Arabic influence on the Spanish language

Encyclopedia : A : AR : ARA : Arabic influence on the Spanish language

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Spanish words of Arabic origin

Estimates of the number of words of Arabic origin in the Spanish language range from 3000 to 5000 words. The exact number is not known.

Methodology

This is an open list of Spanish words originating 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. Due to the heavy influence of Arabic on Spanish, this list is relatively restrictive:

Only words which have passed directly from Arabic are included. Spanish words of Arabic origin which entered the Spanish language through other, non-Iberian, European languages (such as Beduino, Sofá or sorbete) are not included.

Only Spanish root words are listed, derivations 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. An exception to this rule may be made when the derived word is much more commonly used than the root word or when it is not evident 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 Arabic.

Words of Berber or Hebrew origin (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 past editions of this dictionary.

A

ababol: silly or thoughtless person. Used mainly in the Spanish region of Aragon. Poppy. In Aragon, Navarre, Albacete and Murcia. From Andalusi Arabic Happapáwr, a fusion of the Arabic word Hab "seed" and the Latin papāver.
abacero: owner of an abacería, small food shop. From Andalusi Arabic SaHb azzád "owner of the supplies."
abadí: descendant/lineage of Mohammed ben Abad, founder of the Taifa Kingdom of Seville in the 11th century AD. From Andalusi Arabic abbadi.
abalorio: cheap jewelery; jewelery beads. From Andalusi Arabic al ballúri "made of glass."
abarraz: stavesacre (Delphinium staphisagria), a medicinal plant. From Andalusi Arabic Hab ar-rras "head seeds."
abasí: relative to the "Abassid" dynasty which overthrew the Damascus Ummayads in the 7th century.
abelmosco: musk seeds, an aromatic plant. From Andalusi Arabic Hab el musk literally "musk seeds."
abencerraje: used in expression: "Zegríes y abencerrajes", which means "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.
abenuz: ebony. From Arabic abanus of the same meaning.
abismal: screw in head of a spear. From Arabic al-mismar "nail."
abitaque: a cut of wood used in construction of a certain shape and dimension. From Arabic Tabaqa "layer" or "intermediate chamber."
acebibe: raisin. From Arabic zabib of the same meaning.
acebuche: wild olive tree, or wood from such a tree. From Andalusi Arabic azzabbúǧ.
aceche: copper, iron or zinc sulphate. From Arabic zāǧ.
aceifa: Muslim summer military expedition. From Arabic Sa'ifah "harvest" or "summer expedition."
aceite: oil. From Arabic az-zeit "oil."
aceituna: olive. From Arabic az-zeitun "olive."
aceituní: precious cloth from the Orient. From Arabic az-zeituni, a possible adaptation of the Chinese city Tsö-Thung.
acelga: chard. From Arabic as-silqa of the same meaning.
acémila: beast of burden; tax formerly paid in Spain. From Arabic az-zamilah "beast of burden."
acemite: wheat husk; a type of wheat porridge. From Arabic as-samid.
acenefa see cenefa.
aceña: water mill. From Arabic as-saniyah "the lifter."
acequia: irrigation canal. From Arabic as-saqiyah "the irrigator."
acerola: fruit of the service tree (the tree itself is called acerolo). From Arabic zu 'rūrah. Originally from Syriac za‘rārā.
acetre: bucket or Cauldron used to extract water from a well; small cauldron used to spray holy water in Christian liturgy. From Arabic aS-Satl.
aciar: (or acial): instrument used to keep farm-animals still by squeezing their ear or snout. From Arabic az-ziyār.
