words with the same meaning. For example, aceituna and oliva (olive), alacrán and escorpión (scorpion), jaqueca and migraña (migraine), alcancía and hucha (piggy bank).

The influence of the Arabized Mozarabic and of Arabic itself is more noticeable in the Spanish dialects from regions with a longer history of Moorish domination than those where it was shorter-lived. For this reason, the dialects of the southern half of the country, known collectively as castellano meridional or Southern Castilian, seem collectively to show a higher degree of preference for Arabisms. Northern Spanish dialects tend to prefer Romance synonyms to terms of Arabic origin, such as the Romance calendario vs. Arabic almanaque, hucha vs. alcancía, espliego vs. alhucema, etc. Because Canarian and all Latin American dialects are mainly derived from Southern Castilian, Spanish words of Arabic origin are common in most varieties of Modern Spanish.

A number of words were also borrowed from Moroccan Arabic principally as a result of Spain's protectorate over Spanish Morocco in the 19th and 20th centuries, although these are of minor significance.

The Spanish spoken in the Canary Islands has also adopted a small number of words from Hassaniya Arabic, principally from Canarian sailors who fish in proximity to the Saharan coast as well as by those Canarians who returned from Western Sahara after the Green March of 1975.

Lexical influence

The influence of Arabic on the Spanish language is fundamentally lexical but its other influences are also briefly examined in this article. It is estimated that there are about one thousand Arabic roots,[4][5] and approximately three thousand derived words, for a total of around four thousand words[4][6][7] or 8%[8] of the Spanish dictionary - the second largest lexical influence on Spanish after Latin.[9] See Influences on the Spanish language for more on how the number of Arabisms in Spanish has been estimated. The exact number of words of Arabic origin and their derivatives 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.

The high point of Arabic word use in Spanish was in late medieval times and has declined since then, but hundreds are still used in normal conversation. A larger majority of these words are nouns, with a number of verbs and adjectives derived directly from these nouns, e.g. alquilar (to rent) and alquilado (rented) from alquiler (rent), most of which are excluded from this list. There is also one preposition: hasta ("until"), and one adverb: he. There has been little influence on the basic grammatical structure of the language.[10]

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.

Rationale for inclusion

Due to the large influence of Arabic on Spanish vocabulary, this list is relatively restrictive:

• This list has been edited to include only words which are considered to appertain to the Spanish language and the Hispanic culture and society. Arabic words which may be understood by Spanish speakers, but remain foreign to the Hispanic civilisation such as Ayatolá, Yihad, or Chiita, are excluded from this list.
• Only words which have passed directly from Arabic are included. Arabic words which entered the Spanish language through other, non-Iberian, Indo-European languages (such as Ayatolá, Beduino, Sofá, or sorbete) are not included. Included as exceptions to this rule are álcali and álgebra, words of Arabic origin which are thought to have entered Spanish through "Low Latin"[11]—as suggested by their initial stress (the Arabic definite article al- is not normally borrowed as a stressed syllable).
• Generally, only Spanish root words are listed, derivations (including nouns, verbs or adjectives) 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. Aceituno (olive tree), on the other hand, would not be included, since it shares the same root as aceituna. For this reason a significant number of verbs and adjectives are excluded from this list. 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 or Andalusi 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 other sources or past editions of this dictionary.

Many of these words will be unfamiliar to many Spanish speakers because their use is restricted to certain regions of Spain or Spanish-speaking countries or they are no longer in regular use. For example, the word for Arabic-derived word for "jewel" alhaja is very common in Mexico whereas in Spain it is restricted to rural areas of the southern half of the country, the alternative Spanish term joya being much more common. On the other hand the Arabic derived term for fruit juice zumo is the standard term in Spain whereas it is virtually unknown on Latin America, where the Latin-derived jugo or agua are generally used. The Arabic term alberca in Spain refers to agricultural water deposits, whereas in Mexico it is the common term used for swimming pool as opposed to piscina elsewhere or pileta in Argentina.

Note: the Spanish words beginning "a-" or "al-" is from the Arabic definitive article "al-" (-الْ) referring to the grammatical article English "the".

A (Ababol to Alguaza)

1. ababol: poppy, in Aragon, Navarre, Albacete and Murcia. From Andalusian Arabic Happapáwr, a fusion from the Arabic plural al-ḥabūb (الْحَبُوب), the generic term for "seeds, beans or grains", and the Latin papāver.
2. abacero: owner of an abacería, small food shop. From Andalusi Arabic *ṣaḥb uz-zād (صاحب الزاد‎) "owner of supplies."
3. abadí: descendant/lineage of Mohammed ben Abad, founder of the Taifa Kingdom of Seville in the 11th century AD. From Andalusi Arabic 'abbādī (عبّادي).
4. abalorio: cheap jewellery or jewellery beads. From Andalusi Arabic and Arabic al-ballūriy[u] (الْبَلُّورِيُِّ) "[made of/ like] glass or clear as crystal". Ultimately from Greek βήρυλλος, "beryl"
5. abarraz: stavesacre (Delphinium staphisagria), a medicinal plant. From Andalusian Arabic ḥább arrás (حب الرأس‎) "head seeds."
6. abasí: pertaining to the Abbasid dynasty, which overthrew the Umayyads in the 8th century.
7. abelmosco: musk seeds, an aromatic plant. From Andalusi Arabic ḥabb al musk (حب المسك‎) literally "musk seeds." Classical Arabic ḥabbu 'l musk.
8. abencerraje: used in expression: "Zegríes y abencerrajes", "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.
9. abenuz: ebony. From Arabic abanūs (أَبَنُوس) of the same meaning but in Arabic referring to the "black wood" of the tropical tree.
10. abismal: screw in head of a spear. From Arabic al-mismar (الْمِسْمَر) "nail." [12]
11. abitaque: a cut of wood used in construction of a certain shape and dimension. From Arabic aṭ-ṭabaqah (الطَّبَقَة) "layer" or "intermediate chamber" or "group, standard, type"
12. acebibe: raisin. From Arabic az-zabīb (الزَّبِيب) of the same meaning but also "dried grape" or "currant" [= Ribes, genus of berry plants, e.g. blackcurrant, redcurrant and white currant]
13. acebuche: wild olive tree, or wood from such a tree. From Andalusi Arabic azzabbúǧ.
14. aceche: copper, iron or zinc sulphate. From Andalusi (Hispanic) Arabic *azzáj, < az-zāj, < . From Classical Arabic az-zāj (الزَّاج), meaning vitriol - sulphuric acid or a sulphate.
15. aceifa: Muslim summer military expedition. From Arabic aṣ-ṣayf (الصَّيْف), "summer".
16. aceite: oil. From Arabic az-zayt (الزَّيْت) "oil".
17. aceituna: olive. From Arabic az-zaytūn (الزَّيْتُون) "olive".
18. aceituní: precious cloth from the Orient. From Arabic az-zaytuni, a possible adaptation of the Chinese city Tsö-Thung .
19. acelga: Chard. From Arabic as-salq (السَّلْق) of the same meaning.
20. acémila: beast of burden; tax formerly paid in Spain. From Arabic az-zamilah "beast of burden", most likely stemming the Arabic scientific term for "pack-animal", "aḍ-ḍābatu 'l-ḥaml (الذَّابَةُ الْحَمْل)"
21. acemite: wheat husk; a type of wheat porridge. From Arabic semolina, as-samid (السَّمِيد).
22. acenefa: see cenefa.
23. aceña: watermill. From Arabic as-saniyah "the lifter."
24. acequia: irrigation canal. From Arabic as-saqiyah (الساقية‎) "the irrigator."
25. acerola: fruit of the trees Malpighia emarginata or M. glabra, generally found in the Americas, of the Malpighiaceae family. This should be differentiated from the European Service Rowan Tree (Sorbus domestica), family Rosaceae. From Arabic zu 'rūrah (زعرورة‎). Originally from Syriac za‘rārā.
26. acetre: bucket or cauldron used to extract water from a well; small cauldron used to spray holy water in Christian liturgy. From Arabic as-saṭl (السطل‎).
27. aciar: (or acial): instrument used to keep farm-animals still by squeezing their ear or snout. From Arabic az-ziyār.
28. acíbar: aloe (both the plant and its bitter juice); bitterness, grief, distaste. From Arabic aṣ-ṣabir (الصَّبِر).
29. acicalar: to clean or polish (Acicalarse in reflexive form); to make oneself look good by combing, shaving etc. From Arabic aṣ-ṣaql (الصَّقْل), an instrument used for polishing things.
30. acicate: spurs or the spikes on spurs; incentive. From Arabic (Muzil) as-siqaT "what takes away weaknesses."
31. acidaque: Muslim dowry. From Arabic aṣ-ṣadāq (الصّداق), dowry in Islamic law.
32. acimut: azimuth, an astronomical concept - the angle with which the meridian forms a vertical circle which passes through a point in the globe. From Arabic as-sumut (السُّمُوت) plural of samt سَمْت.
33. ación: handle on the stirrup. From Arabic as-suyūr (السُّيُور), plural of sayr (سَيْر) "strap" or "belt"
34. acirate: line of soil used to separate different plots of land; path between two lines of trees. From Arabic aṣ-ṣirāṭ (الصِّرَاط).
35. acitara or citara: thin wall, normally on a bridge. From Arabic as-sitārah (السِّتَارَة), wall to avoid falls - possibly from the Arabic for curtain, drapes or "hangings".
36. achacar: to blame. From Arabic tashakkà (تشكى‎): to complain or to blame.
37. adafina: pot used by Jews to cook. It is buried in embers on Friday night, where it cooks until Saturday. From Arabic: dafina (دفينة‎) "buried", alternative meaning "hidden treasure"
38. adalid: leader; general of Spanish militia. From Arabic dalil (دليل‎).
39. adaraja: each of the gaps made by the bricks in a horizontally unfinished wall. From daraja (درجة‎).
40. adarga: leather shield. From Arabic daraqah.
41. adárgama: flour, rarely used today. From Arabic darmaka.
42. adarme: small portion of something; type of measurement. From Arabic dirham (درهم‎).
43. adarvar: to shock. From Arabic dharb (ضرب‎) "blow."
44. adarve: wall of a fortress; protection, defense. From Arabic dharb (ضرب‎)
45. adaza: sorghum. From Arabic duqsah.
46. adefera: a small, square wall or floor tile. From Arabic add-ddafeera.
47. adehala: that which is granted or taken as obligatory with the price in the leasing or sale of a property. From Mozarabic ad ihala and originally from Arabic ihala "offering credit."
48. adelfa: oleander. From Arabic ad-difla (الدِّفْلَى) of the same meaning.
49. ademán: gesticulation which expresses the will to do something. From Arabic adh-dhamān (الضَّمَان), literally meaning legal guarantees. The change of meaning is due to the exaggerated promises and gesticulations which were offered in such a plea.
50. ademe: wooden structures used to strengthen tunnels in mines. From Arabic da'm (دَعم), meaning "buttress, support, fortify, pillar, hold up".
51. 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.
52. adiafa: present or refreshment given to sailors when back from a voyage. From Arabic Diyafa (adh-dhiyāfah الضِّيَافَة) "present of hospitality", the word for "accommodation, hospitality, housing" or "hospitable reception"
53. adivas: a disease provoking throat inflammation in animals. From Arabic aD-Dibbah "wolverine", which is the old Arabic name for this disease. Most likely the disease lupus, aḍ-ḍa'ab (الذَّأَب)
54. adive: a type of canid similar to a fox. From Arabic aḍ-ḍi'b (الذِّئْب).
55. adobe: brick made from clay. From Arabic aṭ-ṭūbah (الطُّوبَة, from Coptic tôbe) of the same meaning, and from ad-dabba.
56. adoquín: paving-stone, cobble; block. From Arabic Dukkan bench of rock or wood.
57. ador: in regions where water for irrigation is restricted and shared out by local authorities, irrigation-time for each farm/field. From Arabic dawr.
58. aduana: customs house; customs. From Arabic diwaan (ديوان‎).
59. aduar: semi-permanent rural settlement, normally used for Gypsies, Bedouins or Amerindians in South America. From Bedouin Arabic duwwar.
60. adúcar: type of silk made from the outside of the silk-worm's cocoon. From Andalusi Arabic Haduqa.
61. adufe: tambourine used by Spanish Muslims. Originally from Arabic ad-duff (الدُّفّ), the generic word for tambourine.
62. adul: in Morocco, assessor of the Cadí (see under letter C, another Arabic loanword). From Arabic ‘adl (عَدْل), "honorable, trustworthy person" or "fair, impartial".
63. adula: see dula.
64. adunia: (adverb) lots. From Andalusi Arabic addunya, originally from classical Arabic ad-dunyā (الدُّنْيَا) "the (whole) world", "the material world"
65. adutaque: same meaning as adárgama. From Arabic ad-duqāq (الدُّقَاق) "fine flour" or "flour meal".
66. afán: effort; desire; zeal. From afanar.
67. afanar: to steal; to work with passion. From Arabic al-fanā‘ (فناء) "extinction, extinction, destruction, vanishing", the notion, emotion of "annihilation through passion", used in poetry or to describe a type of madness
68. aguajaque: the whitish resin of fennel. From Arabic aw-washaq "contaminated with water."
69. agüela: Income from interest on loans assigned in public documents; Renta de los derechos sobre préstamos consignados en documento público. From Arabic Hawalah.
70. ajabeba: Moorish flute. From Classical Arabic ash-shabbābah (الشَّبَّابَة), the generic word for "flute, clarinet".
71. ajaquefa: Roof. Same origin as Azaquefa (see the word).
72. ajaraca: Ornamental loop in Andalusian and Arabic architecture. From Andalusi Arabic Ash-sharakah "loop".
73. ajarafe: terrace. From Classical Arabic saraf "commanding height."
74. ajebe: Alum; Para rubber tree. From Arabic ash-Shabb.
75. ajedrea: plant in the genus Satureja (family Lamiaceae), about 30 cm in height, with many branches and dark, narrow leaves. It is cultivated as an ornamental in gardens. From Arabic assariyya or assiriyya, ultimately from Latin satureia.
    

