101 Arabic Words Borrowed into English (With Meanings & Origins)
Category: Language / Etymology Tags: #ArabicLoanwords #Etymology #EnglishVocabulary #LanguageHistory
English has borrowed thousands of words from other languages — and Arabic is one of the most influential, especially in areas like science, math, navigation, trade, and religion. Sometimes the Arabic origin is obvious (like imam or jihad), but often it’s hidden behind layers of Latin, French, or Spanish (like alcohol or magazine).
In this guide, you’ll find 101 popular Arabic loanwords in modern English with:
- English word
- Original Arabic form (in Arabic script)
- Transliteration
- Short meaning / note
Perfect for language nerds, teachers, students, and anyone creating content about Arabic influence on English.
Index
- Science, Math & Learning
- Trade, Money & Everyday Objects
- Food, Drink & Nature
- Culture, Religion & Society
- Travel, Navigation & War
1. Science, Math & Learning
Many “smart-sounding” English words come straight from Arabic, often with the Arabic article al- still attached.
| # | English Word | Arabic Origin | Transliteration | Meaning / Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Algebra | الجبر | al-jabr | “Reunion of broken parts”; branch of mathematics. |
| 2 | Algorithm | الخوارزمي (name) | al-Khwarizmi | From the mathematician al-Khwarizmi; now means a step-by-step procedure. |
| 3 | Almanac | المناخ / المناخات (disputed) | al-manākh | Traditionally linked to Arabic; a yearly calendar of data. |
| 4 | Zero | صفر | sifr | “Empty, nothing”; the number 0. |
| 5 | Cipher | صفر | sifr | Originally “zero”, later “secret writing / code”. |
| 6 | Ciphertext / Encipher | صفر | sifr | Modern forms related to “cipher” and encryption. |
| 7 | Azimuth | السُّموت | as-sumūt | “The directions”; used in astronomy and navigation. |
| 8 | Zenith | سمت الرأس | samt ar-ra’s | “Path over the head”; highest point in the sky. |
| 9 | Nadir | نظير السّمت | naẓīr as-samt | Opposite of zenith; lowest point. |
| 10 | Chemistry | الكيمياء | al-kīmiyā’ | From Arabic via Latin; the science of matter. |
| 11 | Alchemy | الكيمياء | al-kīmiyā’ | Medieval chemical science; precursor to chemistry. |
| 12 | Alkali | القَلْي | al-qaly | “Burnt ashes”; basic, not acidic substances. |
| 13 | Alcohol | الكحل | al-kuḥl | Originally fine powder (kohl); later distilled spirit. |
| 14 | Elixir | الإكسير | al-iksīr | Magical or medicinal potion. |
| 15 | Alchemy terms (alembic, etc.) | الإنبيق | al-inbīq | “Alembic” (distilling apparatus) comes from this. |
| 16 | Admiral | أمير البحر | amīr al-baḥr | “Commander of the sea”; naval rank. |
| 17 | Magazine | مخزن | makhzan | “Storehouse”; later a store of information, a periodical. |
| 18 | Artichoke | الخرشوف | al-khurshūf | Mediterranean vegetable; word passed via Spanish/Italian. |
| 19 | Average | عوار | ‘awār | Linked to maritime insurance; came via French. |
| 20 | Almanac (again) | المناخ (disputed) | al-manākh | Used for astronomical & calendar tables. |
2. Trade, Money & Everyday Objects
Because Arabic-speaking regions were major trade hubs, lots of words related to money, goods and household items came through Arabic into English.
