Appendix:Arabic influence on Spanish

Estimates of the number of Arabic loanwords in the Spanish language range from 2000 to 3000 words, a majority of which are nouns, with a more limited number of verbs, adjectives, adverbs and prepositions, thus not substantially changing the grammar or basic structure of the language. The exact number of words of Arabic origin in Spanish is not known. Many Arabisms not included on this list are regionalisms: words which are used in certain parts of Spain and/or Latin America but are generally unknown elsewhere.

Methodology
This is an open list of Spanish words acquired directly from Classical and Andalusian 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. Arabic words 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 acquired from Berber or Hebrew (or other Afroasiatic 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

 * 1) ababol: silly or thoughtless person. Used mainly in the Spanish region of Aragon. Poppy. In Aragon, Navarre, Albacete and Murcia. From Andalusian Arabic Happapáwr, a fusion of the Arabic word ħabb "seed" and the Latin papāver.
 * 2) abacero: owner of an abacería, small food shop. From Andalusi Arabic (صاحب الزاد) "owner of the supplies."
 * 3) abadí: descendant/lineage of Mohammed ben Abad, founder of the Taifa Kingdom of Seville in the 11th century AD. From Andalusi Arabic abbadi (عَبَّادِيّ).
 * 4) abalorio: cheap jewelry; jewelry beads. From Andalusi Arabic al balluri "made of glass."
 * 5) abarraz: stavesacre (Delphinium staphisagria), a medicinal plant. From Andalusi Arabic ħabb ar-ra’s (حب الرأس) "head seeds."
 * 6) abasí: pertaining to the Abbasid dynasty, which overthrew the Umayyads in the 8th century.
 * 7) abelmosco: musk seeds, an aromatic plant. From Andalusi Arabic ħabb al-musk (حب المسك) literally "musk seeds."
 * 8) 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.
 * 9) abenuz: ebony. From Arabic abanus (أبنوس) of the same meaning.
 * 10) abismal: screw in head of a spear. From Arabic al-mismar (المسمار) "nail."
 * 11) abitaque: a cut of wood used in construction of a certain shape and dimension. From Arabic Tabaqa (طبقة) "layer" or "intermediate chamber."
 * 12) acebibe: raisin. From Arabic zabib of the same meaning.
 * 13) acebuche: wild olive tree, or wood from such a tree. From Andalusi Arabic azzabbúǧ.
 * 14) aceche: copper, iron or zinc sulfate. From Arabic zāǧ.
 * 15) aceifa: Muslim summer military expedition. From Arabic Sa'ifah "harvest" or "summer expedition."
 * 16) aceite: oil. From Arabic az-zayt "oil."
 * 17) aceituna: olive. From Arabic الزيتون (az-zaytun) "olive."
 * 18) aceituní: precious cloth from the Orient. From Arabic az-zaytuni, a possible adaptation of the Chinese city Tsö-Thung.
 * 19) acelga: chard. From Arabic as-silqa of the same meaning.
 * 20) acémila: beast of burden; tax formerly paid in Spain. From Arabic az-zamilah "beast of burden."
 * 21) acemite: wheat husk; a type of wheat porridge. From Arabic as-samid (السميد).
 * 22) acenefa: see cenefa.
 * 23) aceña: water mill. From Arabic as-saniyah "the lifter."
 * 24) acequia: irrigation canal. From Arabic as-saqiyah "the irrigator."
 * 25) acerola: fruit of the service tree (the tree itself is called acerolo). From Arabic zu 'rūrah. Originally from Syriac za‘rārā.
 * 26) 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 (السطل).
 * 27) aciar: (or acial): instrument used to keep farm-animals still by squeezing their ear or snout. From Arabic az-ziyār.
 * 28) acíbar: aloe (both the plant and its bitter juice); bitterness, grief, distaste. From Arabic aS-Sabr.
 * 29) 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.
 * 30) acicate: spurs or the spikes on spurs; incentive. From Arabic (Muzil) as-siqaT "what takes away weaknesses."
 * 31) acidaque: Muslim dowry. From Arabic as-Sidaq, dowry in Islamic law.
 * 32) 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.
 * 33) ación: handle on the stirrup. From Arabic suyūr, plural of sayr "strap."
 * 34) acirate: line of soil used to separate different plots of land; path between two lines of trees. From Arabic SirāT.
 * 35) acitara or citara: thin wall, normally on a bridge. From Arabic sitārah, wall to avoid falls.
 * 36) achacar: to blame. From Arabic tashakkà (تشكى): to complain or to blame.
 * 37) adafina: pot used by Hebrews to cook. It is buried in embers on Friday night, where it cooks until Saturday. From Arabic: dafina "buried."
 * 38) adalid: leader; general of Spanish militia. From Arabic dalil.
 * 39) adaraja: each of the gaps made by the bricks in a horizontally unfinished wall. From daraja.
 * 40) adarga: leather shield. From Arabic daraqah.
 * 41) adárgama:(rarely used today) flour. From Arabic darmaka.
 * 42) adarme: small portion of something; type of measurement. From Arabic dirham.
 * 43) adarvar: to shock. From Arabic darb "blow."
 * 44) adarve: wall of a fortress; protection, defense. From Arabic darb
 * 45) adaza: sorghum. From Arabic duqsah.
 * 46) adefera: a small, square wall or floor tile. From Arabic add-ddafeera.
 * 47) adehala: that which is granted or taken as obligatory with the price in the leasing or sale of a property. From Mozarabic ad ihala and originally from Arabic ihala "offering credit."
 * 48) adelfa: oleander. From Arabic ad-difla (الدفلى) of the same meaning.
 * 49) ademán: gesticulation which expresses the will to do something. From Arabic aD-Daman (الضمان), literally meaning legal guarantees. The change of meaning is due to the exaggerated promises and gesticulations which were offered in such a plea.
 * 50) ademe: wooden structures used to strengthen tunnels in mines. From Arabic di'mah.