    Ajedrez, chess
76. ajedrez: chess. From Arabic ash shatranj (الشطرنج) which is from Persian Shatranj from the Sanskrit Chaturang (four armed) as was the shape of the original chess board in India
77. ajenuz: nutmeg flower or Roman Coriander (Nigella sativa). From Andalusi Arabic Shanuz and ultimately Classical Arabic Shuniz.
78. ajimez: bent; window divided in the center by a vertical divider; salient balcony done of wood and with lattice windows. From Arabic samis.
79. 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.
80. 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."
81. 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."
82. ajorrar: To drag, to tow. See Jorro.
83. ajuagas: equine animal ulcers. From Classical Arabic shuqaq.
84. ajuar: dowry, 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.
85. alacena: cupboard. From Classical Arabic ẖizānah (خزانة).
86. alacet: foundation of a building. From Classical Arabic asas (أساس).
    

    Alacrán, scorpion
87. alacrán: scorpion. From Classical Arabic aqrab (عقرب) of same meaning.
88. aladar: Tuft of hair which falls on either side of the head. From Arabic idar.
89. aladroque: Anchovy. From Andalusi Arabic Al Hatruk, "big mouthed".
90. alafa: wage; pay. From Classical Arabic alafah "subsistence allowance."
91. alafia: grace; pardon; mercy. From Andalusian Arabic al afya ultimately from Classical Arabic afiyah (عافية) "health."
92. alahílca: tapestry to adorn the walls. Perhaps of alailaca from Andalusian Arabic ilaqa, and this of Classical Arabic ilāqah (علاقة) perhaps meaning "hanger."
93. alajor: Tax which was paid to owners of land where buildings were built. From Arabic Ashur, period of ten days before Easter when debts were paid and alms were given.
94. alajú: Andalusian cake made of almonds, nuts, pine nuts, bread, spices and cooked honey. From al Hashu "filling".
95. alamar: A type of decorative attachment which is buttoned on clothing. From Andalusi Arabic Alam, decoration (in clothes).
96. alambique: alembic, alchemical still consisting of two vessels connected by a tube, used for distilling chemicals. From Arabic al-anbiq "the cup/container holding water", in turn from Greek.
97. alambor: Two meanings in Spanish with two different etymologies. 1) Embankment, from Andalusi Arabic Harabul "rim", from classical Arabic verb Hawwala, "to alter". 2) Type of orange tree. From Catalan l'ambor, singular of els zambors, derived from Andalusi Arabic Azzambu.
98. alamín: Village judge who decided on irrigation distribution or official who measured weights. From Arabic al-amin.
99. alamud: Steel bar used to close windows. From Arabic amud.
100. alaqueca: A type of blood-coloured quartz. From Arabic 'aqiq.
101. alárabe: Arab. From Andalusi Arabic, maintaining the definite article al arabi.
102. alarde/alardear: To boast/to show off. From Arabic "show" (ala?ard العرض)
103. alarife: 1) Architect 2) Builder (in mining) 3) Astute or quick witted person (in Argentina and Uruguay). From Arabic al 'arif: The expert.
104. alarije (uva): A type of grape. From Arabic al'aris.
105. alaroz: Crossbar which divides a window or a door. From Arabic al'arud: Obstacle placed to block entry.
106. alaroza: Fiancée or newly wed wife. From Arabic Andalusi Arabic al-arusa.
107. alatar: Drug, spice or perfume dealer. From Arabic al attar.
108. alatrón: Nitrate foam. From Arabic an-nattrun.
109. alazán/alazano: Reddish cinnamon coloured, used commonly to describe sorrel-coloured horses. From Arabic al-as·hab. From Andalusian Arabic الاسهاب, from Arabic اَصْهَب (aṣ·hab, “reddish, reddish-brown”).
110. alazor: safflower. From Arabic al-usfur.
111. albacara: Wall around a fortress, within which cattle were normally kept. From Arabic bab al-baqqara "The cattle gate/door". baqara (بقرة) means "cow" in Arabic.
112. albacea: Executor (of a will). From Andalusi Arabic Sahb al Wassiya (صاحب الوصية); "The owner of the will".
113. albacora: Albacore. From Arabic al-bakura "premature" or al-bakrah "young camel."
114. albadena: Type of tunic or silk dress. From Arabic badan: Type of shirt which covers the torso.
115. albahaca: Basil. From Arabic al-habaqah.
116. albahío: Pale yellowish colour, used commonly for cattle. From Arabic bahi: "Shining".
117. albalá: Official document. From Arabic al-bara'ah.
118. albaida: Anthyllis cystoides (Flowering plant). From Arabic al-baida: "The white one".
119. albanega: 1) Net used for hair. 2) Rabbit trap. From Arabic al-baniqa.
120. albañal: Sewer. From Andalusi Arabic al-ballá: "swallower".
121. albañil: Construction worker. From Andalusi Arabic al-banni. Originally from classical Arabic banna.
122. albaquía: The remainder. From Arabic al-baqi (الباقي) of the same meaning.
123. albarán: Invoice. From Arabic al-bara'ah.
124. albarazo: Vitiligo. From Andalusi Arabic Al-Barash.
125. albarda: Pack-saddle. From Arabic al-barda'ah.
126. albardán: Clown or fool. From Andalusi Arabic albardán: "insolent". Originally from Classical Arabic bardan: "Idiot (cold headed)".
127. albardín: Plant endemic to the Spanish steppes, similar in nature and use to Esparto. From Arabic "al-bardi": "papyrus".
128. albaricoque: Apricot. From Arabic al-barqouq (البرقوق) "plum" or "early-ripe."
129. albarrada: 1) Clay vase, see alcarraza. 2) Stone wall. From Arabic al-barradah: "the cooler".
130. albarrán: 1) Farm boy 2) Shepherd 3) Person with no fixed residence. From Andalusi Arabic al-barrani: "Outsider".
131. albatoza: Small, covered boat. From Arabic al-gattosha: grebe. Due to the Arabic custom of giving names of birds to vessels.
132. albayalde: Cerrusite. From Arabic al-bayad.
133. albéitar: Vet. From Arabic al-baytar.
134. albenda: Decorated white linen. From Arabic al-band.
135. alberca: Water deposit for irrigation. In Mexico and Honduras it is also the term of choice for swimming pool. From Arabic al-birka.
136. albérchigo: Apricot tree. From Andalusi Arabic al-bershiq.
137. albihar: Mayweed. From Arabic al-bahar.
138. albitana: 1) Fence to protect plants in gardening. 2) Prolongation of the keel or stern post of a ship. From Arabic al-bitana.
139. alboaire: The craft of decorating churches and domes with "azulejos". From Andalusi Arabic al-buhaira: lagoon.
140. albogue: Single-reed clarinet used in Spain. From Arabic al-bûq (البوق): The horn or the trumpet.
141. alboheza: Malva, from Andalusi Arabic al-hubayza.
142. albohol: Morning glory, from Andalusi Arabic al-hubuul: "rope".
143. albollón: Drainage or sewage. From Mozarabic Ballaón and ultimately from Classical Arabic balla'ah.
144. albóndiga: Meatball; ball. From Arabic al-bunduqa (البندقة) "the ball."
145. albórbola: Joy, celebratory noise. From Arabic walwalah.
146. alborga: Matweed sandal. From Arabic albúlḡa.
147. albornía: A type of large vase. From Arabic barniya.
148. albornoz: Bath-robe. From al-burnos (البرنس); "(bath)robe".
149. alboronía: A type of Andalusian vegetable stew. From Arabic al buranniya "Buran's (stew)." Buran was the wife of Caliph Ma'moun.
150. alboroque: 1) A present or gratuity given in exchange for a service. 2) The kind treatment and lavish attention offered and received in anticipation of a commercial transaction. From Andalusi Arabic al-borok, possibly ultimately from Classical Arabic arbun.
151. alboroto: Riot, joy. Comes from arabism alborozo (joy), from andalusí Arabic al-burúz derived from Classical Arabic al-burūz, "military parade previous to a campaign"; or related to Latin volutāre.
152. alborozo: Extreme chaos or happiness. From Andalusi Arabic al-buruz: "Military parade prior to an expedition".
153. albotín: Turpentine Tree. From Arabic butm of the same meaning.
154. albricias: 1) Term used to congratulate someone. 2) Present or gift provided to a bringer of good news. From Arabic bushra.
155. albudeca: A bad watermelon. From Andalusi Arabic al batiha.
156. albufera: Lagoon. From Arabic al buhaira.
157. albur: This term has a wide range of meanings: 1) Flathead mullet (Spain and Cuba), 2) A card combination in a card game known as Banca, 3) A chance occurrence on which an enterprise hedges its bets, 4) An expression which has a double or hidden meaning (Mexico and Dominican Republic) 4) An amourous affair (Nicaragua), 5) A lie, slander or rumour (Puerto Rico and Honduras). From Arabic al-boori.