| # | English Word | Arabic Origin | Transliteration | Meaning / Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Tariff | تعريف | ta‘rīf | “Notification”; later, tax on imports/exports. |
| 22 | Arsenal | دار الصناعة | dār aṣ-ṣinā‘a | “House of manufacturing”; place for weapons. |
| 23 | Checkmate | الملك مات (via Persian) | al-malik māt | “The king is dead”; chess term. |
| 24 | Mattress | مطرح | maṭraḥ | “Place where something is thrown down”; bed mattress. |
| 25 | Sofa | صُفّة | ṣuffa | Raised platform; now cushioned seating furniture. |
| 26 | Divan | ديوان | dīwān | Council, office, or collection; now also a sofa-type seat. |
| 27 | Ghoul | غول | ghūl | Demon/monster from folklore. |
| 28 | Jinn / Genie | جن | jinn | Supernatural being; “genie” is a European corruption. |
| 29 | Assassin | حشّاشين | ḥashshāshīn | Medieval group’s name; now means hired killer. |
| 30 | Sahara | صحراء | ṣaḥrā’ | “Desert”; the Sahara Desert. |
| 31 | Safari | سفر | safar | “Journey”; via Swahili to English as wildlife trip. |
| 32 | Carat / Karat | قيراط | qīrāṭ | Unit of weight for gold/gems. |
| 33 | Giraffe | زرافة | zarāfah | Animal; word passed via Italian/French. |
| 34 | Monsoon | موسم | mawsim | “Season”; became specific to seasonal winds & rains. |
| 35 | Mummy | موميا | mūmiyā | Originally “bitumen”; later preserved body. |
| 36 | Cotton | قُطْن | quṭn | Plant fiber used in textiles. |
| 37 | Gauze | غزة (place name) | Ghazzah | Thought to derive from Gaza, a textile center. |
| 38 | Lilac | ليلَك (via Persian) | līlak | Flowering shrub; word passed through several languages. |
| 39 | Orange (fruit) | نارنج | nāranj | Word for bitter orange; came via Romance languages. |
| 40 | Lute | عود (العود) | al-‘ūd | Musical instrument; ancestor of guitar. |
3. Food, Drink & Nature
From your morning coffee to your evening sherbet, Arabic has quietly flavored English food vocabulary.
| # | English Word | Arabic Origin | Transliteration | Meaning / Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Coffee | قهوة | qahwah | Beverage made from coffee beans. |
| 42 | Sugar | سكر | sukkar | Sweet crystals; via Arabic from older sources. |
| 43 | Syrup | شراب | sharāb | Originally “drink”; now thick sweet liquid. |
| 44 | Sherbet | شَرْبة / شَرْبت | sharbat | Sweet flavored drink or frozen dessert. |
| 45 | Apricot | البرقوق / المشمش | al-barqūq / al-mishmish | Word passed via Arabic and Romance languages. |
| 46 | Spinach | إسفاناخ (via Persian) | isfānākh | Leafy green vegetable; word passed through Arabic. |
| 47 | Lemon | ليمون | laymūn | Citrus fruit; via Arabic into European languages. |
| 48 | Lime | ليم | līm | Related citrus fruit word passing through Arabic. |
| 49 | Artichoke | الخرشوف | al-khurshūf | (Listed earlier) Mediterranean vegetable. |
| 50 | Saffron | زعفران | za‘farān | Expensive spice from crocus flowers. |
| 51 | Sumac | سماق | summāq | Sour spice used in Middle Eastern cooking. |
| 52 | Tamarind | تمر هندي | tamr hindī | “Indian date”; tangy fruit used in cooking. |
| 53 | Carob | خروب | kharrūb | Pod used as cocoa substitute; word via Arabic. |
| 54 | Julep | جلاب | julāb | Sweet drink; now a mixed alcoholic drink (“mint julep”). |
| 55 | Hazard | الزهر (dice) | az-zahr | Originally “dice”; then “chance, risk”. |
| 56 | Talc | طلق | ṭalq | Mineral used in powders. |
| 57 | Naphtha | نفط | nafṭ | Flammable oil; related to words for petroleum. |
| 58 | Alfalfa | الفصفصة / الفِصْفِصَة (via Spanish) | al-fisfisah | Forage crop; name passed through Arabic & Spanish. |
| 59 | Sahara | صحراء | ṣaḥrā’ | (Again) Desert; now a proper name. |
| 60 | Monsoon | موسم | mawsim | (Again) Seasonal winds & rains. |
4. Culture, Religion & Society
These are Arabic words that English uses especially in discussions of religion, history, and international affairs.