 * 51) 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.
 * 52) adiafa: present or refreshment given to sailors when back from a voyage. From Arabic Diyafa (ضيافَة) "present of hospitality."
 * 53) adivas: a disease provoking throat inflammation in animals. From Arabic aD-Dibbah "wolverine" - which is the old Arabic name for this disease.
 * 54) adive: a type of canid similar to a fox. From Arabic di'b.
 * 55) adobe: brick made from clay. From Arabic at-tuba (الطوبَة from Coptic tôbe) of the same meaning, and from ad-dabba.
 * 56) adoquín: paving-stone, cobble; block. From Arabic Dukkan bench of rock or wood.
 * 57) ador: in regions where water for irrigation is restricted and shared out by local authorities, irrigation-time for each farm/field. From Arabic dawr.
 * 58) aduana: customs house; customs. From Arabic diwan (ديوان).
 * 59) aduar: semi-permanent rural settlement, normally used for Gypsies, Bedouins or Amerindians in South America. From Bedouin Arabic duwwar.
 * 60) adúcar: type of silk made from the outside of the silk-worm's cocoon. From Andalusi Arabic Haduqa.
 * 61) adufe:tambourine used by Spanish Muslims. From Arabic Duff.
 * 62) adul: in Morocco, assessor of the Cadí. From Arabic adl "trustworthy person."
 * 63) adula: see dula.
 * 64) adunia: (adverb) lots. From Andalusi Arabic addunya, originally from Classical Arabic duniya (الدنيا) "the (whole) world."
 * 65) adutaque: same meaning as adárgama. From Arabic duqaq "fine flour."
 * 66) afán: effort; desire; zeal. From afanar.
 * 67) afanar: to steal; to work with passion. From Arabic fanaaʔ "extinction," "annihilation through passion."
 * 68) aguajaque: the whitish resin of fennel. From Arabic aw-washaq "contaminated with water."
 * 69) agüela: Renta de los derechos sobre préstamos consignados en documento público. From Arabic Hawalah.
 * 70) ajabeba: Moorish flute. From Classical Arabic sabbabah.
 * 71) ajaquefa: ??Ceiling??. Arabic as-saqaf السقف
 * 72) ajaraca:
 * 73) ajarafe: terrace. From Classical Arabic saraf "commanding height."
 * 74) ajebe: Alum; Para rubber Tree. From Arabic as-Shabb.
 * 75) ajedrea: plant of the family of the Labiadas, about three decimeters of height, very populated with branches and narrow leaves, of dark color. It is cultivated for adornment in the gardens. From Arabic assariyya or assiriyya, ultimately from Latin satureia.
 * 76) ajedrez: chess. From Arabic ash shitrang (الشطرنج).
 * 77) ajenuz: nutmeg flower or Roman coriander (Nigella Sativa). From Andalusi Arabic Shanuz and ultimately Classical Arabic Shuniz.
 * 78) ajimez: bent; window divided in the center by a vertical divider; salient balcony done of wood and with lattice windows. From Arabic samis.
 * 79) ajomate: pluricellular alga formed by very thin filaments, without knots, bright and of intense green color. It abounds in fresh waters of Spain. From Classical Arabic gumam.
 * 80) ajonjolí: sesame; herbaceous, annual plant of the family of the Pedaliaceae, a meter high, straight stem, serrate and almost triangular leaves, white or rosy corolla, and fruit with four delicate, yellowish, oily and edible capsules and many seeds. From Classical Arabic gulgulan "sesame."
 * 81) ajorca: bangle; type of gold hoop, silver or another metal, used by the women to adorn the wrists, arms or the feet. From Classical Arabic shuruk, ultimately from the word shirāk "strap."
 * 82) ajorrar: To drag, to tow. See Jorro.
 * 83) ajuagas: equine animal ulcers. From Classical Arabic shuqaq.
 * 84) ajuar: a collection of household and personal items (clothes, furniture, jewelry etc...) which women in Spain traditionally prepare from a young age for the day in which they marry and move in with their husband. From Arabic Shawar.
 * 85) alacena: cupboard. From Classical Arabic ẖizānah.
 * 86) alacet: foundation of a building. From Classical Arabic asas.
 * 87) alacrán: scorpion. From Classical Arabic aqrab (عقرب) of same meaning.
 * 88) aladar
 * 89) aladroque:
 * 90) alafa: wage; pay. From Classical Arabic alafah "subsistence allowance."
 * 91) 'alafia: grace; pardon; mercy. From Andalusian Arabic al afya ultimately from Classical Arabic afiyah "health."
 * 92) alahílca: tapestry to adorn the walls. Perhaps of alailaca from Andalusian Arabic ilaqa, and this of Classical Arabic ilāqah perhaps meaning "hanger."
 * 93) alajor
 * 94) alajú
 * 95) alamar
 * 96) alambique: alembic. From Arabic al-anbiq "the cup/container holding water", in turn from Greek.
 * 97) alambor (two meanings from al'ubur and from al-hambad)
 * 98) alamín
 * 99) alamud
 * 100) alaqueca
 * 101) alárabe
 * 102) alarde/alardear: To boast/to show off.
 * 103) alarido: Scream.
 * 104) alarife
 * 105) alarije
 * 106) alaroz
 * 107) alaroza
 * 108) alatar
 * 109) alatrón
 * 110) alazán
 * 111) alazor
 * 112) albacara: Wall around a fortress (within which cattle were normally kept. From Arabic bab al-baqqara The cattle door. baqara means "cow" in Arabic.
 * 113) albacea: executor (of a will). From Andalusi Arabic Sahb al Wassiya (صَاحِب الوَصِيَّة); "the owner of the will".
 * 114) albacora: albacore. From Arabic al-bakura "premature" or al-bakrah "young camel."
 * 115) albadena
 * 116) albahaca
 * 117) albahío
 * 118) albaida
 * 119) albanar
 * 120) albanega
 * 121) albaní
 * 122) albañal
 * 123) albañil
 * 124) albaquía: the remainder. From Arabic al-baqi (البَاقِي) of the same meaning.
 * 125) albarán
 * 126) albarrán
 * 127) albarazo
 * 128) albarda
 * 129) albardán
 * 130) albardín
 * 131) albaricoque: apricot. From Arabic al-barqouq (البرقوق) "plum" or "early-ripe."
 * 132) albarrada
