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It is fascinating to think about how a language that is commonly associated with Latin America has roots in an ancient language like Arabic.
Historical Background
As a life-long language learner, I did not uncover the similarities between Arabic and Spanish until recently. According to historical sources, this linguistic relationship began to form in 711 AD when the Arab and Berber peoples of North Africa, known as the Moors, conquered the Iberian Peninsula. The Moors ruled these lands for 800 years, and in this span of time they melded their language and culture with those of the Peninsula’s native inhabitants.
Spanish Today
To a great extent, Arabic influences the Spanish we speak today. Approximately 4,000 Spanish words, which amounts to 8% of the language in total, were originally derived from Arabic. Many of these words you already know and use in everyday conversations. Let’s take a look!
Spanish Words Influenced by Arabic
aceituna from زيتون (zaytun) means olive
café from قهوة (qahua) or coffee
pantalones from بنطلون (bantalun) means pants
camisa from قميص (qamis) means shirt
hasta from حتى (hataa) means until
máscara from المسكرة (almuskara) means mask
azúcar from السكر (alsukar) means sugar
taza from تازة (taza) means cup
Common Expressions
“ojalá” (I hope) correlates with the Arabic expression “In sha’Allah” (if God wills)
“¡olé!” (a Spanish cheer) resembles “wa Ilâh” (by God), or “yāllāh” (O God) in Arabic
Location Names:
Madrid is Arabic for “a breeze”
Andalusia means “the vandals”
Murcia means “an Egyptian”
Learn More
If you are interested in learning more about these languages, ReDefiners has you covered!
We offered online language classes in Spanish and Arabic, so, you uncover their similarities through practice. For more information or to sign up, please visit our website or email us at info@redefinerswl.org.
