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Words With Arabic Origins

Every word in the dictionary traced back to Arabic — a real, growing list pulled straight from each word's etymology, not hand-picked.

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199 Words

  1. 1 aba A simple, loose-fitting robe traditionally worn in parts of the Middle East, often made from coarse woven wool...
  2. 2 Abbas A male given name and surname of Arabic origin.
  3. 3 Abdul A male given name from Arabic used by Muslims.
  4. 4 Abdullah A male given name of Arabic origin, meaning "servant of God".
  5. 5 Abu A language of Papua New Guinea.
  6. 6 Aden A major port city in Yemen, and the former capital of South Yemen.
  7. 7 Adnan A masculine given name of Arabic origin.
  8. 8 Ahmad A male given name of Arabic or Persian origin, meaning "most praiseworthy."
  9. 9 Ahmadi Relating to the Ahmadiyya movement, a religious community that grew out of Sunni Islam in the 19th century.
  10. 10 Ahmed A male given name of Arabic origin, a variant of Ahmad, meaning "most praiseworthy."
  11. 11 Aisha A female given name of Arabic origin, historically borne by one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad.
  12. 12 Akbar A word meaning "greatest," used in Arabic phrases such as "Allahu akbar" ("God is greatest"), and also used as...
  13. 13 algebra The branch of mathematics that uses letters and symbols to stand for numbers in equations and formulas.
  14. 14 Algeria A large country in North Africa, whose capital is Algiers.
  15. 15 Ali A male given name of Arabic origin, also a common surname.
  16. 16 alkaline Having the chemical properties of an alkali; basic rather than acidic.
  17. 17 Allah The Arabic name for God, used in Islamic and Arabic contexts.
  18. 18 alma A historical term for a professional Egyptian singer or dancer hired for entertainment.
  19. 19 Amal A male given name.
  20. 20 amin A male given name of Arabic origin, meaning "trustworthy" or "faithful."
  21. 21 Amina A female given name of Arabic origin, meaning "trustworthy" or "faithful."
  22. 22 Amir A male given name and title of Arabic origin, meaning "commander" or "prince."
  23. 23 Amira A female given name of Arabic origin, meaning "princess."
  24. 24 Amjad A surname of Arabic origin, meaning "most glorious."
  25. 25 Amman The capital city of Jordan.
  26. 26 Arab A member of an ethnic group native to the Arabian Peninsula and the wider Arabic-speaking world.
  27. 27 Ashura A day of religious observance on the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram, marked by fasting among Sunni...
  28. 28 Assad An Arabic surname, most widely known through the Syrian presidents Hafez al-Assad and his son Bashar al-Assad.
  29. 29 assassination The killing of someone, usually a prominent or public figure, carried out deliberately and often for political...
  30. 30 ayatollah A high-ranking religious leader and scholar in Shia Islam.
  31. 31 Baghdad The capital and largest city of Iraq, on the banks of the Tigris River.
  32. 32 bahar A historical unit of weight once used across the Middle East and East Indies, whose exact size varied by regio...
  33. 33 Bahrain An island country in the Persian Gulf, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, with its capital at Manama.
  34. 34 Bashir A masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "bringer of good news".
  35. 35 Beirut The capital and largest city of Lebanon.
  36. 36 Benghazi A major port city in eastern Libya.
  37. 37 Bilal A male given name of Arabic origin.
  38. 38 Bismillah An Arabic phrase meaning "in the name of God", said before an action such as eating, to invoke a blessing.
  39. 39 bwana A term meaning "boss" or "important man," used especially in East Africa.
  40. 40 carat A unit of mass used to weigh gemstones, equal to exactly 200 milligrams.
  41. 41 casbah The old fortified quarter of a North African or Middle Eastern city, or the citadel at its heart.
  42. 42 dalal A broker or go-between who arranges deals for a fee.
  43. 43 Darfur A region in western Sudan, home to the Fur people and the site of a major humanitarian crisis in the early 200...
  44. 44 deen A Muslim's religion and way of life, especially the practice of Islamic faith in daily conduct.
  45. 45 Dubai A city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates, known for its skyscrapers and luxury developments.
  46. 46 Eid Any of several major Islamic religious festivals, especially Eid al-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan) and Eid...
  47. 47 fakir A Muslim or Hindu religious ascetic who lives by begging and owns little or no property.
  48. 48 falafel A Middle Eastern dish of deep-fried balls or patties made from ground chickpeas or fava beans.
  49. 49 Farsi The Persian language, especially the modern form spoken in Iran.
  50. 50 Gaddafi A surname, an English transliteration of the Arabic name al-Qaḏḏāfiyy.
  51. 51 Gibraltar A small coffee drink made by serving a cortado-style espresso and milk in a short glass.
  52. 52 Granada A city and province in Andalusia, Spain, famous for the Alhambra palace; also a city and department in Nicarag...
  53. 53 Habib An affectionate term for a close friend, roughly "mate" or "buddy."
  54. 54 hafiz A Muslim who has memorized the entire Qur'an.
  55. 55 Haider A surname and male given name of Arabic or Persian origin.
  56. 56 Haifa A major port city on the Mediterranean coast in northern Israel, built along the slopes of Mount Carmel.
  57. 57 Haji An honorific title for a Muslim who has completed the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca.