 * 133) albarrán
 * 134) albarrana
 * 135) albatoza
 * 136) albayalde
 * 137) albéitar
 * 138) albenda
 * 139) albengala
 * 140) alberca
 * 141) albérchigo
 * 142) albihar
 * 143) albitana
 * 144) alboaire
 * 145) albogue: Single-reed clarinet used in Spain. From Arabic al-bûq (البوق): The horn or the trumpet.
 * 146) alboheza
 * 147) albohol
 * 148) albollón
 * 149) albóndiga: meatball; ball. From Arabic al-bunduqa (البندقَة) "the ball."
 * 150) albórbola
 * 151) alborga
 * 152) albornía
 * 153) albornoz: Bath-robe. From al-burnos (البرنس); "bathrobe".
 * 154) alboronía
 * 155) alboroque
 * 156) alborozo
 * 157) albotín
 * 158) albricias
 * 159) albudeca
 * 160) albufera: Lagoon. From al-buhayra (البحيرَة); little sea, lake.
 * 161) albur
 * 162) alcabala
 * 163) alcabor
 * 164) alcabtea
 * 165) alcacel
 * 166) alcachofa: Artichoke. From al-ẖarshoof of the same meaning.
 * 167) alcaduz
 * 168) alcafar
 * 169) alcahaz
 * 170) alcahuete
 * 171) alcaicería
 * 172) alcaide:
 * 173) alcalde: Mayor.
 * 174) álcali: alkali. From Arabic qalawi of the same meaning.
 * 175) alcaller
 * 176) alcamiz
 * 177) alcamonías
 * 178) alcana
 * 179) alcaná
 * 180) alcancía: Clay money box, penny or piggy bank. From Andalusi Arabic alkanzíyya, derived from Classical Arabic kanz: treasure.
 * 181) alcándara
 * 182) alcandía
 * 183) alcandora
 * 184) alcanería
 * 185) alcanfor
 * 186) alcántara/alcantarilla: drain; sewer. From Arabic al-qantarah.
 * 187) alcaparra
 * 188) alcaraván
 * 189) alcaravea
 * 190) alcarceña
 * 191) alcarraza
 * 192) alcarria
 * 193) alcatanes
 * 194) alcatara (or alquitara)
 * 195) alcatifa
 * 196) alcatraz
 * 197) alcaucil, artichoke. From Spanish Arabic: alqabsíl[a], that comes from Mozarab diminutive kapićéḻa, and this from Spanish Latin: capĭtia, head. (Standard Latin, Caput-itis)
 * 198) alcavela
 * 199) alcazaba
 * 200) alcázar: citadel; palace. From Arabic al-qasr (القصر) "the citadel."
 * 201) alcazuz (or orozuz)
 * 202) alcoba: alcove. From Arabic al-qubba "the vault" or "the arch."
 * 203) alcohela
 * 204) alcohol: from Arabic al-kuhul fine powder of antimony sulfide used as eye makeup.
 * 205) alcoholar
 * 206) alcolla
 * 207) alcor
 * 208) alcora
 * 209) alcorcí
 * 210) alcorque
 * 211) alcorza
 * 212) alcotán
 * 213) alcotana
 * 214) alcrebite
 * 215) alcuacil
 * 216) alcubilla
 * 217) alcuña
 * 218) alcuza
 * 219) alcuzcuz
 * 220) alchub
 * 221) aldaba
 * 222) aldea/aldeano: Village/Villager.
 * 223) aldiza
 * 224) alefriz
 * 225) aleja
 * 226) alejija
 * 227) alema
 * 228) alerce
 * 229) aletría
 * 230) aleve/alevoso/alevosía
 * 231) aleya
 * 232) alfaba
 * 233) alfábega
 * 234) alfadía
 * 235) alfaguara
 * 236) alfahar/alfaharería
 * 237) alfaida
 * 238) alfajeme
 * 239) alfajor: Sweet almond shortbread. From Spanish Arabic fašúr, and this from Persian afšor (juice).
 * 240) alfalfa: alfalfa. From Arabic al-fafaa literally "the best kind of fodder"
 * 241) alfaneque (two meanings, a type of bird, from Arabic al-fanak and a tent from Berber afarag)
 * 242) alfanje
 * 243) alfaque
 * 244) alfaqueque
 * 245) alfaquí
 * 246) alfaquín
 * 247) alfaraz
 * 248) alfarda (two meanings from al-farda and from al-fardda)
 * 249) alfardón
 * 250) alfareme
 * 251) alfarje
 * 252) alfarrazar
 * 253) alfaya
 * 254) alfayate
 * 255) alfazaque
 * 256) alféizar
 * 257) alfeñique
 * 258) alferecía
 * 259) alferez
 * 260) alferraz
 * 261) alferza
 * 262) alficoz
 * 263) alfil: bishop, in chess. From Arabic al-feel (الفيل) "the elephant."
 * 264) alfilel/alfiler
 * 265) alfinge
 * 266) alfitete
 * 267) alfiz
 * 268) alfolí
 * 269) alfombra (two meanings from al-jumra and al-humra)
 * 270) alfóndega
 * 271) alforfón
 * 272) alforja
 * 273) alforre
 * 274) alforrocho
 * 275) alforza
 * 276) alfóstigo
 * 277) alfoz
 * 278) algaba
 * 279) algaida
 * 280) algalia
 * 281) algar
 * 282) algara
 * 283) algarabía: incomprehensible talk; gabble; gibberish. From Arabic al-garabiya.
 * 284) algarivo
 * 285) algarrada
 * 286) algarrobo: carob. From Arabic al-kharouba "the carob."
 * 287) algavaro
 * 288) algazafán
 * 289) algazara
 * 290) algazul
 * 291) álgebra: algebra. From the name of al-Khwarizmi' book Hisab al-jabr w'al-muqabala "The Calculus of Subtraction and Equality."
 * 292) algecireño
 * 293) algodón, "cotton", from Arabic "al-qutn", meaning "the cotton"
 * 294) algorfa
 * 295) algoritmo, algorithm, that comes from the name of Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, محمد بن موسى الخوارزمي, famous mathematician.
 * 296) algorza
 * 297) alguacil
 * 298) alguaquida
 * 299) alguaza
 * 300) alhadida
 * 301) alhaite
 * 302) alhaja: jewel. From Arabic al-hagah "the valuable thing."
 * 303) alhamar
 * 304) alhamel
 * 305) alhamí
 * 306) alhandal
 * 307) alhanía
 * 308) alhaquín
 * 309) alharaca
 * 310) alhavara
 * 311) alhelí
 * 312) alheña
 * 313) alholva
 * 314) alhorí
 * 315) alhorre (two meanings from al-khur and al-hurr)
 * 316) alhorría (or ahorría)
 * 317) alhucema
 * 318) alhuceña
 * 319) alhurreca
 * 320) aliacán
 * 321) aliara
 * 322) alicante
 * 323) alicatar
 * 324) alicate
 * 325) alidada
 * 326) alifa
 * 327) alifafe (two meanings from an-nafakh and al-lifah)
 * 328) alifara
 * 329) alijar
 * 330) alimara
 * 331) alioj
 * 332) alizace
 * 333) alizar
 * 334) aljaba
 * 335) aljabibe
 * 336) aljama
 * 337) aljamía/aljamiado: Medieval Romance Spanish or Mozarabic written in Arabic script.
 * 338) aljaraz
 * 339) aljarfa
 * 340) aljébana
 * 341) aljerife
 * 342) aljez
 * 343) aljibe
 * 344) aljófar/aljofarar
 * 345) aljofifa
 * 346) aljor (or aljez)
 * 347) aljuba
 * 348) aljuma
 * 349) añagaza
 * 350) almacabra