acíbar: aloe (both the plant and its bitter juice); bitterness, grief, distaste. From Arabic aS-Sabr.
acicalar: to clean or polish (Acicalarse in reflexive form); to make oneself look good by combing, shaving etc. From Arabic aS-Siqal, an instrument used for polishing things.
acicate: spurs or the spikes on spurs; incentive. From Arabic (Muzil) as-siqaT "what takes away weaknesses."
acidaque: Muslim dowry. From Arabic as-Sidaq, dowry in Islamic law.
acimut: astrological concept: angle with which the meridian forms a vertical circle which passes through a point in the globe. From Arabic assumut plural of samt.
ación: handle on the stirrup. From Arabic suyūr, plural of sayr "strap."
acirate: line of soil used to separate different plots of land; path between two lines of trees. From Arabic SirāT.
acitara or citara: thin wall, normally on a bridge. From Arabic sitārah, wall to avoid falls.
achacar: to blame. From Arabic tashakkà: to complain or to blame.
adafina: pot used by Hebrews to cook. It is buried in ambers on friday night, where it cooks until Saturday. From Arabic: dafina "buried."
adalid: leader; general of Spanish militia. From Arabic dalil.
adaraja: each of the gaps made by the bricks in a horizonally unfinished wall. From daraja.
adarga: leather shield. From Arabic daraqah.
adárgama:(rarely used today) flour. From Arabic darmaka.
adarme: small portion of something; type of measurement. From Arabic dirham.
adarvar: to shock. From Arabic darb "blow."
adarve: wall of a fortress; protection, defense. From Arabic darb
adaza: sorghum. From Arabic duqsah.
adefera: a small, square wall or floor tile. From Arabic add-ddafeera.
adehala: that which is granted or taken as obligatory with the price in the leasing or sale of a propery. From Mozarabic ad ihala and originally from Arabic ihala "offering credit."
adelfa: oleander. From Arabic ad-difla of the same meaning.
ademán: gesticulation which expresses the will to do something. From Arabic ad-daman, literally meaning legal guarantees. The change of meaning is due to the exaggerated promises and gesticulations which were offered in such a plea.
ademe: wooden structures used to strengthen tunnels in mines. From Arabic di'mah.
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.
adiafa: present or refreshment given to sailors when back from a voyage. From Arabic Diyafa "present of hospitality."
adivas: a disease provoking throat inflamation in animals. From Arabic aD-Dibbah "wolverine" - which is the old Arabic name for this disease.
adive: a type of canid similar to a fox. From Arabic di'b.
adobe: brick made from clay. From Arabic at-tuba(from Coptic tôbe) of the same meaning, and from ad-dabba.
adoquín: paving-stone, cobble; block. From Arabic Dukkan bench of rock or wood.
ador: in regions where water for irrigation is restricted and shared out by local authorities, irrigation-time for each farm/field. From Arabic dawr.
aduana: customs house; customs. From Arabic diwan.
aduar: semi-permanent rural settlement, normally used for Gypsies, beduins or Amerindians in South America. From Beduin Arabic duwwar.
adúcar: type of silk made from the outside of the silk-worm's cocoon. From Andalusi Arabic Haduqa.
adufe:tambourine used by Spanish Muslims. From Arabic Duff.
adul: in Morocco, asessor of the Cadí. From Arabic adl "trustworthy person."
adula: see dula.
adunia: (adverb) lots. From Andalusi Arabic addunya, originally from classical Arabic duniya "the (whole) world."
adutaque: same meaning as adárgama. From Arabic duqaq "fine flour."
afán: effort; desire; zeal. From afanar.
afanar: to steal; to work with passion. From Arabic fanaa "extinction," "annihilation through passion."
aguajaque: the whitish resin of fennel. From Arabic aw-washaq "contaminated with water."