158. alcabala: 1) A tax on commercial transactions. 2) Police checkpoint outside cities and on main roads (Colombia and Venezuela). From Andalusi Arabic al qabala.
159. alcabor: Hollow interior of a chimney or oven. From Arabic al qabw.
160. alcabtea: A type of linen. From Arabic al qubtiya, meaning "Egyptian" or "Coptic".
161. alcacel or alcacer: 1) Green barley 2) A barley field. From Arabic al qasil.
162. alcachofa: Artichoke. From Arabic al-ẖarshoof of the same meaning.
163. alcaduz: Water pipe. From Arabic Qâdûs (قادوس) meaning "water-wheel scoop".
164. alcafar: Limbs of a cuadruped (normally a horse). From Arabic al kafal.
165. alcahaz: Birdcage. From Arabic qafaṣ (قفص) of the same meaning
166. alcahuete: Accomplice, pimp, a person who helps another in a love affair, specially an illicit one; gossipy person. Alcahuete comes from Hispanic Arabic alqawwad (the messenger), and this from Classical Arabic qawwad. This "messenger" carried messages to a married woman's lover. By extension it became commonly known as any person who sets up a love affair, generally illicit.
167. alcaicería: an establishment where silk farmers presented their produce, under the rights reserved to the Muslim rulers in Granada and other towns of the Nasrid Kingdom. From Andalusi Arabic Al-Qaysariya, originally from the Latin Caesarea.
168. alcaide: a term historically referred to various positions of government authority. In modern Spanish commonly refers to a prison warden. From Arabic al qa'id, "military commander".
169. alcalde: Mayor. From Arabic al-qadi (the judge). Qadi comes from the verb qada (to judge).
170. álcali: Alkali. From Arabic qalawi (قلوي) of the same meaning.
171. alcaller: Clay artisan or his helper. From Andalusi Arabic al qallal.
172. alcamiz: An obsolete term referring to a list of soldiers. Its etymology is an erroneous transmission of at-taymiz, "Military inspection" in Andalusi Arabic and "Distinction" in Classical Arabic.
173. alcamonías: Seeds used in spice mixes such as anisseed or cumin. It is also a now obsolete expression referring to the act of hiding things. From Arabic kammuniya, a cumin-based concoction.
174. alcana: Henna or Henna tree. From Arabic, hinna.
175. alcaná: Commercial street or neighbourhood. From Arabic qanaah: "Drains or water pipes".
176. alcancía: Clay money box, penny or piggy bank. From Andalusi Arabic alkanzíyya, derived from classical Arabic kanz: "treasure".
177. alcándara: Hook used to hang clothes or fowl. From Arabic Kandarah.
178. alcandía: Sorghum. From Andalusi Arabic qatniyya.
179. alcandora: A type of shirt. From Arabic qandura.
180. alcanería: A now obsolete rural term for a type of artichoke. From Andalusi Arabic al-qannariya, an Arabic rendering of the Latin cannaria.
181. alcanfor: Camphor. From Andalusi Arabic Al-Kafur.
182. alcántara/alcantarilla: Drain. From Arabic al-qantarah meaning "bridge".
183. alcaparra: Caper. From Andalusian Arabic al-kaparra. Via Latin and Greek.
184. alcaraván: Stone-Curlew. From Andalusian Arabic al-karawan.
185. alcaravea: Caraway. From Andalusi Arabic al-Karawiya.
186. alcarceña: Name given to the Ervil and the Carob. From Andalusi Arabic al-kershana, meaning "the big bellied", due to the plants causing a swelled stomach when consumed in large quantities.
187. alcarraza: A type of clay container similar to a Spanish Botijo. From Andalusi Arabic al-karraza. Ultimately from Persian Koraz.
188. alcarria: Of uncertain Arabic etymology. Refers to a flat highland with little vegetation.
189. alcatenes: A type of medicine which is mixed with copper sulfate to treat ulcers. From Arabic al-qutn.
190. alcatara (or alquitara): Alembic. From Arabic root for the verb "to distill" qattara.
191. alcatifa: Thin carpet or underlay for carpet. From Arabic al-qatifa.
192. alcatraz: Cormorant. From Arabic القطرس al-qaṭrās, meaning "sea eagle".
193. alcaucil: Artichoke. From Spanish Andalusi Arabic alqabsíl[a], that comes from Mozarab diminutive kapićéḻa, and this from Spanish Latin capĭtia, "head". Standard Latin, caput-itis.
194. alcaudon: Shrike. From Andalusi Arabic al-kaptan.
195. alcavela/alcavera: Mob, herd, family, tribe. From Arabic al-qabila.
196. alcayata: Metallic hanger or hook. From Andalusi Arabic al-kayata, originally from Latin Caia
197. alcazaba: Palace. From Arabic al-qasbah, (قصبة), "the quarter".
198. alcázar: Citadel; palace. From Arabic al-qasr (القصر) "the citadel."
199. 'alcazuz (or orozuz)
200. alcoba: Alcove. From Arabic al-qubba "the vault" or "the arch."
201. alcohela
202. alcohol: From Arabic al-kuhul (الكحول), fine powder of antimony sulfide used as eye makeup.
203. alcoholar
204. alcolla
205. alcor
206. alcora
207. alcorcí
208. alcorque
209. alcorza
210. alcotán
211. alcotana
212. alcrebite
213. alcuacil
214. alcubilla
215. alcuña
216. alcuza
217. alcuzcuz
218. alchub
219. aldaba
220. aldea/aldeano: Village / Villager.
221. aldiza
222. alefriz
223. aleja
224. alejija
225. alema
226. alerce
227. aletría
228. aleve/alevoso/alevosía: from Hispanic Arabic al'áyb and the latter from Classical Arabic áyb, "defect, blemish, or smudge of infamy"
229. aleya
230. alfaba
231. alfábega
232. alfadía
233. alfaguara: Geyser. From Arabic fawwâra (فوارة): "spout, fountain, water jet".
234. alfahar/alfaharería
235. alfaida
236. alfajeme
237. alfajor: Sweet almond shortbread. From Spanish Arabic fašúr, and this from Persian afšor (juice).
238. alfalfa: alfalfa hay. From Hispanic Arabic alfáṣfaṣ[a], from Classical Arabic fiṣfiṣah, and this from Pelvi aspast.[13]
239. alfaneque: 1) A type of bird, from Arabic al-fanak 2) A tent, from Berber afarag.
240. alfanje: A type of sword. From Arabic al-janyar "dagger".
241. alfaque
242. alfaqueque
243. alfaquí
244. alfaquín
245. alfaraz
246. alfarda: Two meanings; from Arabic al-farda and from Arabic al-fardda.
247. alfarero: potter.
248. alfardón
249. alfareme
250. alfarje
251. alfarrazar
252. alfaya
253. alfayate
254. alfazaque
255. alféizar: Window ledge. From Arabic al-hayzar, "The one which takes possession".
256. alfeñique
257. alferecía
258. alferez
259. alferraz
260. alferza: Piece, known as Vizir in other languages, corresponding to the modern chess "queen" (though far weaker), from which modern chess developed in medieval Spain. From Andalusi Arabic Al Farza, ultimately from Persian Farzan, "the guardian".
261. alficoz
262. alfil: Bishop, in chess. From Arabic al-fiyl (الفيل) "The elephant."
263. alfilel/alfiler
264. alfinge
265. alfitete
266. alfiz
267. alfolí
268. alfombra: Carpet. Two meanings; from Arabic al-jumra and from Arabic al-humra.
269. alfóncigo: Pistachio. From Arabic al-fustuq.
270. alfóndiga
271. alforfón
272. alforja: Saddlebag. From Arabic al-khurj ( الخرج ) "saddle-bag", portmanteau.
273. alforre
274. alforrocho
275. alforza
276. alfóstiga
277. alfoz: Neighborhood, district. From Arabic hauz (حوز) meaning "Precinct" or "City limits".
278. algaba
279. algadara
280. algaida
281. algalaba
282. algalia
283. algalife
284. algar
285. algara
286. algarada
287. algarabía: Incomprehensible talk; gabble; gibberish. From Arabic al-'arabiya: "Arabic".
288. algarivo
289. algarazo: Short rainstorm. From Arabic al 'ard: "cloud".
290. algarrada
291. algarrobo: Carob. From Arabic al-kharouba "the carob."
292. algavaro
293. algazafán
294. algazara
295. algazul
296. álgebra: Algebra. From the name of al-Khwarizmi's book Hisab al-jabr w’al-muqabala "The Calculus of Subtraction and Equality."
297. algodón: Cotton. From Arabic "al-qúţun (قطن)", meaning "The cotton", "Egyptian", "Coptic".
298. algorfa
299. algoritmo: algorithm, comes from the name of Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, محمد بن موسى الخوارزمي, famous mathematician.
300. algorza:
301. alguacil: Sheriff. From Arabic "al-wazîr (الوزير)", meaning "Minister".
302. alguaquida: fuel for a fire. From Arabic waqîda (وقيدة) meaning "Fuel"
303. alguaza: Window or door hinge.From Arabic wasl "juncture".