 * 351) almacén: deposit. From Arabic al-majzan of makhzan (المخزن) "the storage" or "the depot."
 * 352) almacería
 * 353) almáciga
 * 354) almadén
 * 355) almádena
 * 356) almadía
 * 357) almadraba: Tuna fishing. Word used primarily in Andalusia and particularly in Cadiz province.
 * 358) almadraque
 * 359) almagazén
 * 360) almagra
 * 361) almahala
 * 362) almaizar
 * 363) almaja
 * 364) almajaneque
 * 365) almajar
 * 366) almajara
 * 367) almalafa
 * 368) almanaque: almanac. From Arabic al-manakh (المناخ) "the climate." Or possibly from Greek almenichiakon "calendar."
 * 369) almacebe
 * 370) almarada
 * 371) almarbate
 * 372) almarcha
 * 373) almarjo
 * 374) almarrá
 * 375) almarraja or almarraza
 * 376) almártaga (two meanings, from al-marta'a and al martak)
 * 377) almástica
 * 378) almatroque
 * 379) almazara
 * 380) almazarrón
 * 381) almea (two meanings, from almay'a and 'alima)
 * 382) almejía
 * 383) almenara (two meanings, from al-manara and al-minhara)
 * 384) almez
 * 385) almíbar
 * 386) almicantarat
 * 387) almijar
 * 388) almijara
 * 389) almijarra
 * 390) almimbar
 * 391) alminar
 * 392) almiraj/almiraje/almiral
 * 393) almirez
 * 394) almizate
 * 395) almizcle/almizque
 * 396) almocadén
 * 397) almocafre
 * 398) almocárabe
 * 399) almoceda
 * 400) almocrebe
 * 401) almocrí
 * 402) almodón
 * 403) almófar
 * 404) almofariz
 * 405) almofía
 * 406) almofrej/almofrez
 * 407) almogama
 * 408) almogávar
 * 409) almohada: Pillow.
 * 410) almohade
 * 411) almoharrefa
 * 412) almohaza
 * 413) almojábana
 * 414) almojama (see mojama)
 * 415) almojarife
 * 416) almojaya
 * 417) almona
 * 418) almoneda
 * 419) almoraduj/almoradux
 * 420) almorávide:
 * 421) almorí
 * 422) almotacén
 * 423) almotalafe
 * 424) almotazaf/almotazán
 * 425) almozala/almozalla
 * 426) almud
 * 427) almuédano
 * 428) almunia
 * 429) alpechín
 * 430) alquería: farmhouse. From Arabic al-qaria "the village."
 * 431) aloque
 * 432) aloquín
 * 433) alpargata
 * 434) alquequenje
 * 435) alquería
 * 436) alquermes
 * 437) alquerque (Two meanings from al-qirq and al-qariq)
 * 438) alquez
 * 439) alquezar
 * 440) alquibla
 * 441) alquicel
 * 442) alquiler: Rent.
 * 443) alquimia
 * 444) alquinal
 * 445) alquitira
 * 446) alquitrán
 * 447) alrota
 * 448) altabaca
 * 449) altamía
 * 450) altramuz
 * 451) alubia: pea bean
 * 452) aludel
 * 453) aluquete/luquete
 * 454) alloza
 * 455) amán
 * 456) ámbar
 * 457) ámel
 * 458) amín
 * 459) amirí
 * 460) anacalo
 * 461) anacora
 * 462) anafaga
 * 463) anafalla/anafaya
 * 464) anafe
 * 465) anaquel
 * 466) andorra
 * 467) andrajo
 * 468) anea
 * 469) anejir
 * 470) anfión
 * 471) anorza
 * 472) anúteba
 * 473) añacal
 * 474) añacea/añacear
 * 475) añafea
 * 476) añafil
 * 477) añagaza
 * 478) añascar
 * 479) añazme
 * 480) añicos
 * 481) añil (ultimately from Sanskrit nilah "dark blue")
 * 482) arabí
 * 483) arancel
 * 484) arbellón/arbollón
 * 485) archí
 * 486) argadillo
 * 487) argamandel
 * 488) argamula
 * 489) argán
 * 490) argel
 * 491) argolla
 * 492) arguello/arguellarse
 * 493) arije
 * 494) arimez
 * 495) arjorán
 * 496) arnadí
 * 497) arrabá
 * 498) arrabal
 * 499) arracada
 * 500) arráez
 * 501) arrayán
 * 502) arrecife
 * 503) arrejaque/arrejacar
 * 504) arrelde
 * 505) arrequife
 * 506) arrequive
 * 507) arriate
 * 508) arricés
 * 509) arroba
 * 510) arrobda
 * 511) arrocabe
 * 512) arrope
 * 513) arroz: Rice.
 * 514) áscar/áscari
 * 515) asequi
 * 516) asesino: assassin. From Arabic hashshashin "someone who is addicted to hashish (marijuana)." Was originally use to refer to the followers of the Persian Hassan-i-Sabah] (حسن صباح), the Hashshashin.
 * 517) atabaca
 * 518) atabal
 * 519) atabe
 * 520) atacar
 * 521) atacir
 * 522) atafarra/ataharre
 * 523) atafea
 * 524) atahona
 * 525) atahorma
 * 526) ataifor
 * 527) ataire
 * 528) atalaya
 * 529) atalvina
 * 530) atambor
 * 531) atanor
 * 532) atanquía
 * 533) ataracea
 * 534) atarazana
 * 535) atarfe
 * 536) atarjea
 * 537) atarraga
 * 538) atarraya
 * 539) ataúd: Coffin.
 * 540) ataujía
 * 541) ataurique
 * 542) atifle
 * 543) atijara
 * 544) atíncar
 * 545) atoba
 * 546) atocha
 * 547) atracae
 * 548) atoque
 * 549) atríaca/atriaca
 * 550) atún: Tuna.
 * 551) atutía
 * 552) auge: Surge/rise.
 * 553) aulaga
 * 554) avería
 * 555) ayatolá
 * 556) azabache
 * 557) azabara
 * 558) azacán
 * 559) azacaya
 * 560) azache
 * 561) azafate/azafata
 * 562) azafrán: saffron. From Arabic za'firan of the same meaning. Perhaps from safra "yellow."
 * 563) azahar: White flower, especially from the orange tree. From Spanish Arabic azzahár, and this from Classic Arabic zahr, flowers
 * 564) azalá
 * 565) azamboa
 * 566) azándar
 * 567) azaque
 * 568) azaquefa
 * 569) azar: hazard; luck; chance; random. From Arabic al-zahr "the dice."
 * 570) azarbe
 * 571) azarcón
 * 572) azarja
 * 573) azarnefe
 * 574) azarote
 * 575) azófar
 * 576) azofra/azofrar
 * 577) azogue (two meanings: from az-za'uq and from as-suq)
 * 578) azolvar
 * 579) azor
 * 580) azorafa
 * 581) azote: Smacking, beating, scourge. From Arabic Sawt.
 * 582) azotea: Flat roof or terrace. From Andalusi Arabic assutáyha, diminutive of sath, terrace in Classical Arabic.
 * 583) azoya
 * 584) azúcar: sugar. From Arabic sukkar of the same meaning.
 * 585) azucarí
 * 586) azucena
 * 587) azuche
 * 588) azud
 * 589) azufaifa/azufaifo
 * 590) azul: Blue. Derived from Arabic Lazaward.
 * 591) azulaque (or zulaque)
 * 592) azulejo
 * 593) azúmbar
 * 594) azumbre: Measurement for liquids equivalent to around two liters. From Del Andalusi Arabic aTTúmn, and this from Classical Arabic: Tum[u]n, "an eighth".