agüela
ajabeba
ajaquefa
ajaraca
ajarafe
ajebe
ajedrea
ajedrez
ajenuz
ajimez
ajomate
ajonjolí
ajorca
ajorrar
ajuagas
ajuar
Alá
alacena
alacet
alacrán
aladar
aladroque
alafa
alafia
alahílca
alajor
alajú
alamar
alambique: alembic. From Arabic al-anbiq "the cup/container holding water".
alambor (two meanings from al'ubur and from al-hambad)
alamín
alamud
alaqueca
alárabe
alarde/alardear
alarido
alarife
alarije
alaroz
alaroza
alatar
alatrón
alazán
alazor
albacara (two meanings from al-baqqara and from al-bakra)
albacea
albacora: albacore. From Arabic al-bakura "premature" or al-bakrah "young camel."
albadena
albahaca
albahío
albaida
albanar
albanega
albaní
albañal
albañil
albaquía: the remainder. From Arabic al-baqeya of the same meaning.
albarán
albarrán
albarazo
albarda
albardán
albardín
albaricoque: apricot. From Arabic al-barqouq "plum" or "early-ripe."
albarrada
albarrán
albarrana
albatoza
albayalde
albéitar
albenda
albengala
alberca
albérchigo
albihar
albitana
alboaire
albogue
alboheza
albohol
albollón
albóndiga: meatball; ball. From Arabic al-bunduqa "the ball."
albórbola
alborga
albornía
albornoz
alboronía
alboroque
alborozo
albotín
albricias
albudeca
albufera
albur
alcabala
alcabor
alcabtea
alcacel
alcachofa
alcaduz
alcafar
alcahaz
alcahuete
alcaicería
alcaide
alcalde
álcali: alkali. From Arabic qalawi of the same meaning.
alcaller
alcamiz
alcamonías
alcana
alcaná
alcancía
alcándara
alcandía
alcandora
alcanería
alcanfor
'alcántara/alcantarilla: drain; sewer. From Arabic al-qantarah.
alcaparra
alcaraván
alcaravea
alcarceña
alcarraza
alcarria
alcatanes
alcatara (or alquitara)
alcatifa
alcatraz
alcaucil, artichoke. From Spanish Arabic: alqabsíl[a], that comes from mozarab diminutive kapićéḻa, and this from Spanish Latin: capĭtia, head. (Standard latin, Caput-itis)
alcavela
alcazaba
alcázar: citadel; palace. From Arabic al-qasr "the citadel."
alcazuz (or orozuz)
alcoba: alcove. From Arabic al-qubba "the vault" or "the arch."
alcohela
alcohol: from Arabic al-kuhul fine powder of antimony used as eye makeup.
alcoholar
alcolla
alcor
alcora
alcorcí
alcorque
alcorza
alcotán
alcotana
alcrebite
alcuacil
alcubilla
alcuña
alcuza
alcuzcuz
alchub
aldaba
aldea/aldeano
aldiza
alefriz
aleja
alejija
alema
alerce
aletría
aleve/alevoso/alevosía
aleya
alfaba
alfábega
alfadía
alfaguara
alfahar/alfaharería
alfaida
alfajeme
alfajor: Sweet almond shortbread. From Spanish Arabic fašúr, and this from Persian afšor (juice).
alfalfa: alfalfa. From Arabic al-fafaa literally "the best kind of fodder"
alfaneque (two meanings, a type of bird, from Arabic al-fanak and a tent from Berber afarag)
alfanje
alfaque
alfaqueque
alfaquí
alfaquín
alfaraz
alfarda (two meanings from al-farda and from al-fardda)
alfardón
alfareme
alfarje
alfarrazar
alfaya
alfayate
alfazaque
alféizar
alfeñique
alferecía
alferez
alferraz
alferza
alficoz
alfil: bishop, in chess. From Arabic al-feel "the elephant."
alfilel/alfiler
alfinge
alfitete
alfiz
alfolí
alfombra (two meanings from al-jumra and al-humra)
alfóndega
alforfón
alforja
alforre
alforrocho
alforza
alfóstigo
alfoz
algaba
algaida
algalia
algar
algara
algarabía: incomprehensible talk; gabble; gibberish. From Arabic al-garabiya.
algarivo
algarrada
algarrobo: carob. From Arabic al-kharouba "the carob."
algavaro
algazafán
algazara
algazul
álgebra: algebra. From the name of al-Khwarizmi' book Hisab al-jabr w’al-muqabala "The Calculus of Subtraction and Equality."
algecireño
algodón
algorfa
algoritmo, algorithm, that comes from the name of Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, محمد بن موسى الخوارزمي, famous mathematician.
algorza
alguacil
alguaquida
alguaza
alhadida
alhaite