| # | English Word | Arabic Origin | Transliteration | Meaning / Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Islam | إسلام | islām | Religion founded in 7th-century Arabia. |
| 62 | Muslim | مسلم | muslim | Follower of Islam. |
| 63 | Qur’an / Koran | قرآن | qur’ān | Holy book of Islam. |
| 64 | Imam | إمام | imām | Leader of prayer / community leader. |
| 65 | Sheikh / Shaikh | شيخ | shaykh | Elder, scholar, or tribal leader. |
| 66 | Hajj | حج | ḥajj | Pilgrimage to Mecca. |
| 67 | Umrah | عمرة | ‘umrah | Lesser pilgrimage. |
| 68 | Fatwa | فتوى | fatwā | Legal religious opinion by a scholar. |
| 69 | Sharia | شريعة | sharī‘ah | Islamic law / path. |
| 70 | Jihad | جهاد | jihād | “Struggle”; used variously in religious & political contexts. |
| 71 | Ramadan | رمضان | ramaḍān | Month of fasting in Islam. |
| 72 | Eid | عيد | ‘īd | Festival; Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha. |
| 73 | Hijab | حجاب | ḥijāb | Head covering; also general modesty concept. |
| 74 | Niqab | نقاب | niqāb | Face veil. |
| 75 | Burqa (often via Urdu/Persian) | برقع | burqu‘ | Full-body covering. |
| 76 | Sunni | سنّي | sunnī | Largest branch of Islam; from “Sunnah”. |
| 77 | Shi’ite / Shia | شيعة | shī‘ah | Branch of Islam; “party/followers”. |
| 78 | Sufi | صوفي | ṣūfī | Follower of Islamic mysticism (Sufism). |
| 79 | Minaret | منارة | manārah | Tower of a mosque where call to prayer is made. |
| 80 | Emir / Amir | أمير | amīr | Prince / commander; used as a royal title. |
| 81 | Caliph | خليفة | khalīfah | Religious/political successor in early Islam. |
| 82 | Sultan | سلطان | sulṭān | Ruler / authority; used as royal title. |
| 83 | Vizier | وزير | wazīr | High-ranking minister or advisor. |
| 84 | Intifada | انتفاضة | intifāḍah | “Shaking off”; used for uprisings in modern history. |
| 85 | Hadith | حديث | ḥadīth | Report of the Prophet’s words/actions. |
| 86 | Sunnah | سنة | sunnah | Prophetic example/practice. |
| 87 | Ummah | أمة | ummah | Worldwide Muslim community. |
| 88 | Halal | حلال | ḥalāl | Permissible, especially in diet. |
| 89 | Haram | حرام | ḥarām | Forbidden; also “sanctuary”. |
| 90 | Jasmine / Yasmin | ياسمين | yāsamīn | Flower and popular female name. |
5. Travel, Navigation & War
Because of Arabic influence in navigation, trade routes and medieval warfare, English picked up some specialized terms as well.
| # | English Word | Arabic Origin | Transliteration | Meaning / Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | Racquet / Racket | راحَة اليد | rāḥat al-yad | “Palm of the hand”; via French to sports equipment. |
| 92 | Corsair | قرصان | qurṣān | Pirate/privateer of Mediterranean. |
| 93 | Azimuth | السُّموت | as-sumūt | (Already listed) Used in navigation. |
| 94 | Admiral | أمير البحر | amīr al-baḥr | (Already listed) “Commander of the sea”. |
| 95 | Arsenal | دار الصناعة | dār aṣ-ṣinā‘a | (Already listed) Weapons storehouse. |
| 96 | Nadir | نظير السّمت | naẓīr as-samt | (Already listed) Navigation/astronomy term. |
| 97 | Zenith | سمت الرأس | samt ar-ra’s | (Already listed) Highest point overhead. |
| 98 | Ghazi | غازي | ghāzī | Warrior/conqueror; appears in historical English texts. |
| 99 | Fedayeen | فدائيين | fidā’iyyīn | “Those who sacrifice themselves”; used for fighters. |
| 100 | Saracen | سرَاقنة / شرقيون (disputed) | sarāqinah | Medieval European term for Arabs/Muslims (historical). |
| 101 | Al Andalus (Andalusia) | الأندلس | al-Andalus | Arabic name for Muslim Spain; survives in “Andalusia”. |
Conclusion
From algebra and algorithm to coffee, sugar, and even sofa, Arabic has left a deep imprint on the English language. Some words still “look Arabic”, while others hide behind layers of French, Spanish, or Latin — but the roots are there.
If you’re teaching English, studying Arabic, or just love word history, you can turn these tables into flashcards, quizzes, or infographics for your audience.
Want more? Ask in the comments if you’d like:
- A separate post on Arabic phrases used in English (like inshallah, alhamdulillah).
- A printable PDF cheat sheet of these 101 loanwords.
- Side-by-side Urdu + Arabic + English versions for Desi learners.