B

 * 1) babismo: Babism. From Arabic "door."
 * 2) babucha — slipper
 * 3) badal
 * 4) badán
 * 5) badana
 * 6) badea
 * 7) badén — dip in land or sidewalk or ford
 * 8) badial
 * 9) bagarino
 * 10) bagre: a freshwater fish that has no scales, a catfish. From Arabic baghir or baghar.
 * 11) baharí
 * 12) baída
 * 13) baja: pasha, Turkish officer or governor of high rank. From Arabic basha ultimately from Turkish pasha of the same meaning.
 * 14) baladí
 * 15) balaj/balaje
 * 16) balate
 * 17) balda (and baldío)
 * 18) baldar
 * 19) balde: from Arabic batil "false" or "useless."
 * 20) bancal
 * 21) baño
 * 22) baraka
 * 23) barbacana
 * 24) barcino
 * 25) bardaje
 * 26) barragán
 * 27) barrio — area or district
 * 28) bata (either from Arabic batt of French ouate)
 * 29) batán
 * 30) batea
 * 31) baurac
 * 32) bayal
 * 33) baza (either Arabic or Italian origin)
 * 34) bazar — bazaar
 * 35) belez
 * 36) bellota: acorn, the fruit or seed of the oak tree. From Arabic balluta of the same meaning.
 * 37) ben
 * 38) benimerín
 * 39) benjuí
 * 40) berberí
 * 41) bereber
 * 42) berenjena/berenjenal
 * 43) bezaar/bezoar
 * 44) bocací
 * 45) bodoque/bodocal
 * 46) bófeta
 * 47) bórax
 * 48) borní
 * 49) boronía
 * 50) botor
 * 51) bujía
 * 52) bulbul
 * 53) burche
 * 54) buz
 * 55) buzaque

C

 * 1) cabila: tribe of Berbers or Bedouins. From Arabic (qabīla), "tribe."
 * 2) cachera
 * 3) cadí
 * 4) cadira
 * 5) café: coffee. From (qáhwa) of the same meaning.
 * 6) cáfila
 * 7) cafiz (or cahiz)
 * 8) cafre
 * 9) caftán
 * 10) cáid (same origin as alcaide)
 * 11) caimacán
 * 12) cala
 * 13) calafate/calafatear
 * 14) calahorra
 * 15) calí (same root as álcali)
 * 16) cálibo/calibre
 * 17) cambuj
 * 18) camocán
 * 19) canana — cartridge belt
 * 20) cáncana/cancanilla
 * 21) cáncano
 * 22) cande (in azúcar cande)
 * 23) canfor
 * 24) caraba
 * 25) cárabe
 * 26) cárabo: owl; dog. Taken from (qaraab) and  (kalb) "dog," respectively.
 * 27) caracoa
 * 28) caramida
 * 29) caramuzal
 * 30) caravana
 * 31) caravasar
 * 32) carcajada/carcajear
 * 33) carcax
 * 34) carmen/carme: From Spanish Arabic kárm, and this from Classical Arabic (karm), vine.
 * 35) carmesí
 * 36) carmín
 * 37) carraca
 * 38) carrafa
 * 39) cártama/cártamo
 * 40) catán
 * 41) catifa
 * 42) cazurro
 * 43) cebiche
 * 44) cebtí
 * 45) ceca
 * 46) cegatero
 * 47) cegrí
 * 48) ceje
 * 49) cenacho
 * 50) cendolilla
 * 51) cenefa
 * 52) ceneque
 * 53) cení
 * 54) cenia
 * 55) cenit
 * 56) cequí
 * 57) cerbatana
 * 58) cero: zero. From (sifr) of the same meaning.
 * 59) cetís
 * 60) ceutí
 * 61) chafariz
 * 62) chafarote
 * 63) chaleco
 * 64) charrán
 * 65) chifla
 * 66) chiísmo
 * 67) chilaba (from Moroccan Arabic)
 * 68) chiquero
 * 69) chirivía
 * 70) chisme
 * 71) chivo
 * 72) choz
 * 73) chupa
 * 74) chuzo
 * 75) cianí
 * 76) cibica
 * 77) cica
 * 78) cicalar
 * 79) cicatear
 * 80) cicatero (cicatero has a different root to cicatear)
 * 81) ciclán
 * 82) ciclar
 * 83) ciclatón
 * 84) cid
 * 85) cifaque
 * 86) cifra/cifrar
 * 87) címbara
 * 88) cimboga
 * 89) cimitarra
 * 90) circón
 * 91) citara
 * 92) civeta/civeto
 * 93) coba/cobista
 * 94) cofa
 * 95) coima
 * 96) coime
 * 97) colcótar
 * 98) cora
 * 99) Corán
 * 100) corbacho
 * 101) corma
 * 102) cotonía
 * 103) cubeba
 * 104) cúrcuma
 * 105) curdo
 * 106) cuscuta
 * 107) cuscús (or alcuzcuz/cuzcuz)

D

 * 1) dado: die. From Classical Arabic a'dad "numbers."
 * 2) daga — daggar
 * 3) dahír
 * 4) daifa
 * 5) dante
 * 6) darga (or adarga) — shield
 * 7) dársena — dock/basin
 * 8) daza
 * 9) derviche
 * 10) descafilar
 * 11) destartalado
 * 12) dey
 * 13) dínar
 * 14) dirham
 * 15) diván — divan/couch
 * 16) droga — drug
 * 17) druso
 * 18) dula/dular

E

 * 1) edrisí
 * 2) ejarbe
 * 3) elche
 * 4) elemí
 * 5) embelecar/embeleco
 * 6) emir (or amir)
 * 7) encaramar
 * 8) enchufar/enchufe: To plug in/plug; To connect, to offer a job or a post through personal connections. From Andalusi Arabic Juf derived from Classical Arabic Jawf: stomach; internal cavity.
 * 9) engarzar — to set/thread
 * 10) enjalma
 * 11) enjarje
 * 12) enjeco
 * 13) escabeche: Pickle or marinade. From Arabic as-sukbaj. Originally from Persian Sekba.
 * 14) escafilar (see descafilar)
 * 15) escaque/escaquear
 * 16) espinaca — spinach
 * 17) exarico

