Influence of Arabic on world languages

[manaal]

:sl:

I'm very interested to know how many Arabic words have found their way into English vocabulary and other languages as well. I got intrested in this when I discovered that a condiment called "tamarind", comes from "tamer hind", which means "indian date"! I imagined Arab merchants sailing east along the silk route in search of exotic spices. They return home with a black sweet and sour fruit. When the people back home asked them what it was, the merchants would have replied, "these are Indian dates". They do not resemble actual dates in any way, but in colour. But it would have been the best way to explain to the locals, given their limited experiences!

Also, English "cup" = Arabic "coob"

Similarly I found these words in other languages:

In Tamil, "Asal" means original. In Arabic it is "asli" (right?)

In Sinhalese (Sri Lankan language - Arab merchants traveled here too) "kadadhasi" means paper. In Arabic "Qurthasi" means stationary. Also "one pound" (in weight) means "raththala", I think it is the same in Arabic.

So, let's make a whole glossary shall we?

[Caller الداعي]

next :
cave : Kahf

[ژاله]

seems chemistry is derived from alkemia
alkali is also arabic derived though i dont know its root.
there are countless arabic words in languages related to it like urdu and persian.
some are used as they are, whereas some with variations that adapt them to the local dialect.

[Beardo]

Algebra / Al Jabbar?

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[ardianto]

In Tamil, "Asal" means original. In Arabic it is "asli" (right?)

:sl:

In Indonesian language :
Asli = Original.
Example : Ini asli, bukan tiruan (This is original, not imitation).

Asal = Origin.
Example : Asal saya dari Indonesia (My origin is Indonesian).

Asal = Source
Example : Kertas ber-asal dari kayu (paper is sourced from wood)


Day names in Indonesian language :
Sunday = Ahad (later becomes Minggu). From Ahad.
Monday = Senin. From Isnaini.
Tuesday = Selasa. From Salasa.
Wednesday = Rabu. From Arba'a.
Thursday = Kamis. From Khomsa.
Friday = Jum'at. From Jumu'ah.
Saturday = Sabtu. From Sab'atun


There are many words that sourced from Arabic in Indonesian and Malaysian language.

[ardianto]

Algebra / Al Jabbar?

Not Al Jabbar, but Aljabar.

Al-Jabbar is one of 99 names of Allah.

[ژاله]

^its al-jabr actually...from khwarizmi's book, al-jabr wal muqabalah, the first ever text on algebra.

[ardianto]

^its al-jabr actually...from khwarizmi's book, al-jabr wal muqabalah, the first ever text on algebra.

Yes, you're right. That's al-jabr.
Aljabar is Indonesian word for algebra.

[~Raindrop~]

We have quite a few Arabic words in Hinko. I remember in Arabic A2 class, I'd come across certain words that we use in Hinko and think they sounded familiar.

Hardly surprising, really. It seems as though Hinko is actually a mixture of many languages.

[ardianto]

Do you mean Hindko language ?.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindko_language

[~Raindrop~]

Do you mean Hindko language ?.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindko_language

Yup, the very same. It's spelled either Hinko or Hindko- the d isn't pronounced.

[أحمد]

:sl:

Yup, the very same. It's spelled either Hinko or Hindko- the d isn't pronounced.

Many of us do pronounce the "D", maybe it varies.

:wa:

[Banu_Hashim]

I was reading (in wikipedia) about the difference between Turkish during the time of the Ottomans and Turkish nowadays. The Turkish language language then was heavily influenced by Arabic. The linguistics of spoken language in the Islamic Empire is fascinating, subhanAllah.

[abdussattar]

The name for malyalam language comes from arabic.

Some merchants were travelling from kerala. There they met some malayalam people, and they said

"maa lam y3 lam"

and hence the name malayalam.

[manaal]

^seriously?????

[أحمد]

:sl:

The name for malyalam language comes from arabic.

Some merchants were travelling from kerala. There they met some malayalam people, and they said

"maa lam y3 lam"

and hence the name malayalam.

Possibly, but I have seen an alternative explanation.

The word /malayALam/ originally meant mountainous country) (/mala/- mountain + /aLam/-place).

:wa:

[abdussattar]

Hmm .. I didnt know that.. I just wrote what I know, I may be wrong..