A (Alhadida to Azumbre)

1. alhadida: Old Spanish term for Hadith.
2. alhaite: Jewel. From Arabic al hayt "string". الخيط
3. alhaja: Jewel. From Arabic al-hajah "the valuable thing." الحاجة
4. alhamar: Red mattress or bed cover. From Arabic hanbal, "fur bedcover". Also from Arabic Alhamar / Al-Ahmar "red".
5. alhamel: Beast of burden or human porter, in Andalusian Spanish. From Arabic hammal. الحامل، حمّال
6. alhamí: Stone bench normally covered with azulejos. Refers to the Grenadine town of Alhama.
7. alhandal: Colocynth. From Arabic Alhandhal. الحنظل
8. alhanía: 1) Bedroom 2) Cupboard 3) A type of small mattress. From Andalusi Arabic al haniyya, "alcove".
9. alhaquín: Weaver. From Arabic plural Al Hayikeen, "weavers". الحيّاكين
10. alharaca: Violent reaction to a small issue. From Arabic haraka. حركة
11. alhavara: Flour. From Arabic huwara.
12. alhelí: Aegean Wallflower. From Arabic hiri.
13. alheña: Spanish word for Henna and the plant from which it is derived.
14. alholva: Fenugreek. From Arabic hulbah.
15. alhorí: Same meaning and etymology as more commonly used term alfolí.
16. alhorre: 1) Feaces of a newborn child. From Arabic hur, "feaces". 2) Common skin rash in babies, nappy rash. Commonly used in expression "Yo te curaré el alhorre!" when threatening to beat a child. From Arabic shakatu el hurr, "skin infection".
17. alhorría: (or ahorría): Expression used for when a slave is freed. From Arabic al-hurriya, "freedom".
18. alhucema: Lavender. From Arabic huzama.
19. alhuceña: Woodruff. From Arabic uhshina.
20. aliara: Drinking horn. From Andalusian Arabic al fiyara.
21. alicante: Vernacular name of two different types of poisonous snakes present in Spain and Northern Mexico respectively. From Arabic al aqrab, "scorpion".
22. alicatar: To till. From Arabic qat, "to cut".
23. alicate: Pliers. From Arabic laqaat, "tongs".
24. alidada: Alidade. From Andalusian Arabic al'idada.
25. alifa: Sugar cane, two years old, in Andalusian and Mexican Spanish. From Arabic halifa "successor".
26. alifafe: 1) Light indisposition. 2) Type of tumor which develops on the legs of horses from excessive work. From Arabic ifash "sowing bag".
27. alifara
28. alijar
29. alimara
30. alioj
31. alirón
32. alizace
33. alizar
34. aljaba
35. aljabibe
36. aljama
37. aljamía/aljamiado: Medieval Romance Spanish or Mozarabic written in Arabic script.
38. aljaraz
39. aljarfa
40. aljébana
41. aljerife
42. aljez
43. aljibe
44. aljófar/aljofarar
45. aljofifa
46. aljor (or aljez)
47. aljuba
48. aljuma
49. añagaza
50. almacabra
51. almacén: Deposit, dry goods store. From Arabic al-majzan of makhzan (المخزن) "the storage" or "the depot."
52. almacería
53. almáciga
54. almadén
55. almádena
56. almadía
57. almadraba: Tuna fishing in Andalusia and particularly in Cadiz province. From Andalusi Arabic Al-madraba, "place where to hit", in reference to the fishing technique.
58. almadraque
59. almagazén
60. almagra
61. almahala
62. almaizar
63. almaja
64. almajaneque
65. almajar
66. almajara
67. almalafa
68. almanaque: almanac (see etymology section in the article for further discussion). From Andalusian Arabic almanáẖ "calendar", from Arabic munāẖ "caravan stop", or from Greek almenichiakon "calendar."
69. almamcebe
70. almarada
71. almarbate
72. almarcha
73. almarjo
74. almarrá
75. almarraja or almarraza
76. almártaga: two meanings, from al-marta'a and al martak.
77. almástica
78. almatroque
79. almazara: Olive press. From Arabic "al-ma'sarah" (المعصرة), "juicer".
80. almazarrón
81. almea: two meanings, from almay'a and alima.
82. almejía
83. almenara: two meanings, from al-manara and al-minhara.
84. almez
85. almíbar: sugar syrup, juice concentrate.
86. almicantarat
87. almijar
88. almijara
89. almijarra
90. almimbar
91. alminar
92. almiraj/almiraje/almiral
93. almirez
94. almirón: Dandelion. From Andalusian Arabic al mirun.
95. almizate
96. almizcle/almizque
97. almocadén
98. almocafre
99. almocárabe
100. almocela
101. almocrebe
102. almocrí
103. almodón
104. almófar
105. almofariz
106. almofía
107. almofrej/almofrez
108. almogama
109. almogávar
110. almohada: Pillow, from Arabic al-makhada with the same meaning.
111. almohade
112. almoharrefa
113. almohaza
114. almojábana
115. almojama: see mojama
116. almojarife
117. almojaya
118. almona
119. almoneda: Sale or auction. From Arabic munadah.
120. almoraduj/almoradux
121. almorávide
122. almorí
123. almoronía: see alboronía.
124. almotacén
125. almotalafe
126. almotazaf/almotazán
127. almozala/almozalla
128. almud
129. almuédano
130. almuerzo: Lunch. Arabic al- + Latin morsus (bite).
131. almunia: an agricultural settlement, from المُنية meaning desire. (see Article in Spanish).
132. alpargata
133. alpechín
134. alpiste
135. alquería: Farmhouse. From Arabic al-qaria "the village."
136. aloque
137. aloquín
138. alpargata
139. alquequenje
140. alquería
141. alquermes
142. alquerque: Two meanings, from al-qirq and al-qariq.
143. alquez
144. alquezar
145. alquibla
146. alquicel
147. alquiler: Rent. From Arabic Al kira' (الكراء)
148. alquimia
149. alquinal
150. alquitira
151. alquitrán
152. alrota
153. altabaca
154. altamía
155. altramuz: Lupin bean. From Arabic at-turmus.
156. alubia: Pea, bean. From Arabic lubiya.
157. aludel
158. aluquete/luquete
159. alloza
160. amán
161. ámbar
162. ámel
163. amín
164. amirí
165. anacalo
166. anacora
167. anafaga
168. anafalla/anafaya
169. anafe
170. anaquel
171. andorra
172. andrajo
173. anea
174. anejir
175. anorza
176. anúteba
177. añacal
178. añacea/añacear
179. añafea
180. añafil
181. añagaza
182. añascar
183. añazme
184. añicos
185. añil: Ultimately from Sanskrit nilah, "dark blue".
186. arabí
187. arancel
188. arbellón/arbollón
189. archí
190. argadillo
191. argamandel
192. argamula
193. argán
194. argel
195. argolla
196. arguello/arguellarse
197. arije
198. arimez
199. arjorán
200. arnadí
201. arrabá
202. arrabal
203. arracada
204. arráez
205. arrayán
206. arrecife
207. arrejaque/arrejacar
208. arrelde
209. arrequife
210. arrequive
211. arriate
212. arricés
213. arroba
214. arrobda
215. arrocabe
216. arrope
217. arroz: Rice.
218. áscar/áscari
219. asequi
220. asesino: Assassin. From Arabic hashshshin "someone who is addicted to hashish (marijuana)." Originally used to refer to the followers of the Persian Hassan-i-Sabah (حسن صباح), the Hashshashin.
221. atabaca
222. atabal
223. atabe
224. atacar: To tie, to button up. From Andalusi Arabic tákka, originally from classical Arabic tikkah, ribbon used to fasten clothes.
225. atacir
226. atafarra/ataharre
227. atafea
228. atahona
229. atahorma
230. ataifor
231. ataire
232. atalaya
233. atalvina
234. atambor
235. atanor
236. atanquía
237. ataracea
238. atarazana
239. atarfe
240. atarjea
241. atarraga
242. atarraya
243. ataúd: Coffin.
244. ataujía
245. ataurique
246. atifle
247. atijara
248. atíncar
249. atoba
250. atocha
251. atracar: To assault, to burgle, to dock a boat, to get stuck, to gorge oneself with food, to cheat, to get stuck. From Arabic Taraqa, "To rise".
252. atoque
253. atríaca/atriaca
254. atún: Tuna.
255. atutía
256. auge: surge, rise, boom.
257. aulaga
258. avería
259. ayatolá
260. azabache
261. azabara
262. azacán
263. azacaya
264. azache
265. azafate/azafata
266. azafrán: Saffron. From Arabic za'firan of the same meaning. Perhaps from safra "yellow."
267. azahar: White flower, especially from the orange tree. From Spanish Arabic azzahár, and this from Classic Arabic zahr, flowers.
268. azalá
269. azamboa
270. azándar
271. azaque: Alms-giving or religious tax in Islam. From Arabic zakāt (Arabic: زكاة [zæˈkæː], "that which purifies"[1]). See article zakat.
272. azaquefa: Covered portico or patio. From Andalusi Arabic assaqifa, "portico", originally from Arabic as-saqf (السَّقْف), meaning "roof" or "upper covering of a building".
273. azar: Luck; chance. From Arabic az-zahr "the dice" or North African Arabic az-zhar "luck".
274. azarbe
275. azarcón
276. azarja
277. azarnefe
278. azarote
279. azófar
280. azofra/azofrar
281. azogue: Two meanings, from az-za'uq and from as-suq.
282. azolvar
283. azorafa
284. azote: Smacking, beating, scourge. From Arabic sawṭ.
285. azotea: Flat roof or terrace. From Andalusi Arabic assutáyha, diminutive of sath, "terrace" in Classical Arabic.
286. azoya
287. azúcar: Sugar. From Arabic (سكر) sukkar of the same meaning.
288. azucarí
289. azucena
290. azuche
291. azud
292. azufaifa/azufaifo
293. azul: Blue. From Arabic lāzaward, ultimately from Sanskrit.
294. azulaque (or zulaque)
295. azulejo: Handpainted glazed floor and wall tiles. See also alboaire and alhamí.
296. azúmbar
297. 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

