Arabic words in English
A working list, organized by domain.
English has absorbed several hundred words from Arabic over roughly a thousand years. Most arrived not directly but through intermediary languages — Spanish (especially during and after the period of al-Andalus, 711–1492), Latin (in the medieval translation movement that brought Arabic scientific texts into Europe), Italian (through Mediterranean trade), and French (administrative and military vocabulary). A smaller number arrived more recently through colonial contact and modern travel.
Etymologies are often debated. Where there is reasonable scholarly disagreement, the entries below note this. Treat any etymology that sounds too tidy with some caution; many "Arabic origin" claims circulating online are popularizations of nineteenth-century guesses that subsequent scholarship has revised or rejected.
Science and mathematics
algebra
الجبر
al-jabr
"Restoration"; from al-Khwarizmi's 9th-century treatise.
algorithm
الخوارزمي
al-Khwaarizmii
From the name of the same mathematician.
zero
صفر
Sifr
Latinized as zephirum, became Italian zero.
cipher
صفر
Sifr
Same source as zero, different transmission path.
algorism (older form of algorithm)
الخوارزمي
al-Khwaarizmii
Same source as algorithm.
average
عوارية
ʿawaariyya
"Damaged goods"; via maritime law concept of shared loss. Etymology contested.
alchemy / chemistry
الكيمياء
al-kiimiyaa'
Ultimately Greek khemeia, but the al- prefix and Arabic transmission shaped the European form.
alembic
الإنبيق
al-inbiiq
Distillation apparatus.
elixir
الإكسير
al-iksiir
From Greek xerion via Arabic.
alcohol
الكحل
al-kuHl
Originally kohl (eye makeup); generalized in Latin to "fine powder," then to distillates.
soda
سواد / صداع
suwwaad
Likely from Arabic name of a sodium-rich plant; etymology debated.
Astronomy
zenith
سمت الرأس
samt ar-ra's
"Path overhead"; mistranscribed as zenit in medieval Latin.
nadir
نظير
naZiir
"Counterpart" — the point opposite the zenith.
azimuth
السموت
as-sumuut
Plural of samt.
Aldebaran
الدبران
ad-dabaraan
"The follower" (of the Pleiades).
Altair
الطائر
aT-Taa'ir
"The flying one" (the eagle).
Vega
الواقع
al-waaqiʿ
"The falling one" (the swooping vulture/eagle).
Betelgeuse
يد الجوزاء
yad al-jawzaa'
"Hand of Orion"; transmission garbled, etymology partially contested.
Rigel
رجل الجوزاء
rijl al-jawzaa'
"Foot of Orion."
Deneb
ذنب
dhanab
"Tail" (of the swan).
Algol
الغول
al-ghuul
"The ghoul"; the variable star whose dimming was tied to the demon name.
Fomalhaut
فم الحوت
fum al-Huut
"Mouth of the fish."
almanac
المناخ
al-manaakh
Possibly from this root via Spanish; etymology debated.
Food and drink
coffee
قهوة
qahwa
Via Turkish kahve, then Italian caffè.
sugar
سكّر
sukkar
Via Italian zucchero; Arabic from Persian, ultimately Sanskrit.
syrup / sherbet / sorbet
شراب / شربة
sharaab / sharba
All from the same root sh-r-b, "to drink."
lemon
ليمون
laymuun
Originally Persian; Arabic was the transmission.
orange
نارنج
naaranj
From Persian via Arabic; the initial n- was lost in French.
apricot
البرقوق
al-barquuq
Via Spanish albaricoque; ultimately from Latin via Arabic.
spinach
إسفاناخ
isfaanaakh
Persian via Arabic; transmission contested.
saffron
زعفران
zaʿfaraan
tahini
طحينة
TaHiina
From TaHana, "to grind."
hummus
حمّص
HummuS
"Chickpea."
falafel
فلافل
falaafil
Possibly from filfil (pepper); etymology debated.
tabbouleh
تبّولة
tabbuula
From the Levantine root for spices.
kebab
كباب
kabaab
Via Turkish; ultimately from a Semitic root for "burning."
sumac
سمّاق
summaaq
artichoke
الخرشوف
al-kharshuuf
Via Spanish alcachofa and Italian articiocco.