[marwen]

I think the english word EARTH is derived from the arabic word "ARDH" (ا رض), but I need to check if this is correct in language references.

The same with the latin word "Terra" meaning earth/soil/dust, is derived from the arabic word "Thera" (ثرى ) which means soil/earth.

[GreyKode]

I think the english word EARTH is derived from the arabic word "ARDH" (ا رض), but I need to check if this is correct in language references.

The same with the latin word "Terra" meaning earth/soil/dust, is derived from the arabic word "Thera" (ثرى ) which means soil/earth.

"Cheque" in English came from the word "صك"in arabic.
"Azimuth" --> "السمت"
"Alcohol" --> "كحل"
"Assasins" --> "حشاشين":D

[Al-Indunisiy]

Actually, both English 'earth' and Latin 'terra' are native words in origin.
Earth from Anglo-Saxon 'eorthe' from Proto-Germanic 'ertho' from Proto Indo-European 'er-'
Terra from Proto Indo-European 'ters-'

But, this can be an evidence of the relations between Indo-European and Semitic. An interresting case: the number 7.

[Al-Indunisiy]

In English

zenith: from 'سمت الرأس' abbreviated into 'سمت' through Old-French

nadir: from 'نَظِيرُ السَّمْت ' abbreviated into 'نَظِيرُ' through Medieval Latin

coffee: from ' قهوة' through Italian and Turkish

admiral: from 'amir al-rahl' through Old-French

In Turkish & Bosnian

sevdah: from 'sawdah'
Valla!: from 'wallah' 'By God!'

and much-much more

[GreyKode]

In English

zenith: from 'سمت الرأس' abbreviated into 'سمت' through Old-French

I thougt "azimuth" was borrowed "السمت" , your explanation is the correct one, apologies

nadir: from 'نَظِيرُ السَّمْت ' abbreviated into 'نَظِيرُ' through Medieval Latin

coffee: from ' قهوة' through Italian and Turkish

admiral: from 'amir al-rahl' through Old-French

In Turkish & Bosnian

sevdah: from 'sawdah'
Valla!: from 'wallah' 'By God!'

and much-much more

"checkmate" --> "شاه مات"

This is one is really amazing
"alphabet" --> "أ(لف)بت"

[ardianto]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...rds_in_English

[Al-Indunisiy]

"checkmate" --> "شاه مات"

This is one is really amazing
"alphabet" --> "أ(لف)بت"

'Shah Mat' is Persian/Farsi, the key word is the 'shah', I think 'mat' is Arabic though, but there is a possibility it is native.

'Alphabet' is more of a cognate then derivative. See, the Greeks and the Semitic (and possibly all western cultures that borrowed the Phoenician writing system besides/through them) use the first 2 or 4 initial letters to name their respective writing systems. Example:

Arabic: 'abjad' Alif Ba Jim Dal
Greek: 'alphabeta' Alpha Beta
Ge'ez: 'abugida' A Bu Gi Da
Hebrew: 'alephbeth' Aleph Beth
Latin: 'abecedarium' A B C D

[GreyKode]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...rds_in_English

I guess the thread should be closed now.

[Ummu Sufyaan]

:sl:
Yes, it true, there are loads of English words with Arabic derivatives. I know alcohol is one. as is salary, algebra, admiral, adobe, giraffe, zenith. and i think safari and Sahara were/are originally Arabic as well.

[manaal]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...rds_in_English

Spoil sport! But :muslimah: thank you all the same.

[almahdali]

In Uygur

Rekhmet (Thank You)

Ra7mah means blessing... but I guess it's not a good meaning in slang Arabic if it is used to call a lady (Sitti Ra7mah).

[S.Belle]

spanish is another language that is influence by arabic


bellota: acorn, the fruit or seed of the oak tree. From Arabic balluta of the same meaning.

jarra: Pitcher or other pot with handle(s). From ǧarrah, same as english jar

here's an entire list of about 1,200 spanish words influence by Arabic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._Arabic_origin

[serena77]

this is a lighthearted reply but still very true....
there was a jeopardy final question not that long ago -
what is the number one number system and the number two alphabet system in the world.

Yup you guessed it...... Arabic.

its a shame... that at least to my experience... its french and spanish that are taught... i was lucky enough to take russian in college, but i seriously wish i had taken arabic in college while i had the chance.

Peace to all
Serena