You speak Arabic and Hebrew EVERY DAY without knowing it! Discover words Spanish absorbed during 800 years of coexistence.
From: الزيتونة (az-zaytūna)
Meaning: Olive / olive tree
Every Spanish speaker says "aceituna" daily! Aceite (olive oil) also from Arabic "az-zayt." Fundamen...
From: الجبر (al-jabr)
Meaning: Reunion of broken parts / restoration
WORLDWIDE! Algebra is same in English, Spanish, French, etc. One of few Arabic words adopted globall...
From: السكر (as-sukkar)
Meaning: Sugar
Everyone says "azúcar"! English "sugar" is from same Arabic root. Portuguese: açúcar. French: sucre....
From: القاضي (al-qāḍī)
Meaning: The judge
EVERY Spanish town has an alcalde! Used daily in Spain and Latin America. Political term with Islami...
From: المخدة (al-mikhádda)
Meaning: The cushion
Every Spanish speaker sleeps on an "almohada"! Portuguese: almofada. Shows how Arabic penetrated int...
From: و شاء الله (wa sha Allah)
Meaning: And Allah wills it / If God wills
MOST COMMON Spanish word of Arabic origin! Used millions of times daily. "Ojalá que llueva" (hopeful...
From: الضيعة (ad-day'a)
Meaning: The hamlet / small settlement
Common in literature and daily speech. Don Quixote full of "aldeas"! Still used for small villages, ...
From: حتى (hatta)
Meaning: Until / up to
Impossible to speak Spanish without "hasta"! "Hasta luego" (see you later), "hasta mañana" (until to...
From: نارنج (nāranj)
Meaning: Orange (from Persian نارنگ)
Valencia oranges = world famous! Spanish "naranja," English "orange," French "orange" - ALL from Ara...
From: الشطرنج (ash-shaṭranj)
Meaning: Chess (from Persian شطرنج)
Chess in Spanish is "ajedrez" everywhere. Alfonso X the Wise wrote "Libro de los Juegos" (1283) - in...
From: אמן (amen)
Meaning: So be it / truly / verily
Universal! Christians, Jews, Muslims all say it. Same word in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Hebr...
From: كفالة (kafala) via Germanic "warand"
Meaning: Guarantee / warranty
Essential in modern commerce. "Garantía de 2 años" (2-year warranty). English "guarantee" same origi...
From: حشاشين (hashshashin)
Meaning: Hashish users (medieval Islamic sect)
Used in Spanish, English, French, Italian - worldwide! "Asesino" for murderer. Shows how Crusades in...
From: שַׁבָּת (Shabbat)
Meaning: Sabbath / day of rest
Every Spanish speaker says Hebrew word every week! Portuguese: sábado. Italian: sabato. French: same...
From: القلي (al-qalī)
Meaning: Ashes of saltwort plant
Chemistry terminology! English uses "alkali" too. Shows how Islamic science shaped European scientif...
Modern Spanish has ~4,000 words of Arabic origin. More than any European language!
"Hopefully" in Spanish literally means "Allah willing" - used millions of times daily!
Algebra, algorithm, alcohol, alkali, alchemy - all Arabic! Islamic science shaped vocabulary.
Color "orange" didn\'t exist in English until the fruit arrived from Arab Spain!