alhaja: jewel. From Arabic al-hagah "the valuable thing."
alhamar
alhamel
alhamí
alhandal
alhanía
alhaquín
alharaca
alhavara
alhelí
alheña
alholva
alhorí
alhorre (two meanings from al-khur and al-hurr)
alhorría (or ahorría)
alhucema
alhuceña
alhurreca
aliacán
aliara
alicante
alicatar
alicate
alidada
alifa
alifafe (two meanings from an-nafakh and al-lifah)
alifara
alijar
alimara
alioj
alizace
alizar
aljaba
aljabibe
aljama
aljamía/aljamiado
aljaraz
aljarfa
aljébana
aljerife
aljez
aljibe
aljófar/aljofarar
aljofifa
aljor (or aljez)
aljuba
aljuma
añagaza
almacabra
almacén: deposit. From Arabic al-majzanof makhzan "the storage" or "the depot."
almacería
almáciga
almadén
almádena
almadía
almadraba
almadraque
almagazén
almagra
almahala
almaizar
almaja
almajaneque
almajar
almajara
almalafa
almanaque: almanac. From Arabic al-manakh "the climate." Or possibly from Greek almenichiakon "calendar."
almacebe
almarada
almarbate
almarcha
almarjo
almarrá
almarraja or almarraza
almártaga (two meanings, from al-marta'a and al martak)
almástica
almatroque
almazara
almazarrón
almea (two meanings, from almay'a and 'alima)
almejía
almenara (two meanings, from al-manara and al-minhara)
almez
almíbar
almicantarat
almijar
almijara
almijarra
almimbar
alminar
almiraj/almiraje/almiral
almirez
almizate
almizcle/almizque
almocadén
almocafre
almocárabe
almoceda
almocrebe
almocrí
almodón
almófar
almofariz
almofía
almofrej/almofrez
almogama
almogávar
almohada
almohade
almoharrefa
almohaza
almojábana
almojama (see mojama)
almojarife
almojaya
almona
almoneda
almoraduj/almoradux
almorávide
almorí
almotacén
almotalafe
almotazaf/almotazán
almozala/almozalla
almud
almuédano
almunia
alpechín
alquería: farmhouse. From Arabic al-qaria "the village."
aloque
aloquín
alpargata
alquequenje
alquería
alquermes
alquerque (Two meanings from al-qirq and al-qariq)
alquez
alquezar
alquibla
alquicel
alquiler
alquimia
alquinal
alquitira
alquitrán
alrota
altabaca
altamía
altramuz
alubia
aludel
aluquete/luquete
alloza
amán
ámbar
ámel
amín
amirí
anacalo
anacora
anafaga
anafalla/anafaya
anafe
anaquel
andorra
andrajo
anea
anejir
anfión
anorza
anúteba
añacal
añacea/añacear
añafea
añafil
añagaza
añascar
añazme
añicos
añil (ultimately from Sanskrit nilah "dark blue")
arabí
arancel
arbellón/arbollón
archí
argadillo
argamandel
argamula
argán
argel
argolla
arguello/arguellarse
arije
arimez
arjorán
arnadí
arrabá
arrabal
arracada
arráez
arrayán
arrecife
arrejaque/arrejacar
arrelde
arrequife
arrequive
arriate
arricés
arroba
arrobda
arrocabe
arrope
arroz
áscar/áscari
asequi
asesino: assassin. From Arabic hashshshin "someone who is addicted to hashish (marijuana)." Was orginally use to refer to a groups of warriors who would smoke marijuana before going on to battle.
atabaca
atabal
atabe
atacar
atacir
atafarra/ataharre
atafea
atahona
atahorma
ataifor
ataire
atalaya
atalvina
atambor
atanor
atanquía
ataracea
atarazana
atarfe
atarjea
atarraga
atarraya
ataúd
ataujía
ataurique
atifle
atijara
atíncar
atoba
atocha
atracae
atoque
atríaca/atriaca
atún
atutía
auge
aulaga
avería
ayatolá
azabache
azabara
azacán
azacaya
azache
azafate/azafata
azafrán: saffron. From Arabic za'firan of the same meaning. Perhaps from safra "yellow."
azahar: White flower, especially from the orange tree. From Spanish Arabic azzahár, and this from Classic Arabic zahr, flowers
azalá
azamboa
azándar
azaque
azaquefa
azar: hazard; luck; chance; random. From Arabic al-zahr "the dice."
azarbe
azarcón
azarja
azarnefe
azarote
azófar
azofra/azofrar
azogue (two meanings: from az-za'uq and from as-suq)
azolvar
azor
azorafa
azote
azotea
azoya
azúcar: sugar. From Arabic sukkar of the same meaning.
azucarí
azucena
azuche
azud
azufaifa/azufaifo
azul
azulaque (or zulaque)
azulejo
azúmbar
azumbre