F

 * 1) faca
 * 2) falagar
 * 3) falca
 * 4) falleba
 * 5) faltriquera — pocket
 * 6) falúa/faluca
 * 7) fanega/hanega
 * 8) fanfarrón
 * 9) faranga (or haragán)
 * 10) farda
 * 11) fardacho
 * 12) farfán
 * 13) farnaca
 * 14) farota
 * 15) farruco
 * 16) felús
 * 17) fetua
 * 18) fez
 * 19) fideo
 * 20) filelí
 * 21) foceifiza
 * 22) fondolí
 * 23) fondac/fonda
 * 24) foz
 * 25) fulano: To refer to "anyone" without naming, X of people. Arabic: Fulan.
 * 26) fustete

G

 * 1) gabán
 * 2) gabela
 * 3) gacel/gacela
 * 4) gafetí
 * 5) galacho
 * 6) galanga
 * 7) galbana
 * 8) gálibo
 * 9) galima
 * 10) gandula/gandula
 * 11) garama
 * 12) garbino
 * 13) gardacho
 * 14) gárgol
 * 15) garrafa
 * 16) garrama
 * 17) garroba
 * 18) gilí
 * 19) gomer
 * 20) granadí
 * 21) grisgrís
 * 22) guadamací
 * 23) guájara
 * 24) guájete
 * 25) guala
 * 26) guarismo
 * 27) guifa
 * 28) guilla
 * 29) gumía
 * 30) gurapas

H, I

 * 1) habiz
 * 2) habús
 * 3) hachís
 * 4) hacino
 * 5) hadruba
 * 6) hafiz
 * 7) hálara
 * 8) hálara
 * 9) hamudí
 * 10) haragán
 * 11) harambel
 * 12) harbar
 * 13) harén
 * 14) harma
 * 15) harón
 * 16) Hasaní
 * 17) hasta: Until. From Arabic hatta (same meaning).
 * 18) hataca
 * 19) hazaña
 * 20) he: Adverb used in a number of ways: (1) "he aquí/ahí/allí": Here it is/there it is. (2) Used in conjunction with pronouns me/te/le/la/lo/las/los to point something out. e.g., Te lo he dicho, meaning I have told you (it). From Arabic haa.
 * 21) hégira
 * 22) hobacho/hobacha
 * 23) holgazán
 * 24) holgar
 * 25) hoque
 * 26) horro/horra
 * 27) imam
 * 28) imela
 * 29) islam

J, K

 * 1) jabalí : Wild boar. From Arabic jebeli, of the mountains. Perhaps originally from Khanzeer Jebelí: Mountain Pig.
 * 2) jabalón
 * 3) jabeca
 * 4) jabeque
 * 5) jabí : A type of apple and type of grape. From Andalusi Arabic sha‘bí, a type of apple.
 * 6) jácara
 * 7) jácena
 * 8) jacerino
 * 9) jadraque
 * 10) jaez
 * 11) jaguarzo
 * 12) jaharí
 * 13) jaharral
 * 14) jaharrar
 * 15) jaima
 * 16) jaique
 * 17) jalear
 * 18) jalma (or enjalma)
 * 19) jaloque
 * 20) jametería
 * 21) jámila
 * 22) japuta
 * 23) jaque
 * 24) jaqueca: Migraine. From Arabic Shaqiqa, with same meaning.
 * 25) jáquima
 * 26) jara
 * 27) jarabe
 * 28) jaraíz
 * 29) jarcha
 * 30) jareta
 * 31) jaricar
 * 32) jarifo/jarifa
 * 33) jarquía
 * 34) jarra: Pitcher or other pot with handle(s). From ǧarrah, same as English jar.
 * 35) jatib
 * 36) jazarino/jazarina
 * 37) jazmín
 * 38) jebe
 * 39) jeliz
 * 40) jemesía
 * 41) jeque
 * 42) jerife: sheriff. From shereef of the same meaning.
 * 43) jeta
 * 44) jifa
 * 45) jinete
 * 46) jirel
 * 47) jofaina: a wide, shallow basin for domestic use. From ǧufaynah.
 * 48) jofor
 * 49) jorfe
 * 50) joroba
 * 51) jorro
 * 52) juba/aljuba/jubón
 * 53) jurdía
 * 54) kermes

L

 * 1) 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.
 * 2) lacre
 * 3) 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."
 * 4) latón: brass. From Arabic latun from Turkish altin "gold."
 * 5) laúd: lute. From Arabic al 'ud (اعواد) "the lute."
 * 6) lebeche: Southeasterly wind on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. From Andalusi Arabic Labash.
 * 7) lebení: a Moorish beverage prepared from soured milk. From Arabic labani "dairy."
 * 8) leila: from Arabic layla "night."
 * 9) lelilí: Shouts and noise made by Moors when going into combat or when celebrating parties. From لا إله إلا اللّٰه lā ilāhā illā-llāhu: there is no god but God; Ya leilí: O-Night; ya 'ayouni: O my eyes.
 * 10) lima: lime. From Arabic limah of the same meaning.
 * 11) limón: lemon. From laymoon (ليمون), derived from the Chinese word limung.
 * 12) loco: crazy. From Arabic lawqa "fool."