1. babismo: Babism. From Arabic باب "door."
2. babucha: Slippers. From Arabic Baboush, derived from Persian "Papoosh" literally meaning "foot covering". The transition from Persian "p" to Arabic "b" occurs due to lack of the letter p in the Arabic alphabet. "Pa-" in Persian means foot and "poosh" means covering. Persian "pa" or foot shares the same root with other Indo-European languages, i.e. Latin pede[m], French "pied", Spanish "pie" and "pata", etc.
3. badal: Cut of meat from the back and ribs of cattle, close to the neck. From Andalusi Arabic bad'a "Calf muscle" derived from classical Arabic bad'ah "piece".
4. badán: Trunk of an animal. From Arabic badan.
5. badana: 1) Sheepskin, 2) Hat lining, 3) Lazy person. From Arabic bitana, "lining".
6. badea: 1) Watermelon or melon of bad quality. 2) Insipid cucumber, 3) Weak person, 4) Unimportant thing. From Arabic battiha "bad melon".
7. badén: Dip in land, road, sidewalk or ford. From Arabic batin "sunken" (land).
8. bagarino: Free or hired sailor, as opposed to a press-ganged or enslaven one. Same origin as baharí.
9. bagre: a freshwater fish that has no scales and has a chin. From Arabic baghir or baghar.
10. baharí: Bird of prey. From Arabic bahri: "from the sea".
11. baja: Pasha, Turkish officer or governor of high rank. From Arabic basha ultimately from Turkish pasha of the same meaning.
12. baladí: 1) Unimportant thing or matter. 2) Something of the land our country. From Arabic baladiy "From the country".
13. balaj/balaje: Purple ruby. From Arabic Balahshi: From Balahshan (region in central Asia where these stones are found).
14. balate
15. balda (and baldío)
16. baldar
17. balde: 1) Free. 2) Without cause. 3) In vain. From Arabic batil "false" or "useless."
18. bancal
19. baño
20. baraka: Heavenly providence or unusual luck. From Moroccan Arabic. Recently introduced word.
21. barbacana
22. barcino
23. bardaje
24. bardoma/bardomera
25. barragán
26. barrio/barriada: Area, district or neighbourhood in a town. From Arabic barri "outside".
27. bata: either from Arabic batt or French ouate.
28. batán
29. batea
30. baurac
31. bayal
32. belez
33. bellota: Acorn, the fruit or seed of the oak tree. From Arabic balluta of the same meaning.
34. ben
35. benimerín
36. benjui
37. berberí
38. berberís
39. bereber
40. berenjena/berenjenal
41. bezaar/bezoar
42. biznaga
43. bocací
44. bodoque/bodocal
45. bófeta
46. bórax
47. borní
48. boronía
49. botor
50. bujía
51. bulbul
52. burche
53. buz
54. buzaque

C

1. cabila: Tribe of Berbers or Bedouins. From Arabic qabila "tribe."
2. cachera
3. cadí: From Arabic qādhiy / qādhī (قَاضِي), a "judge", type of public officer appointed to hear and try causes in a court of justice
4. cadira
5. café: Coffee. From Arabic qahwa (قهوة) of the same meaning.
6. cáfila
7. cafiz (or cahiz)
8. cafre
9. caftán
10. cáid (same origin as alcaide)
11. caimacán
12. cala
13. calabaza: Pumpkin or squash. From Arabic qerabat (قربات), plural of qerbah (قربة), meaning wineskin.
14. calafate/calafatear
15. calahorra
16. calí: same root as álcali.
17. cálibo/calibre
18. cambuj
19. camocán
20. canana: Cartridge belt.
21. cáncana/cancanilla
22. cáncano
23. cande: in azúcar cande.
24. canfor
25. caraba
26. cárabe
27. cárabo: Owl; dog. Taken from Arabic qaraab and kalb "dog" (kalaab "dogs"), respectively.
28. caracoa
29. caramida
30. caramuzal
31. caravana
32. caravasar
33. carcajada/carcajear
34. carcax
35. carmen/carme: From Spanish Arabic kárm, and this from Classical Arabic karm, vine.
36. carmesí: Crimson, bluish deep red. From Arabic quirmizi.
37. carmín
38. carraca
39. carrafa
40. cártama/cártamo
41. catán
42. catifa
43. cazurro
44. cebiche
45. cebtí
46. ceca
47. cedoaria
48. cegatero
49. cegrí
50. ceje
51. celemí/celemín/celeminero
52. cenacho
53. cendolilla
54. cenefa
55. ceneque
56. cení
57. cenia
58. cenit
59. cequí
60. cerbatana
61. cero: Zero. From Arabic sifr of the same meaning.
62. cetís
63. ceutí
64. chafariz
65. chafarote
66. chaleco
67. charrán
68. chifla
69. chilabai: From Moroccan Arabic.
70. chiquero
71. chirivía
72. chisme: Gossip.
73. chivo
74. choz
75. chupa
76. chuzo
77. cianí
78. cibica
79. cica
80. cicalar
81. cicatear
82. cicatero: different root to cicatear.
83. ciclán
84. ciclar
85. ciclatón
86. cid
87. cifaque
88. cifra/cifrar
89. címbara
90. cimboga
91. cimitarra
92. circón
93. citara
94. civeta/civeto
95. coba/cobista
96. cofa
97. coima
98. coime
99. colcótar
100. cora
101. corán: from qur'aan (قرآن), the Muslim Holy Book.
102. corbacho
103. corma
104. cotonía
105. cubeba
106. cúrcuma
107. curdo
108. cuscuta

D, E

1. dado: Dice, cube or stamp. From Classical Arabic a'dad "numbers."
2. daga - dagger
3. dahír
4. daifa
5. dante
6. darga (adarga): Shield.
7. dársena: Dock / basin.
8. daza
9. derviche
10. descafilar
11. destartalado
12. dey
13. dirham
14. diván: Divan / couch.
15. droga: Drug.
16. druso
17. dula/dular
18. edrisí
19. ejarbe
20. elche
21. elemí
22. embelecar/embeleco
23. emir (or amir)
24. encaramar
25. enchufar/enchufe: 1) To plug in/plug; 2) To connect, 3) To offer an unmerited job or a post through personal connections. From Andalusi Arabic Juf derived from Classical Arabic jawf "stomach; internal cavity".
26. engarzar: To set/thread.
27. enjalma
28. enjarje
29. enjeco
30. escabeche: Pickle or marinade. From Arabic as-sukbaj. Originally from Persian Sekba.
31. escafilar (see descafilar)
32. escaque/escaquear
33. espinaca: Spinach.
34. exarico