B

babismo: Babism. From Arabic bab "door."
babucha
badal
badán
badana
badea
badén
badial
bagarino
bagre: a freshwater fish that has no scales and has a chin. From Arabic baghir or baghar.
baharí
baída
baja: pasha, Turkish officer or governor of high rank. From Arabic basha ultimately from Turkish pasha of the same meaning.
baladí
balaj/balaje
balate
balda (and baldío)
baldar
balde: from Arabic batil "false" or "useless."
bancal
baño
baraka
barbacana
barcino
bardaje
barragán
barrio
bata (either from Arabic batt of French ouate)
batán
batea
baurac
bayal
baza (either Arabic or Italian origin)
bazar
belez
bellota: acorn, the fruit or seed of the oak tree. From Arabic balluta of the same meaning.
ben
benimerín
benjui
berberí
berberís
bereber
berenjena/berenjenal
bezaar/bezoar
bocací
bodoque/bodocal
bófeta
bórax
borní
boronía
botor
bulbul
burche
buz
buzaque

C

cabila: tribe of Berbers or Bedouins. From Arabic qabila "tribe."
cachera
cadí
cadira
café: coffee. From qahwa of the same meaning.
cáfila
cafiz (or cahiz)
cafre
caftán
cáid (same origin as alcaide)
caimacán
cala
calafate/calafatear
calahorra
calí (same root as álcali)
cálibo/calibre
cambuj
camocán
canana
cáncana/cancanilla
cáncano
cande (in azúcar cande)
canfor
caraba
cárabe
cárabo: owl; dog. Taken from qaraab and kalb "dog," respectively.
caracoa
caramida
caramuzal
caravana
caravasar
carcajada/carcajear
carcax
carmen/carme: From Spanish Arabic kárm, and this from Classic Arabic karm, vine.
carmesí
carmín
carraca
carrafa
cártama/cártamo
catán
catifa
cazurro
cebiche
cebtí
ceca
cedoaria
cegatero
cegrí
ceje
celemí/celemín/celeminero
cenacho
cendolilla
cenefa
ceneque
cení
cenia
cenit
cequí
cerbatana
cero: zero. From sifr of the same meaning.
cetís
ceutí
chafariz
chafarote
chaleco
charrán
chifla
chiísmo
chilaba (from Moroccan Arabic)
chiquero
chirivía
chisme
chivo
choz
chupa
cianí
cibica
cica
cicalar
cicatear
cicatero (cicatero has a different root to cicatear)
ciclán
ciclar
ciclatón
cid
cifaque
cifra/cifrar
címbara
cimboga
cimitarra
circón
citara
civeta/civeto
coba/cobista
cofa
coima
coime
colcótar
cora
Corán
corbacho
corma
cotonía
cubeba
cúrcuma
curdo
cuscuta
cuscús (or alcuzcuz/cuzcuz)

D

dado: dice. From Classical Arabic a'dad "numbers."
daga
dahír
daifa
dante
darga (or adarga)
dársena
daza
decipher: from sifr "zero."
derviche
descafilar
destartalado
dey
dínar
dirham
diván
droga
druso
dula/dular

E

edrisí
ejarbe
elche
elemí
embelecar/embeleco
emir (or amir)
encaramar
enchufar
engarzar
enjalma
enjarje
enjeco
escabeche
escafilar (see descafilar)
escaque/escaquear
exarico

F

faca
falagar
falca
falleba
faltriquera
falúa/faluca
fanega/hanega
fanfarrón
faranga (or haragán)
farda
fardacho
farfán
farnaca
farota
farruco
felús
fetua
fez
fideo
filelí
foceifiza
fondolí
fondac/fonda
foz
fulano : To refer to "any one" without naming, X of people. Arabic: Fulan.
fustal
fustete

G

gabán
gabela
gacel/gacela
gafetí
galacho
galanga
galbana
gálibo
galima
gandula/gandula
garama
garbino
gardacho
gárgol
garrafa
garrama
garroba
gilí
gomer
granadí
grisgrís
guadamací
guájara
guájete
guala
guarismo
guifa
guilla
gumía
gurapas

H, I

habiz
habús
hachís
hacino
hadruba
hafiz
hálara
hálara
hamudí
haragán
harambel
harbar
harén
harma
harón
Hasaní
hasta: Untill. From Arabic hatta (same meaning).
hataca
hazaña
he (in "he aquí")
hégira
hobacho/hobacha
holgazán
holgar
hoque
horro/horra
imam
imela
islam

