English Words That Actually Come From Arabic

English has borrowed words from Arabic for over a thousand years, often through trade, science, and centuries of contact across the Mediterranean and Middle East — many of these words are so thoroughly absorbed into English that most speakers have no idea they started out as Arabic.

Science and mathematics

Algebra comes from al-jabr, part of the title of a 9th-century mathematical text by the Persian scholar al-Khwarizmi (whose own name, incidentally, gave English the word "algorithm"). During a period when Arabic-speaking scholars led the world in mathematics and astronomy, a huge amount of scientific vocabulary passed into European languages through Arabic texts and translations.

Alcohol derives from al-kuhl, originally referring to a fine powder (kohl) used as eye makeup, before the word's meaning shifted over centuries of use in early chemistry.

Everyday objects and food

Coffee traces back to Arabic qahwa, entering English via Turkish and Italian — a word that travelled through several languages before settling into its familiar English form.

Sugar comes from Arabic sukkar, itself likely borrowed earlier from Sanskrit or Persian — a good reminder that word origins often pass through several languages, not just one direct borrowing.

Lemon and orange both trace back through Arabic (and further back to Persian and Sanskrit for some of these), reflecting the historical trade routes that carried both the words and the fruits themselves into Europe.

Everyday vocabulary

Magazine comes from Arabic makhazin (storehouses), which shifted in meaning over time as it passed through French into English, eventually landing on its modern sense of a periodical publication.

Admiral derives from Arabic amir al- (commander of the...), absorbed into European languages during centuries of Mediterranean naval and trade contact.

Safari comes from Arabic safar (journey), via Swahili, showing how a word can pass through multiple languages and shift meaning along the way before arriving in English.

Why this history is worth knowing as a learner

Recognising that English already contains genuine Arabic vocabulary — even in heavily disguised form — is a small but real confidence boost for learners: you're not starting from zero familiarity with Arabic-derived concepts, even before you've studied a single Arabic lesson.

A fun way to notice more

As you build Arabic vocabulary, keep an eye out for words that sound distantly familiar — some will turn out to be genuine historical relatives of English words you already know, a small reward for noticing the connection as you go.

Explore Arabic vocabulary and discover more connections with English Arabic Dictionary →