15 Everyday English Words That Came From Arabic
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Algebra, coffee, and dozens more — English is full of Arabic loanwords. Here are 15 everyday words that came from Arabic, and the journey each one took.
Arabic has quietly enriched English for centuries — in science, food, trade, and the night sky. Many words that feel thoroughly English took a long road through Arabic before arriving.
Here are 15 everyday English words that came from Arabic. Several arrived with the Arabic definite article al- still attached, which is a fun tell once you know to look for it.
How did Arabic words enter English?
During the medieval period, Arabic was the language of leading work in mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. Those ideas travelled into Europe through Spain and Italy, carrying their vocabulary with them — often into Latin and French first, then into English.
You can still see the route in the etymologies below: a word frequently passes through Spanish, Italian, or French on its way from Arabic to English. The Arabic article al- ('the') is fossilised inside words like algebra, alcohol, and amalgam.
15 English words from Arabic
1. nadir
“The lowest point or worst moment of something” — From Middle English, from Middle French, and from Arabic naḍhīr meaning 'opposite'.
2. zenith
“The highest point, culminating point” — From Middle English 'cenyth' (via French, Latin, Spanish) and Arabic samt (al-ra's) meaning 'overhead path'.
3. talisman
“An object believed to bring good luck” — From French, Spanish, and Italian 'talisman', from Arabic ṭilsam and Middle Greek telesma (from telein 'initiate' and telos 'end').
4. kismet
“A person's destiny or fate” — From Turkish 'kismet', from Arabic 'qisma' meaning 'portion' or 'lot'.
5. amalgam
“A mixture or blend of different things” — From Middle English 'amalgam', via Medieval Latin and Arabic al maljam; from Greek málagma.
6. monsoon
“A seasonal wind that brings heavy rain to southern Asia” — From Arabic mawsim "season", via Portuguese monção and Dutch moesson.
7. tamarind
“Large tropical seed pod with very tangy pulp that is eaten fresh or cooked with rice and fish or preserved for curries and chutneys” — Borrowed from Spanish and Portuguese tamarindo, from Arabic tamr hindī meaning 'Indian date'.
8. aubergine
“A type of vegetable, also called eggplant” — Borrowed from French and Catalan albergínia, from Arabic al-bādhinjān (eggplant), ultimately Middle Indo-Aryan.
9. caraway
“The seeds of a plant used on or in food such as bread or cakes” — Middle English, probably from Medieval Latin carvi, from Arabic karawyā, from Greek karon.
10. gauzy
“Thin and translucent, like fine sheer fabric” — From gauze + suffix -y; gauze from French gaze, maybe via Arabic gazz or Gaza.
11. demitasse
“A small cup for serving espresso” — Borrowed from French demi-tasse, from demi- and tasse meaning 'cup', from Middle French and from Arabic ṭass.
12. popinjay
“A vain or conceited person who dresses showily” — From Middle English papejay ← Old French papegai ← Spanish papagayo ← Arabic babghāʾ ‘parrot’.
13. azulejo
“A painted tin-glazed ceramic tile” — From Arabic al-zulayj ‘small polished stone’, entering via Spanish/Portuguese.
14. gaberdine
“A long, loose coat reaching the ankles” — Borrowed from Middle French and Spanish forms; likely from gabán (via Sicilian/Arabic) and from Old French tabarda.
15. fardel
“A bundle or pack, often of goods” — From Middle English, from Anglo-French, ultimately from Arabic farda meaning 'part, bundle'.
Frequently asked questions
What common English words come from Arabic?
Everyday examples include algebra, alcohol, coffee, sugar, cotton, zenith, and nadir. Many entered English through Spanish, Italian, or French.
Why do so many Arabic loanwords start with 'al'?
Al- is the Arabic word for 'the'. When European languages borrowed a noun, they often took the article along with it, so it became part of the English word — as in algebra and amalgam.
Are 'zenith' and 'nadir' from Arabic?
Yes. Both are astronomy terms from Arabic: zenith (the highest point) and nadir (the lowest), reflecting the leading role of Arabic astronomers in the medieval world.
What is the best way to remember loanwords?
Anchor each word to its journey — 'nadir came from Arabic for the point opposite the zenith'. A route is easier to recall than a bare definition, which is the principle behind daily practice in the MonkeyTaps app.