J, K

jabalí : Wild Boar. From Arabic jebeli: From the mountains. Perhaps originally from Khanzeer Jebelí: Mountain Pig.
jabalón
jabeca
jabeque
jabí : A type of apple and type of grape. From Andalusi Arabic sha‘bí, a type of apple.
jácara
jácena
jacerino
jadraque
jaez
jaharí
jaharral
jaharrar
jaima
jaique
jalma (or enjalma)
jaloque
jametería
jámila
japuta
jaque
jaqueca: Migraine. From Arabic Shaqiqa, with same meaning.
jáquima
jara
jarabe
jaraíz
jarcha
jareta
jaricar
jarifo/jarifa
jarquía
jarra
jatib
jazarino/jazarina
jazmín
jebe
jeliz
jemesía
jeque
jerife: sheriff. From shereef of the same meaning.
jeta
jifa
jinete
jirafa: giraffe. From ziraffa of the same meaning.
jirel
jofaina
jofor
jorfe
joroba
jorro
juba/aljuba/jubón
jurdía
kermes

L

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.
lapislázuli: lapis lazuli, a deep blue mineral. From Arabic lazaward from Persian lagvard or lazward, ultimately from Sanskrit rajavarta literally meaning "ringlet of the king."
latón: brass. From Arabic latun from Turkish altin "gold."
laúd: lute. From Arabic al 'ud "the lute."
lebeche: Southeasterly wind on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. From Andalusi Arabic Labash.
lebení: a Moorish beverage prepared from soured milk. From Arabic labani "dairy."
leila: from Arabic layla "night."
lelilí: Shouts and noise made by moors when going into combat or when celebrating parties. From la illaha ilallah: There is no god but Allah; Ya leilí: Night of mine; ya 'ayouni: My eyes.
lima: lime. From Arabic limah of the same meaning.
limón: lemon. From laymoon, derived from the Chinese word limung.
loco: crazy. From Arabic lawqa "fool."

M

macabro
macsura
madraza
magacén
maglaca
maharon/maharona
maharrana/marrana/marrano
maimón
majareta
majzén
mameluco
mamola
mandeísmo
mandil
maquila
marabú
maravedí
marcasita
marchamo
marfil
marfuz/a
margomar
marjal
marlota
marojo
maroma
marras
Marroquí
masamuda
matafalúa
matarife
matraca
matula
mauraca
mazapán
mazarí
mazarrón
mazmodina
mazmorra
mazorca
Meca
mechinal
mejala
mejunje
mengano/mengana
mequetrefe
mercal
metical
mezquino
mía
mihrab
miramamolín
moaxaja
mogataz
mogate
moharra
moharracho
mohatra
mohedal
mohino
mojí
momia
mona
monfí
morabito
moraga
morapio
mozárabe
mudéjar
muftí
mujalata
mulquía
muslim/muslime

N, O,P, Q

nabí
nacar
nácara
nadir: the point on the celestial sphere, opposite the zenith directly below the observer. From nadheer.
nádir
nagüela
naife
naipe
naranja
narguile
natrón
nazarí
nenúfar
nesga
noria
nuca
ojalá I hope that; I wish that. From insha'Allah "God willing."
¡olé! The most famous expression of approval, support or encouragement, comes from wa-Allah و الله , by Allah!
omeya
oque
orozuz
ox
quermes
quilate/quirate
quilma
quina
quintal

R

rabadán
rabal
rabazuz
rabel
rábida
rafal
rafe
ragua
rahez
ramadán
rambla
rauda
rauta
real
rebato
rebite
recamar
recua
redoma
rehala
rehalí
rehén
rejalgar: realgar. From reheg al-ghar: "powder of the cave"
requive
resma
retama
rincón
robda
robo (or arroba)
romí/rumí
ronzal
roque

S

Saharaui
sajelar
salema
sandía
sarraceno
sebestén
secácul
serafín
siroco
sofí
sófora
soldán
soltaní
sufí
sura

T

tabal (or atabal)
tabaque
tabefe
tabica
tabique
taca
tafurea
tagarino/tagarina
tagarnina
taha
tahalí
tahona
Taifa
tajea
talco
talega
talvina
támara
tamarindo
tambor
tara
taracea
taraje
tarasí
tarbea
tarea
tareco
tarida
tarifa
tarima
tarquín
tarraya
taza: cup. From Tasa.
tértil
tíbar
tochibí
tomín
toronja
toronjil
trafalmejas
truchimán/na
trujamán/na
tuera
tumbaga
Tunecí
turbit
turquí (in Azul Turquí)
tutía (or atutía)

V,X,Y

vacarí: from Arabic baqari "bovine."
velmez: from Arabic malbas "clothing."
visir: vizier. From Arabic wazir "minister."