M

 * 1) macabro
 * 2) macsura
 * 3) madraza
 * 4) magacén
 * 5) magarza/magarzuela
 * 6) maglaca
 * 7) maharon/maharona
 * 8) maharrana/marrana/marrano
 * 9) mahozmedín
 * 10) maimón
 * 11) majareta
 * 12) majzén
 * 13) mamarracho
 * 14) mameluco
 * 15) mamola
 * 16) mandeísmo
 * 17) mandil
 * 18) maquila
 * 19) marabú
 * 20) maravedí
 * 21) marchamo
 * 22) márfega
 * 23) marfil
 * 24) marfuz/a
 * 25) margomar
 * 26) marjal
 * 27) marlota
 * 28) marojo
 * 29) maroma
 * 30) marras
 * 31) márraga
 * 32) marroquí: (adj) Moroccan. From Morrocan Arabic Marrakush: Marrakesh.
 * 33) masamuda: (adj) Individual from the Berber Masmuda tribe, from which originate the Almohades, a movement which ruled Spain and North Africa in the XII century. From Arabic: Masamuda.
 * 34) matafalúa
 * 35) mártaga
 * 36) máscara
 * 37) matarife
 * 38) matraca
 * 39) matula
 * 40) mauraca
 * 41) mazapán
 * 42) mazarí
 * 43) mazarrón
 * 44) mazmodina
 * 45) mazmorra
 * 46) mazorca: corn cob; roll of wool or cotton. From Andalusi Arabic: Masurqa, derived from Classical Arabic Masura: a tube used as a bobbin (sewing).
 * 47) meca: Place which is attractive because of a particular activity. From Arabic Mekkah.
 * 48) mechinal
 * 49) mejala
 * 50) mejunje
 * 51) mengano/mengana
 * 52) mequetrefe
 * 53) mercal
 * 54) metical
 * 55) mezquino
 * 56) mía: A military term, formerly designating a regular native unit composed of 100 men in the Spanish protectorate of northern Morocco; by analogy, any colonial army. From Arabic Mi'ah: one hundred.
 * 57) mihrab:
 * 58) miramamolín
 * 59) moaxaja
 * 60) mogataz
 * 61) mogate
 * 62) moharra
 * 63) moharracho
 * 64) mohatra
 * 65) mohedal
 * 66) mohino
 * 67) mojí
 * 68) momia
 * 69) mona
 * 70) monfí
 * 71) morabito
 * 72) moraga
 * 73) morapio
 * 74) mozárabe
 * 75) mudéjar
 * 76) muftí
 * 77) mujalata
 * 78) mulquía
 * 79) muslim/muslime: (Adjective) Muslim. From Arabic Muslim.

N, O, P, Q

 * 1) nabí
 * 2) nacar
 * 3) nácara
 * 4) nadir: the point on the celestial sphere, opposite the zenith directly below the observer. From nadheer.
 * 5) nádir
 * 6) nagüela
 * 7) naife
 * 8) naipe
 * 9) naranja: orange (fruit), from نارنج
 * 10) natrón
 * 11) nazarí
 * 12) nesga
 * 13) noria
 * 14) ojalá: I hope; I wish. From law šaʾ allāh (وشاء الله), "God willing."
 * 15) ¡olé!: The most famous expression of approval, support or encouragement, comes from wa-Allah , by Allah!
 * 16) omeya: adj. Related to the Ummayyad.
 * 17) oque
 * 18) orozuz
 * 19) ox
 * 20) quermes
 * 21) quilate/quirate
 * 22) quilma
 * 23) quina
 * 24) quintal

R

 * 1) rabadán
 * 2) rabal
 * 3) rabazuz
 * 4) rabel
 * 5) rábida
 * 6) rafal
 * 7) rafe
 * 8) ragua
 * 9) rahez
 * 10) ramadán
 * 11) rambla
 * 12) rauda
 * 13) rauta
 * 14) real: Military encampment; plot where a fair is organized; (in Murcia region) small plot or garden. From Arabic rahl: camping.
 * 15) rebato
 * 16) rebite
 * 17) recamar
 * 18) recua
 * 19) redoma
 * 20) rehala
 * 21) rehalí
 * 22) rehén
 * 23) rejalgar: realgar. From reheg al-ghar (رهج الغار): "powder of the cave"
 * 24) requive
 * 25) resma
 * 26) retama
 * 27) rincón: from ركن
 * 28) robda
 * 29) robo (or arroba)
 * 30) romí/rumí
 * 31) ronzal
 * 32) roque

S

 * 1) Saharaui
 * 2) sajelar
 * 3) salema
 * 4) sandía
 * 5) sarraceno
 * 6) sebestén
 * 7) secácul
 * 8) serafín
 * 9) siroco
 * 10) sofí
 * 11) sófora
 * 12) soldán
 * 13) soltaní
 * 14) sufí
 * 15) sura

T

 * 1) tabal (or atabal)
 * 2) tabaque
 * 3) tabefe
 * 4) tabica
 * 5) tabique
 * 6) taca
 * 7) tafurea
 * 8) tagarino/tagarina
 * 9) tagarnina
 * 10) taha
 * 11) tahalí
 * 12) tahona
 * 13) Taifa
 * 14) tajea
 * 15) talco
 * 16) talega
 * 17) talvina
 * 18) támara
 * 19) tamarindo
 * 20) tambor
 * 21) tara
 * 22) taracea
 * 23) taraje
 * 24) tarasí
 * 25) tarbea
 * 26) tarea
 * 27) tareco
 * 28) tarida
 * 29) tarifa
 * 30) tarima
 * 31) tarquín
 * 32) tarraya
 * 33) taza: cup. From tasa.
 * 34) tértil
 * 35) tíbar
 * 36) tochibí
 * 37) tomín
 * 38) toronja
 * 39) toronjil
 * 40) trafalmejas
 * 41) truchimán/na
 * 42) trujamán/na
 * 43) tuera
 * 44) tumbaga
 * 45) Tunecí
 * 46) turbit
 * 47) turquí (in [[azul turquí)])
 * 48) tutía (or atutía)

V, X, Y

 * 1) vacarí: from Arabic baqari "bovine."
 * 2) velmez: from Arabic malbas "clothing."
 * 3) visir: vizier. From Arabic wazir "minister."

Z

 * 1) zabalmedina: in the Middle Ages, judge with civil and criminal jurisdiction in a city. From Arabic Sahib al Medina "Chief of the City."
 * 2) zabarcera: woman who sells fruit and other food. Same origin as abacero
 * 3) zabazala: imam who leads Islamic prayer. From Arabic  SaHb aS-Salah "Leader of prayer."
 * 4) zabazoque: same meaning as almotacén. From Arabic SáHb as-súq "Leader of the Market."
 * 5) zábila: aloe vera (used mainly in Latin America) From Andalusi Arabic sabíra, originally from Classical Arabic Sibar.
 * 6) zabra: type of vessel used in the Bay of Biscay in the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern Age. From Arabic zauraq.
 * 7) zacatín: in some villages, a square where clothes are sold. From saqqatin, plural of saqqat: seller of clothes.
 * 8) 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.
 * 9) zafarí: Granada zafarí: a type of pomegranate. Higo zafarí: a type of fig. From Arabic Safr.
 * 10) zafariche:
 * 11) zafio
 * 12) zafrán
 * 13) zaga
 * 14) zagal: boy. From Andalusian Arabic zaḡál, traditional Arabic zuḡlūl. Same meaning.
 * 15) zagaya (or azagaya)
 * 16) zagua
 * 17) zaguán: hall. From Andalusian Arabic istawán, traditional Arabic usṭuwān(ah).
 * 18) zagüía
 * 19) zaharrón
 * 20) zahén
 * 21) zahón
 * 22) zahora
 * 23) zahorí
 * 24) zaida
 * 25) zaino
 * 26) zala
 * 27) zalamelé
 * 28) zalea/zalear
 * 29) zalema/zalama
 * 30) zalmedina: Same meaning and origin as zabalmedina.
 * 31) zalona
 * 32) zamacuco
 * 33) zambra
 * 34) zanahoria: carrot, presumably from Andalusi Arabic. The only Arabic dialect with a cognate form is Tunisian with sfinaria.
 * 35) zaque
 * 36) zaquizamí
 * 37) zaragüelles
 * 38) zaranda/zarandillo
 * 39) zaratán
 * 40) zarco
 * 41) zarracatín
 * 42) zarzahán
 * 43) zatara
 * 44) zéjel
 * 45) zoco (or azogue): market. From Arabic souk of the same meaning.
 * 46) zofra
 * 47) zorzal: field fare.
 * 48) zubia
 * 49) zulaque
 * 50) zulla
 * 51) zumaque: sumac. From Arabic simaq of the same meaning.
 * 52) zumo: fruit juice
 * 53) zuna