carob
خرّوب
kharruub
jar
جرّة
jarra
"Earthenware vessel."
candy
قند
qand
"Sugar"; from Persian via Arabic.
caraway
كرويا
karawiyaa
Trade and money
tariff
تعريف
taʿriif
"Notification"; from a Mediterranean trading term.
check / cheque
صكّ
Sakk
"Document, deed"; via Persian, then Italian.
magazine
مخزن
makhzan
"Storehouse"; via Italian magazzino. Originally a depot, then a periodical "store" of articles.
caravan
قيروان
qayrawaan
Possibly Persian via Arabic; route is debated.
arsenal
دار الصناعة
daar aS-Sinaaʿa
"House of manufacture"; via Italian.
tariff
تعريفة
taʿriifa
risk
رزق
rizq
"Provision, fortune"; etymology debated.
mate (chess)
مات
maata
"Died"; from Persian shah maat, "the king is dead/helpless."
Textiles and clothing
cotton
قطن
quTn
Via Spanish and French.
muslin
موصل
mawSil
From the Iraqi city of Mosul, where the cloth was made.
damask
دمشق
dimashq
From Damascus.
satin
زيتون
zaytuun
From the medieval Arabic name for the Chinese port Quanzhou (Zaytun); contested.
mohair
مخيّر
mukhayyar
"Choice cloth."
taffeta
تفتاء
taftaa'
Persian via Arabic via Italian.
cordovan
قرطبة
qurTuba
From Cordoba's leatherwork.
crimson
قرمز
qirmiz
A red dye from the kermes insect; ultimately Sanskrit via Persian and Arabic.
gauze
غزّة
ghazza
From Gaza, where the cloth was made; etymology debated.
Military and admin
admiral
أمير البحر
amiir al-baHr
"Commander of the sea"; via Old French.
assassin
حشّاشين
Hashshaashiin
Name applied to a medieval Ismaili sect; literal meaning and connection to hashish are contested.
emir
أمير
amiir
"Commander."
sultan
سلطان
sulTaan
"Authority."
vizier
وزير
waziir
"Minister."
caliph
خليفة
khaliifa
"Successor."
sheikh
شيخ
shaykh
"Elder, leader."
Geography, weather, animals
monsoon
موسم
mawsim
"Season"; via Portuguese.
safari
سفر
safar
"Journey"; via Swahili from Arabic.
simoom
سموم
samuum
A hot desert wind.
sahara
صحراء
SaHraa'
"Desert."
giraffe
زرافة
zaraafa
gazelle
غزال
ghazaal
albatross
الغطّاس
al-ghaTTaas
"The diver"; etymology contested, possibly via Portuguese alcatraz.
genet
جرنيط
jarnayT
A wild civet-like mammal.
fennec
فنك
fanak
The North African desert fox.
jerboa
يربوع
yarbuuʿ
Architecture and household
mosque
مسجد
masjid
Via Spanish mezquita, French mosquée.
minaret
منارة
manaara
"Lighthouse, tower."
alcove
القبّة
al-qubba
"Vault, dome"; via Spanish alcoba.
sofa
صفّة
Suffa
A raised platform along a wall.
mattress
مطرح
maTraH
"Place where something is thrown down."
azure
لازورد
laazuward
From Persian via Arabic; the lapis lazuli blue.
lacquer
لكّ
lakk
From Sanskrit via Persian and Arabic.
carat
قيراط
qiiraaT
A weight unit; ultimately Greek keration via Arabic.
Miscellaneous
genie
جنّ
jinn
Via French génie; the convergence with Latin genius shaped the modern sense.
ghoul
غول
ghuul
harem
حريم
Hariim
"Forbidden, sanctuary"; the women's quarters.
hazard
الزهر
az-zahr
"Dice"; via Spanish, French.
tariff
تعريف
taʿriif
racket (paddle)
راحة
raaHa
"Palm of the hand"; via French.
talisman
طلسم
Tilsam
Greek telesma via Arabic.
mummy
موميا
muumiyaa
From Persian moum "wax" via Arabic.
soda
صداع
Sudaaʿ
Plant name origin; etymology debated.
scarlet
سقلاط
siqlaaT
A rich woolen cloth; ultimately from Latin via Arabic.