F, G

1. faca
2. falagar
3. falca
4. falleba
5. faltriquer: Pocket.
6. falúa/faluca
7. fanega/hanega
8. fanfarrón
9. faranga (or haragán): Lazy, idler, loafer.
10. farda
11. fardacho
12. farfán
13. fárfara
14. farnaca
15. farota
16. farruco: Insolent or "cocky". From Andalusian Arabic Farrouj, "Cock".
17. felús
18. fetua
19. fez
20. fideo
21. filelí
22. foceifiza
23. fondolí
24. fondac/fonda
25. foz
26. fulano: "any one" without naming, X of people. From Arabic Fulan.
27. fustal
28. fustete
29. gabán
30. gabela
31. gacel/gacela
32. gafetí
33. galacho
34. galanga
35. galbana
36. gálibo
37. galima
38. gandula/gandula
39. gañan
40. garbi: Sirocco wind.
41. garama
42. garbino
43. gardacho
44. garfa
45. gárgol
46. garra
47. garrafa
48. garrama
49. garroba
50. gazpacho
51. gilí
52. gomer
53. granadí
54. grisgrís
55. guadamací
56. guájara
57. guájete
58. guala
59. guarismo
60. guifa
61. guilla
62. gumía
63. gurapas

H, I

1. habiz: Donation of real estate under certain conditions to muslim religious institutions. From Classical Arabic: ḥabīs: amortized.
2. habús: Same meaning as habiz has in Morocco. From Arabic ḥubūs, "property belonging to the deceased used for charity".
3. hachís: Hashish. From Classical Arabic Hashish, "grass".
4. hacino: Miser or from Andalusian Arabic ḥazīn".
5. hadruba: Hump (on someone's back): From Andalusian Arabic ḥadúbba.
6. hafiz: Guard or minder. From Andalusian Arabic ḥāfiẓ.
7. hálara: Same meaning and etymology as fárfara. 1) Interior lining of egg. 2) Coldsfoot. From Andalusian Arabic falḡalála.
8. hallulla: 1)A type of bread or bun consumed in Spain and parts of Latin America. 2) Nausea (Eastern Andalusia only)[14] From Andalusian Arabic ḥallún.
9. hamudí: Descendants of Ali Ben Hamud, founders of the Málaga and Algericas Taifas during the 11th century.
10. haragán: 1) Someone who refuses to work. 2) In Cuba and Venezuela, a type of mop. From Andalusian Arabic: khra kan: "Was shit".
11. harambel: See "arambel".
12. harbar
13. harén
14. harma
15. harón
16. Hasaní
17. hasta: "Until". From Arabic hatta (same meaning). Influenced by Latin phrase 'ad ista'[15]
18. hataca
19. hazaña
20. he: Adverb used in following manner: "he aquí/ahí/allí": Here it is/there it is. From Arabic haa.[15]
21. hégira
22. hobacho/hobacha
23. holgazán: Lazy person. From Arabic Kaslan. Influenced by Holgar.
24. holgar
25. hoque/oque
26. horro/horra
27. imam, imán
28. imela
29. islam

J, K

1. jabalí : Wild Boar. From Arabic jebeli: From the mountains. Perhaps originally from Khanzeer Jebelí: Mountain Pig.
2. jabalón
3. jábega
4. jabeca
5. jabeque
6. jabí : A type of apple and type of grape. From Andalusi Arabic sha‘bí, a type of apple.
7. jácara
8. jácena
9. jacerino
10. jadraque
11. jaez
12. jaguarzo
13. jaharí
14. jaharral
15. jaharrar
16. jaima
17. jaique
18. jalear
19. jalma (or enjalma)
20. jaloque
21. jamacuco
22. jametería
23. jámila
24. japuta
25. jaque
26. jaqueca: Migraine. From Arabic Shaqiqa, with same meaning.
27. jáquima
28. jara
29. jarabe: Syrup. From Arabic Sharab. Usually in the context of cough syrup or linctus.
30. jaraíz
31. jarcha
32. jareta
33. jaricar
34. jarifo/jarifa
35. jarquía
36. jarra: Pitcher or other pot with handle(s). From ǧarrah, same as English jar.
37. jatib
38. jazarino/jazarina
39. jazmín: jasmine. From Arabic yasmin then from Persian word the same word
40. jebe
41. jeliz
42. jemesía
43. jeque: From Arabic shaikh or sheikh, older
44. jerife: From Arabic sharif, noble, respected.
45. jeta: Snout, face, cheek (in both literal and figurative sense). From Arabic khatm: "snout".
46. jifa
47. jinete
48. jirafa: giraffe. From ziraffa of the same meaning.
49. jirel
50. jofaina: a wide and shallow basin for domestic use. From ǧufaynah.
51. jofor
52. jorfe
53. joroba
54. jorro
55. juba/aljuba/jubón
56. julepe
57. jurdía
58. jurel
59. kermes

L, M

1. 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.
2. lacre
3. lapislázuli: lapis lazuli, a deep blue mineral. From Arabic lazaward (لازورد) from Persian lagvard or lazward, ultimately from Sanskrit rajavarta literally meaning "ringlet of the king."
4. latón: brass. From Arabic latun from Turkish altın "gold."
5. laúd: lute. From Arabic al 'ud (العود) "the lute."
6. lebeche: Southeasterly wind on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. From Andalusi Arabic Labash.
7. lebení: a Moorish beverage prepared from soured milk. From Arabic labani (لباني) "dairy."
8. leila: from Arabic layla (ليلة) "night."
9. lelilí: Shouts and noise made by moors when going into combat or when celebrating parties. From Arabic lā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāh (لا إله إلا الله): There is no god but Allah; Ya leilí (ياليلي) : Night of mine; ya ʿayouni (يا عيوني) : My eyes.
10. lima: lime. From Arabic limah of the same meaning.
11. limón: lemon. From laymoon (ليمون), derived from the Chinese word limung.
12. loco: crazy. From Arabic lawqa "fool."
13. macabro
14. macsura
15. madraza
16. magacén
17. magarza/magarzuela
18. maglaca
19. maharon/maharona
20. maharrana/marrana/marrano
21. mahozmedín
22. maimón
23. majareta
24. majzén
25. mamarracho
26. mameluco
27. mamola
28. mandeísmo
29. mandil
30. maquila
31. marabú
32. maravedí
33. marcasita
34. marchamo
35. márfega
36. marfil
37. marfuz/a
38. margomar
39. marjal
40. marlota
41. marojo
42. maroma
43. marrano pig; cf. Arabic muharram "forbidden".
44. marras
45. márraga
46. masamuda: (adj) Individual from the Berber Masmuda tribe, from which originate the Almohades, a movement which ruled Spain and North Africa in the 12th century. From Arabic: Masamuda.
47. matafalúa
48. matalahúga/matalahúva: Aniseed, from Andalusi Arabic habbat halwa, "sweet seed".
49. mártaga
50. máscara
51. matarife
52. mate
53. matraca
54. matula
55. mauraca
56. mazamorra: Word to designate a number of bread or cereal based dishes typical of Southern Spain and parts of Latin America. From Andalusi Arabic Pishmat.
57. mazapán
58. mazarí
59. mazarrón
60. mazmodina
61. mazmorra: Dungeon. From Arabic matmura "silo".
62. mazorca: corn cob; roll of wool or cotton. From Andalusi Arabic: Masurqa, derived from classical Arabic Masura (ماسورة) : a tube used as a bobbin (sewing) .
63. meca: Place which is attractive because of a particular activity. From Arabic Makkah (مكة).
64. mechinal
65. mejala
66. mejunje
67. mendrugo: Piece of dry or unwanted bread, often reserved to give to beggars. From Andalusi Arabic Matruq "Marked/Touched".
68. mengano/mengana: Expression of similar meaning as fulano or zutano, used always after the former but after the latter, meaning "whoever". From Arabic man kan meaning "whoever".
69. mequetrefe: Nosy or useless person. From Andalusi Arabi qatras meaning person of boastful demeanor.
70. mercal
71. metical
72. mezquino
73. 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 Miʿah: one hundred (مئة).
74. mihrab:
75. miramamolín
76. moaxaja
77. mogataz
78. mogate
79. moharra: tip of the sword. From muharraf meaning;; "beached".
80. moharracho
81. mohatra
82. mohedal
83. mohino
84. mojarra: Refers to fish in the Gerreidae order. From Arabic muharraf.
85. mojama (originally almojama): Delicacy of phoenician origin from the region of Cadiz. It consists of filleted salt-cured tuna. From the Arabic al mushama: "momified or waxed".
86. mojí
87. momia
88. mona
89. monfí
90. morabito
91. moraga
92. morapio
93. mozárabe
94. mudéjar
95. muftí
96. mujalata
97. mulato: Perhaps from Muwallad, as with the Muladi. Walad (ولد) means, "descendant, offspring, scion; child; son; boy; young animal, young one". According to DRAE, from latin mulus mulo (mule), in the sense of hybrid.
98. mulquía: Owned/Property. From “Mulkiyya”
99. muslim / muslime: (Adjective) Muslim.[16] A rare alternative to musulmán. From Arabic Muslim (مسلم).