Toponyms (place names) in Iberia of Arabic origin
There are hundreds if not thousands of place names derived from Arabic 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 derived from Arabic 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 increases as one travels south in the country.

Those toponyms which maintained 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 — سرقسطَة Saraqusţah — Zaragoza.

Toponyms (place names) in Iberia of Arabic origin
There are hundreds if not thousands of place names derived from Arabic 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 derived from Arabic 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 increases as one travels south in the country.

Those toponyms which maintained 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 — سرقسطَة Saraqusţah — Zaragoza.

Major towns, cities and regions

 * Axarquía Eastern region of Malaga province, From Arabic Ash-sharquía: The eastern/oriental (region).
 * Andalucía Most populated and 2nd largest autonomous community in Spain. Derived from الأندلس, Al Andalus, 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.
 * Alpujarras (originally Alpuxarras) Region extending South of Granada into Almería. From Arabic Al-Busherat: The grasslands.
 * Badajoz City and province of Extremadura. Badajoz was called Pax Augusta by the Romans and most likely the current name is derived from an Arabic corruption of the original Latin name.
 * Calatayud City of Aragón. Derived from Qal'at Ayyūb (Arabic ) meaning "Castle of Ayyub".
 * Guadalajara City and province of Castilla la Mancha. From Wādī al-Jārah (Arabic '), Wadi or canyon of Stones''.
 * Gibraltar British Colony in Southern Spain. From Jabal Ţāriq (جبل طارق), Mountain of Tariq, (Tariq ibn Ziyad).
 * Jaén 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
 * Madrid Capital of Spain. Derived from original Arabic name: al-MagrīT, المجريط: "Source of water".
 * La Mancha Wide arid steppes covering much of Toledo, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Albacete provinces. Derived from original Arabic name: la'a Ma-anxa : "No water".
 * Medina Sidonia: Town and municipality in Cadiz province.
 * Tarifa town in southern Spain. Originally Jazeera Tarif: the island of Tarif. Derived form the first name of the Berber conqueror Tarif ibn Malik.
 * La Sagra, an arid region between Toledo and Madrid. Name derived from Arabic Sahra  "desert".
 * Sevilla, city and province in Andalusia. From Arabic Ishbillia, deformation of Latin Hispalis.

Geographical features

 * Guadiana river. Meaning "Anna river".
 * Guadalquivir river. Derived from Arabic: al-wādĩ al-kabir الوادي الكبير, "the big river".
 * Mulhacén. Highest mountain in peninsular Spain. Named after 15th century Arabian Sultan of Granada Ali Muley Hacén Abu al-Hasan.
 * Pico Almanzor. Mountain in the Sierra de Gredos of Central Spain. Named after "Almanzor" Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir, de-facto ruler of Al Andalus in late 10th – early 11th centuries.

Geographical features

 * Guadiana river. Meaning "Anna river".
 * Guadalquivir river. Derived from Arabic: al-wādĩ al-kabir الوادي الكبير, "the big river".
 * Mulhacén. Highest mountain in peninsular Spain. Named after 15th century Arabian Sultan of Granada Ali Muley Hacén Abu al-Hasan.
 * Pico Almanzor. Mountain in the Sierra de Gredos of Central Spain. Named after "Almanzor" Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir, de-facto ruler of Al Andalus in late 10th – early 11th centuries.

Suggestions for further research
In the English language, search the online catalogs of United States university libraries using the Library of Congress (LC) subject heading, "Spanish language foreign elements".

When searching Spanish language Web sites, use the subject term, "arabismos".

Selected reference works and other academic literature
These works have not necessarily been consulted in the preparation of this article.


 * Abu-Haidar, J. A. 1985. Review of Felipe Maíllo Salgado, Los arabismos del castellano en la baja edad media (consideraciones históricas y filológicas). Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 48(2): 353–354. University of London. Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0041-977X%281985%2948%3A2%3C353%3ALADCEL%3E2.0.CO%3B2-X


 * Cabo Pan, José Luis. El legado del árabe. Mosaico 8:7–10. Revista para la Promoción y Apoyo a la Enseñanza del Español. Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia del Reino de España, Consejería de Educación y Ciencia en Bélgica, Países Bajos y Luxemburgo. [Article with convenient, short word lists, grouped by theme. In PDF. Refer to Mosaico's portal page. ]


 * Corriente, Federico. 2003. Diccionario de arabismos y voces afines en iberorromance. (2nd expanded ed.; 1st ed. 1999) Madrid: Gredos. 607 p.


 * Real Academia Española (Royal Spanish Academy). Diccionario de la lengua española (DRAE), online.


 * Maíllo Salgado, Felipe. 1991/1998. Los arabismos del castellano en la Baja Edad Media : consideraciones históricas y filológicas. Salamanca: Universidad de Salamanca. 554 p. [2nd ed., corrected and enlarged; 1st ed. 1983]


 * Ibid. 1996. Vocabulario de historia árabe e islámica. Madrid: Akal. 330 p.


 * Pezzi, Elena. 1995. Arabismos: estudios etimológicos. Almería: Universidad de Almería. 160 p.


 * Sola-Solé, Josep María. 1983. Sobre árabes, judíos y marranos y su impacto en la lengua y literatura españolas. Barcelona: Puvill. 279 p.


 * Toro Lillo, Elena. La invasión árabe. Los árabes y el elemento árabe en español. In the Cervantes Virtual Library. Includes a brief list of historical sound changes. Useful bibliography.

Selected resource pages of universities and research institutes

 * Instituto de Estudios Islámicos y del Oriente Próximo. Search results consisting of Institute publications whose entries contain the word "arabismos"


 * Universidad de Granada. Holdings under the subject "arabismos"