Z

zabalmedina: in the Middle Ages, judge with civil and criminal jurisdiction in a city. From Arabic Sahib al Medina "Chief of the City."
zabarcera: women who sells fruits and other food. Same origin as abacero
zabazala: imam who leads Islamic prayer. From Arabic SaHb aS-Salah "Leader of prayer."
zabazoque: same meaning as almotacén. From Arabic SáHb as súq "Leader of the Market."
zábila: aloe vera (used mainly in Latin America) From Andalusi Arabic sabíra, originally from classical Arabic Sibar.
zabra: type of vessel used in the Bay of Biscay in the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern Age. From Arabic zauraq.
zacatín: in some villages, a square where clothes are sold. From saqqatin, plural of saqqat: seller of clothes.
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.
zafarí: Granada zafarí: a type of pomegranate. Higo zafarí: a type of fig. From Arabic Safr.
zafariche:
zafio
zafrán
zaga
zagal
zagaya (or azagaya)
zagua
zaguán
zagüía
zaharrón
zahén
zahón
zahora
zahorí
zaida
zaino
zala
zalamelé
zalea/zalear
zalema/zalama
zalmedina: Same meaning and origin as zabalmedina.
zalona
zamacuco
zambra
zanahoria
zaque
zaquizamí
zaragüelles
zaranda/zarandillo
zaratán
zarco
zarracatín
zarzahán
zatara
zéjel
zoco (or azogue): market. From Arabic souk of the same meaning.
zofra
zorzal: fieldfare.
zubia
zulaque
zulla
zumaque: sumac. From Arabic simaq of the same meaning.
zumo
zuna
zurriaga

Toponyms (place names) in Iberia of Arabic origin

There are hundreds if not thousands of place names of Arabic origin 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 of Arabic origin are common in all of Spain (including much of the North of the country) 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, Cantabrian and the Basque country) as well as most of Catalonia. Regions where place names of Arabic origin are particularly common are the Eastern Coast and the region of Andalusia. In Portugal, the frequency of Arabic toponyms increase as one travels south in the country.

Those toponyms which mantained their pre-Islamic name during the Muslim period were generally Arabized and the mark of the old Arabic pronunciation is noticeable in their modern names: e.g. Cesarea Augusta - سرقسطة Saraqusţah - Zaragoza.

Major towns, cities and regions

Andalucía Most populated and 2nd largest autonomous community in Spain. Derived from الأندلس ,al-‘Andalūs, the Arabic name for Muslim Iberia.
Albacete city and province of Castilla la Mancha. Derived from Arabic Al Basit (the plain).
Algarve Region of southern Portugal. From Arabic al gharb, the west.
Algeciras City and port in Cadiz province. Derived from Al Jazeera Al Khadra meaning the green island.
Almería City and province of Andalucía. From Al Meraya, the watchtower.
Guadalajara City and province of Castilla la Mancha. From Wādī al-Hijārah (Arabic وادي الحجارة), the stony river.
Gibraltar British Colony in Southern Spain. From Jabal Ţāriq (جبل طارق), Mountain of Tariq, (Tariq ibn Ziyad).
Jaen City and province of Andalucía From Arabic Jayyan, crossroads of caravans.
Lisboa (Lisbon). Capital of Portugal. Derived from original Arabic name: al-'Ishbūnah in Arabic الأشبونة
Madrid Capital of Spain. Derived from original Arabic name: al-MagrīT, المجريط: "Source of water"''.
Tarifa town in southern Spain. Derived form the first name of the Berber fighter Tarif ibn Malik.

Geographical features

Guadalquivir river. Derived from Arabic: al-wādĩ al-kabir الوادي الكبير, "the big valley".
Mulhacén. Highest mountain in peninsular Spain. Named after 15th century Arabian Sultan of Granada Abu al-Hasan Ali Muley Hacén.
Pico Almanzor. Mountain in the Gredos Mountains of Central Spain. Named after "Almanzor" Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir, defacto ruler of Al Andalus in late 10th - early 11th centuries.
La Sagra, a region between Toledo and Madrid. Name derived from arabic Sahra صحراء "desert" (same root as Sahara).