N, O, P, Q

1. nabí: Prophet among arabs. From Arabic nabiy.
2. nácar: Innermost of the three layers of a seashell. From Catalan nacre, derived from Arabic naqra, small drum.
3. nácara: Type of small metallic drum used historically by the Spanish cavalry. Same etymology as nacar.
4. nadir: Nadir, the point on the celestial sphere opposite the zenith directly below the observer. From nadheer.
5. nádir: In Morocco, administrator of a religious foundation.
6. nagüela: Small hut for human habitation. From Andalusi Arabic nawalla: hut.
7. naife: High quality diamond. From Andalusi Arabic nayif. Originally from classical Arabic na'if: excellent.
8. naipe: Playing card. From Catalan naíp. Originally from Arabic ma'ib.
9. naranja: Orange. from Arabic nāranja, fr Persian nārang, fr Sanskrit nāranga, fr a Dravidian language akin to Tamil naŗu "fragrant".
10. narguile
11. natrón
12. nazarí: Related to the Nasrid kingdom or dynasty of Granada.
13. neblí: Subspecies of the peregrine falcon, valued in the art of falconry. Possibly from Andalusi Arabic burni.
14. nenúfar: Water-lily. From Arabic naylufar from Persian nilofer, niloofar, niloufar.
15. nesga:
16. noria: Watermill, Ferris wheel. From Arabic na'urah.
17. nuca: Nape of the neck. From Arabic nuḵāʿ منخع, نخاع.
18. ojalá: "I hope"; "I wish that...". From law šhaʾ allāh "If God wills." [17]
19. ¡ole! (or olé): The most famous expression of approval, support or encouragement, possibly comes from wa-llah و الله, by Allah!
20. omeya: adj. Related to the Umayyad.
21. orozuz
22. ox: Expression to scare away wild and domesticated birds. From Andalusi Arabic Oosh.
23. papagayo
24. quermes
25. quilate/quirate: Carat or Karat. From Andalusi Arabic Qirat.
26. quilma
27. 'quina: Galbanum (a type of aromatic gum resin. From Classical Arabic al qinnah.
28. quintal: weight unit of about 46 kg. In its current use under the metric system, it represents 100 kg. From Arabic Qintar قنطار "referring to a large number similar objects or an object which is large in its size.

R, S, T

1. rabadán
2. rabal
3. rabazuz
4. rabel
5. rábida
6. rafal
7. rafe
8. ragua
9. rahez
10. ramadán
11. rambla
12. rauda
13. rauta
14. real: Military encampment; plot where a fair is organized; (in Murcia region) small plot or garden. From Arabic rahl: camping.
15. rebato
16. rebite
17. recamar
18. recua
19. redoma
20. rehala
21. rehalí
22. rehén: Hostage or captive. From Arabic رَهِين, captive, ransom.
23. rejalgar: realgar. From Andalusi Arabic reheg al-ghar: "powder of the cave"
24. requive
25. resma
26. retama
27. rincón: Corner. From Andalusi Arabic rukan, derived from classical Arabic Rukn, or perhaps related to French recoin.
28. robda
29. robo (or arroba)
30. roda
31. romí/rumí
32. ronzal
33. roque
34. sajelar
35. salema
36. sandía: Watermelon. From Arabic Sindiya "from Sindh (province of Pakistan)".
37. sarasa: Homosexual or effeminate man. From "Zaraza".
38. sarraceno
39. sebestén
40. secácul
41. serafín
42. siroco
43. sofí
44. sófora
45. soldán
46. soltaní
47. sufí
48. sura
49. tabal (or atabal)
50. tabaque
51. tabefe
52. tabica
53. tabique
54. taca
55. tafurea
56. tagarino/tagarina
57. tagarnina
58. taha
59. tahalí
60. tahona
61. tahúr
62. taifa: Refers to an independent Muslim-ruled principality, an emirate or petty kingdom, of which a number formed in the Al-Andalus (Moorish Iberia) after the final collapse of the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba in 1031. Used in numerous expressions. Can also mean 1) a faction 2) a group of people of ill judgement. 3) un reino de Taifas (a kingdom of Taifas) can also refer to a chaotic or disorderly state of affairs. From classical Arabic Ta'ifah: faction.
63. tajea
64. talco
65. talega
66. talvina
67. támara
68. tamarindo
69. tambor
70. tara
71. taracea
72. taraje: Salt Cedar. From Arabic Tarfah.
73. tarasí
74. tarbea
75. tarea: Task. From Arabic ṭaríḥaand root طرح, "to throw".
76. tareco
77. tarida
78. tarifa
79. tarima
80. tarquín
81. tarraya
82. taza: cup. From Tasa.
83. tértil
84. tíbar
85. tochibí
86. tomín
87. toronja
88. toronjil
89. trafalmejas
90. truchimán/na
91. trujamán/na
92. tuera
93. tumbaga
94. Tunecí
95. turbit
96. turquí (in Azul Turquí)
97. tutía (or atutía)

V, X, Y, Z

1. vacarí: from Arabic baqari (بقري) "bovine."
2. valencí: Uva Valencia. A type of grape from Murcia region in South East Spain.
3. velmez: from Arabic malbas (ملبس) "clothing."
4. verdín: Spontaneous growth of grass or sprouting. From Arabic bardi (Same etymology as albardín). Influenced by Spanish word "Verde".
5. visir: vizier. From Arabic wazir (وزير) "minister."
6. yébel: from Arabic jabal; "mountain"
7. zabalmedina: in the Middle Ages, judge with civil and criminal jurisdiction in a city. From Arabic Sahib al Medina "Chief of the City."
8. zabarcera: women who sells fruits and other food. Same origin as abacero
9. zabazala: imam who leads Islamic prayer. From Arabic SaHb aS-Salah "Leader of prayer."
10. zabazoque: same meaning as almotacén. From Arabic SáHb as súq "Leader of the Market."
11. zábila: aloe vera (used mainly in Latin America) From Andalusi Arabic sabíra, originally from classical Arabic Sibar.
12. zabra: type of vessel used in the Bay of Biscay in the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern Age. From Arabic zauraq.
13. zacatín: in some villages, a square where clothes are sold. From saqqatin, plural of saqqat: seller of clothes.
14. 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.
15. zafarí: Granada zafarí: a type of pomegranate. Higo zafarí: a type of fig. From Arabic Safr.
16. zafariche: Structure used for placing clay urns. Same etymology as jaraíz (see above).
17. zafio: Uncouth. From Andalusi Arabic Fellah safi: "Mere peasant".
18. zafrán: See Azafran.
19. zaga: Backside of something. Cargo on the back of a truck. From Arabic Saqah: Rear, rearguard.
20. zagal: boy. From Andalusian Arabic zaḡál, traditional Arabic zuḡlūl. Same meaning.
21. zagaya (or azagaya)
22. zagua
23. zaguán: hall. From Andalusian Arabic istawán, traditional Arabic usṭuwān(ah).
24. zagüía
25. zaharrón
26. zahén
27. zahón
28. zahora: (Mainly used in Spanish region of La Mancha): Large meal accompanied by dancing or partying. From Arabic Islamic term suhoor.
29. zahorí
30. zaida
31. zaino
32. zala
33. zalamelé
34. zalea/zalear
35. zalema/zalama
36. zalmedina: Same meaning and origin as zabalmedina.
37. zalona
38. zamacuco
39. zambra: Traditional festivity of the Moriscos in Spain which is maintained by the Gypsy community of Sacromonte, Granada. From Andalusi Arabic Zamra, originally from classical Arabic Zamr.
40. zanahoria: carrot, presumably from Andalusi Arabic safunariyya, Classical Arabic: isfanariyya.
41. zaque: Leather recipient for wine or extracting water from a well. Drunken person. From Andalusi Arabic zaqq. Originally from classical Arabic ziqq.
42. zaquizamí
43. zaragüelles
44. zaranda/zarandillo/zarandaja
45. zarandear: To shake vigorously / push around / toss about. From Zaranda.
46. zaratán: Breast cancer. From the Arabic saratan: crab.
47. zarazán:
48. zarco
49. zarracatín
50. zarzahán
51. zatara
52. zéjel
53. zoco: market in an Arab country. From Arabic suuq, market. Not to be confused with other meanings of zoco.
54. zofra
55. zorzal: Thrush, intelligent person. From Andalusi Arabic Zurzal, originally from classical Arabic zurzur.
56. zubia: Place where a large amount of water flows. From Arabic Zubya.
57. zulaque
58. zulla
59. zumaque: sumac. From Arabic simaq of the same meaning.
60. zumo: fruit juice. From Arabic zum.
61. zuna: Sunnah, from Arabic Sunnah
62. zurriaga or zurriago: Refers to a type of whip and to a lark. From Andalusi Arabic surriyaqa

Words with a coincidental similarity to Arabic and false arabisms

• el: The Spanish definite articles el / la / lo / los / las, like most definite articles in the Romance languages, derive from the Latin demonstratives ille / illa / illud. The similarity to the Arabic article al is a mere coincidence.
• usted: The formal second-person pronoun usted is derived from a shortening of the old form of address Vuestra merced, as seen in dialectal Spanish vosted, Catalan vostè, etc. Usted is the remaining form from a number of variants used in Renaissance Spanish, such as Usté, Uced, Vuesa Merced, Vuesarced, Vusted, Su Merced, Vuesasted or Voaced.[18] The possibility of a link with the Arabic word ustādh ('mister'/'professor'/'doctor') seems very remote.
• paella: It is commonly believed in certain Arabic countries that the rice dish paella comes from the Arabic baqiya (meaning leftovers). The Spanish pronunciation of paella is similar to the Arabic "baqiya", particularly where the latter is pronounced with a silent qaaf as in a number of eastern Arabic dialects. Nevertheless, the word paella is a Catalan word of Latin in origin and refers to the pan in which it is cooked, with Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese cognates Padilla, Padella, Poêle and Panela.

Other influences

1. The VSO sentence structure: Even though the most unmarked sentence structure in Spanish is SVO, just as in most Romance languages, the VSO sentence structure seems to be more common than in languages such as French or Italian, a phenomenon which has been attributed to semitic influence on the language. [19] Notice that word order in Spanish and the other Romance languages is primarily governed by focalization and topicalization.
2. The suffix í. Arabic has a very common type of adjective, known as the nisba or relationship adjective, which is formed by adding the suffix -ī (masc.) or 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, zaragocí, andalusí or alfonsí.
3. Expressions. A number of expressions such as "¡Ole!" (sometimes spelled "olé" ), possibly from wa'llah, or ojalá, from law sha'a Allah, have been borrowed directly from Arabic. Furthermore, many expressions in Spanish might have been calqued from their Arabic equivalent. Examples would be si Dios quiere, que Dios guarde or bendito sea Dios.
4. Idafa. The Idafa was a feature of the Mozarabic dialects which had a major formative on modern Spanish. Although this morphological structure is no longer in use, it is still widely present in toponyms throughout Spain including names of recent origin such as the suburban colonies of Ciudalcampo and Guadalmar in Madrid and Malaga respectively.

Toponyms (place names) in Spain of Arabic origin

There are 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 Spain 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, Cantabria and the Basque country) as well as much of Catalonia, Navarre and northern Aragon. Regions where place names of Arabic origin are particularly common are Balearics, Eastern Coast (Valencia and Murcia) and Andalusia. In Portugal, the frequency of Arabic toponyms increases 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 either the old Arabic pronunciation or the popular pronunciation from which it derived is noticeable in their modern names: e.g. Hispalis - Ishbiliya - Sevilla.

Major towns, cities and regions

• Albarracín City of Aragón. Derived from Al Banū Razin, name of the Berber family of the town.
• Alcalá de Henares City in the Community of Madrid. Derived from al-qal'a (القلعة), meaning citadel or fortress. Henares also comes from the Arabic name for river: nahar.
• Alcántara (several places) from Arabic al qantara (القنطرة), meaning "the bridge".
• Alcarria Large plateau region east of Madrid covering much of Guadalajara as well as part of eastern Madrid and northern Cuenca. From Arabic al-qaryat.
• Axarquía Eastern region of Málaga province, From Arabic Ash-sharquía(الشرقية): 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, ultimately from Vandal.
• Albacete city and province of Castilla-La Mancha. Derived from Arabic Al-Basit (البسيط) (the plain).
• Algarve Region of southern Portugal. From Arabic Al-Gharb (الغرب), the west.
• Algeciras City and port in Cadiz province. Derived from Al Jazeera Al Khadra (الجزيرة الخضراء) 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-basharāt: The grasslands.[20]
• Calatayud City of Aragón. Derived from Qal'at Ayyūb (Arabic قلعة أيوب) meaning "(Ayyūb's) Job's Fortress".
• Gibraltar British overseas territory and name given to surrounding area in Southern Spain (Campo de Gibraltar). From Arabic (جبل طارق pronounced Jebel Tariq), "Mountain of Tariq", or Gibr al-Tariq meaning "Rock of Tariq".
• Guadalajara City and province of Castilla la Mancha. From Wādī al-Ḥijārah (Arabic وادي الحجارة), River or canyon of Stones.
• Jaén City and province of Andalusia From Arabic Jayyan, crossroads of caravans.
• Medina-Sidonia: Town and municipality in Cadiz province, from Madina, city.
• Tarifa town in Cadiz province, Andalusia. Originally Jazeera Tarif (جزيرة طريف): the island of Tarif. Derived from 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".
• Úbeda, a town in Jaén province, Andalusia. From the Arabic Ubadat el Arab.
• Sanlúcar de Barrameda, a city in the northwest of Cádiz province, Andalusia. "Sanlúcar" may have derived from the Arabic shaluqa (شلوقة), the Arabic name for the Levant wind called sirocco or jaloque; "Barrameda" was derived from bar-am-ma'ida, an Arabic phrase for "water well of the plateau".

Geographical features

• River Almanzora. Derived from Arabic: Al-Mansura.
• River Guadiana . Meaning "River Anae" (from the original Latin name Fluminus Anae, "River of Ducks").
• River Guadalquivir. Derived from Arabic: Al-Wādĩ Al-Kabir الوادي الكبير, "the big river".
• Javalambre. Mountain in southern Aragon, Jabal 'Amr, meaning "Mountain of 'Amr".
• Mulhacén. Highest mountain in peninsular Spain. Named after 15th century 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, de facto ruler of Al Andalus in late 10th - early 11th centuries.
• Cape Trafalgar. From Andalusi Arabic Taraf-al-gharb ('Western Cape' or 'Cape of the West').

Given names and surnames

Given names

Almudena (from the Virgin of Almudena, patroness of Madrid, Spain) and Fátima (derived from Our Lady of Fátima) are common Spanish names rooted in the country's Roman Catholic tradition, but share Arabic etymologies originating in place names of religious significance. Guadalupe, a name present throughout the Spanish-speaking world, particularly in Mexico, also shares this feature.

A few given names of Arab origin have become present in the Spanish-speaking world. In Spain, this coincided with a more flexible attitude to non-Catholic names, which were highly discouraged during the first decades of the Francoist dictatorship.[21] Arabic names that have been present in Spain for many decades include Omar and Soraya. Zaida has also present in Spain, perhaps after Zaida of Seville, the mistress or wife of King Alfonso VI of Castile in the 11th century. A number of streets throughout Spain bear the name of this Muslim princess. Zahira and Zaira are also popular girls' names of Muslim origin. It is in the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in the African continent where Arabic given names are common.

Surnames

Surnames of indirect Arabic origin, such as Medina, Almunia, Guadarrama or Alcaide, are common and often refer to toponyms or professions, but they are not of Arabic origin, properly speaking. Few Arabic surnames explicitly denote Arabic origin since in the 15th and the 16th centuries, religious minorities were required to change their surnames upon baptism to escape persecution. The Muslim minority was specifically compelled to convert and adopt Christian surnames by a series of royal decrees in the 16th century, when Morisco leader Muhammad Ibn Ummaya, for example, was born to the Christian name Fernando de Córdoba y Valor.

Exceptions to the general rule are rare, but one is the surname "Benjumea" or "Benjumeda", which denotes ancestry from the Ummayad nobility. Currently, fewer than 6,000 Spaniards have this surname. Another, even less common, surname denoting Muslim lineage is "Muley", which is still present in the Spanish South East, and was maintained for its noble lineage.[22]

See also

• Influences on the Spanish language
• Influence of Arabic on other languages
• List of Arabic loanwords in English
• List of French words of Arabic origin

References

1. Quintana, Lucía; Mora, Juan Pablo (2002). "Enseñanza del acervo léxico árabe de la lengua española" (PDF). ASELE. Actas XIII: 705.: "El léxico español de procedencia árabe es muy abundante: se ha señalado que constituye, aproximadamente, un 8% del vocabulario total"
2. Macpherson, I. R. (1980). Spanish phonology. Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 93. ISBN 0719007887.
3. newspaper El Mundo, 7-nov-2010: La RAE avala que Burgos acoge las primeras palabras escritas en castellano (in Spanish)
4. Dworkin, Steven N. (2012). A History of the Spanish Lexicon: A Linguistic Perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 83. ISBN 0199541140.
5. Martínez Egido, José Joaquín (2007). Constitución del léxico español. p. 15.
6. Versteegh, Kees (2003). The Arabic language (Repr. ed.). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. p. 228. ISBN 0748614362.
7. Lapesa, Raphael (1960). Historia de la lengua española. Madrid. p. 97.
8. Quintana, Lucía; Mora, Juan Pablo (2002). "Enseñanza del acervo léxico árabe de la lengua española" (PDF). ASELE. Actas XIII: 705.: "El léxico español de procedencia árabe es muy abundante: se ha señalado que constituye, aproximadamente, un 8% del vocabulario total"
9. Macpherson, I. R. (1980). Spanish phonology. Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 93. ISBN 0719007887.
10. La extraordinaria riqueza de nuestros arabismos
11. Corominas, Joan (1973). Breve diccionario etimológico de la lengua castellana (Madrid: Gredos)
12. "📌 abismal". Los diccionarios y las enciclopedias sobre el Académico (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2019.
13. see DRAE the Royal Academy Dictionary
14. "El español hablado en Andalucía". grupo.us.es. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
15. The Diccionario de la Lengua Española of the Real Academia Española
16. DRAE: 'muslime'
17. http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltConsulta?TIPO_BUS=3&LEMA=ojalá DRAE entry
18. Victoria B. TORRES: 'VUESTRA MERCED Y SUS ALOMORFOS EN EL TEATRO DE CALDERÓN' (In Spanish)
19. Historia de la lengua española, Madrid, Gredos (8.ª reimp. de la 9.ª de corr. y aum. 1981; 1.ª ed. 1942), Lapesa, R., (1995).
20. entry for بشرات in almaany.com
21. Mundo, Beatriz Díez BBC. "España: "Cómo Franco influyó, entre otras cosas, en el nombre de mi madre"". BBC News Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2019.
22. https://rua.ua.es/dspace/bitstream/10045/17610/1/Sharq%20Al-Andalus_13_09.pdf

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. JSTOR 617561
• 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. ]
• Corominas, Joan. 1980-1991. Diccionario crítico etimológico castellano e hispánico. Madrid: Gredos. The first edition, with the title Diccionario crítico etimológico de la lengua castellana (1954–1957) includes an appendix that groups words according to language of origin.
• 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.
• Marcos Marín, Francisco 1998 Romance andalusí y mozárabe: dos términos no sinónimos. Estudios de Lingüística y Filología Españolas. Homenaje a Germán Colón. Madrid: Gredos, 335-341.
• Ibid. 1998 Toledo: su nombre árabe y sus consecuencias lingüísticas hispánicas. Revista del Instituto Egipcio de Estudios Islámicos en Madrid, XXX, 1998, 93-108.
• Sola-Solé, Josep María. 1983. Sobre árabes, judíos y marranos y su impacto en la lengua y literatura españolas. Barcelona: Puvill. 279 p.
• Spaulding, Robert K. 1942/1971. How Spanish Grew. Berkeley: University of California Press. Chapter 5: "Arabic Spain", pp. 53–62.
• 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"
• Universidad de Granada. Holdings under the subject "arabismos"

External links

• La invasión árabe. Los árabes y el elemento árabe en español, by Elena Toro Lillo; Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes
• Arabic Influences in Various Languages
• Size and nature of the Spanish vocabulary