  58. 58 hajj The pilgrimage to Mecca that observant Muslims are expected to make at least once, one of the five pillars of...
  59. 59 hajji A title of respect for a Muslim who has completed the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
  60. 60 hakim A physician, especially one practicing traditional or herbal medicine in South Asia or the Middle East.
  61. 61 halal Permitted or lawful under Islamic religious rules, especially describing food prepared according to those rule...
  62. 62 Hama A city on the Orontes River in western Syria, known for its ancient wooden waterwheels.
  63. 63 hamada A flat, rocky desert plateau where wind has stripped away sand and loose soil, leaving bare rock or gravel.
  64. 64 Hamas A Palestinian Islamist political and militant organization that controls the Gaza Strip.
  65. 65 Hamid A masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "praiseworthy."
  66. 66 hamza A symbol in the Arabic writing system that represents a glottal stop, written as a standalone letter or above/...
  67. 67 haram Forbidden under Islamic law.
  68. 68 harem Historically, the private living quarters reserved for the women of a household, especially in a Muslim family...
  69. 69 hashish A concentrated resin extracted from the cannabis plant, typically smoked or eaten.
  70. 70 henna A reddish-brown dye made from a flowering shrub, used to color hair or create temporary tattoos on skin.
  71. 71 Hezbollah A Lebanese Shi'a Islamist political party and armed movement.
  72. 72 hijab A headscarf worn by many Muslim women that covers the hair and neck.
  73. 73 hookah A water pipe with a long flexible tube, traditionally used for smoking flavoured tobacco.
  74. 74 hubba A tiny unit of weight or measure, historically used in South Asian and Middle Eastern trade for grains or seed...
  75. 75 hummus A creamy dip made from mashed chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil.
  76. 76 ibn An Arabic word meaning "son of," used before a father's name in traditional naming patterns.
  77. 77 imam A person who leads prayers in a mosque.
  78. 78 iman Devoted faith and belief within Islam.
  79. 79 inshallah God willing — said when hoping a future event will happen, acknowledging it's ultimately out of your hands.
  80. 80 Iraq A country in the Middle East, officially the Republic of Iraq, with Baghdad as its capital and largest city.
  81. 81 Iraqi Relating to Iraq, its people, or its culture.
  82. 82 Irfan A male given name of Arabic origin, common especially in Pakistan.
  83. 83 isha The final of the five daily Islamic prayers, performed at night.
  84. 84 Islam A monotheistic religion founded on the teachings of the prophet Muhammad and the Quran, followed by Muslims wo...
  85. 85 Ismail The Arabic form of the biblical name Ishmael, Abraham's eldest son, regarded in Islamic tradition as an ancest...
  86. 86 Issa A given name and surname of Arabic origin.
  87. 87 Jabbar A surname of Arabic origin, meaning "mighty" or "powerful."
  88. 88 Jamil A male given name of Arabic origin, meaning "beautiful" or "handsome."
  89. 89 Jamila A female given name of Arabic origin, meaning "beautiful."
  90. 90 jihad In Islam, a struggle or striving — either an inner spiritual effort toward self-improvement, or, in some conte...
  91. 91 jihadi A person who takes part in or supports armed jihad, especially as part of a militant movement.
  92. 92 jinn In Arabic and Islamic tradition, a supernatural being made of smokeless fire, distinct from angels and humans,...
  93. 93 kali A major Hindu goddess associated with time, destruction, and the defeat of evil, often depicted with dark skin...
  94. 94 Kamal A male given name meaning "perfection" in Arabic.
  95. 95 kebab Meat, fish, or vegetables cooked on a skewer or spit, including the sliced-off-a-spit "doner" style sold in fl...
  96. 96 kif A form of cannabis traditionally smoked in North Africa, or the relaxed, hazy state it produces.
  97. 97 kismet Fate; the idea that events are destined to happen and cannot be avoided.
  98. 98 Koran An older English spelling of "Qur'an", the central religious text of Islam.
  99. 99 Laila A female given name of Arabic origin, a variant spelling of Leila, traditionally meaning "night".
  100. 100 loofah A rough sponge made from the dried fibrous interior of a gourd, used for scrubbing the skin while bathing.
  101. 101 Luxor A city in southern Egypt built on the site of the ancient city of Thebes, famous for its temples and tombs.
  102. 102 Lyla A female given name, a spelling variant of Leila.
  103. 103 Madan A member of the Marsh Arabs, the traditional inhabitants of the wetlands of southern Iraq.
  104. 104 mahal A grand residence, mansion, or palace (as in the name Taj Mahal).
  105. 105 Mahdi In Islamic belief, a foretold guided leader expected to appear and restore justice before the end of the world...
  106. 106 Mahmud A male given name of Arabic origin, meaning "praised" or "praiseworthy".
  107. 107 majid A surname of Arabic origin.
  108. 108 Malek A given name and surname of Arabic origin meaning "king," borne by actor Rami Malek.
  109. 109 Malik A tribal chief or headman, especially among Pashtun communities in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
  110. 110 Malika A female given name of Arabic origin meaning "queen," the feminine form of Malik.
  111. 111 mandi A traditional Southeast Asian method of bathing by scooping water from a large container and pouring it over t...
  112. 112 Mansour A masculine given name and surname of Arabic origin, meaning "victorious" or "aided by God."
  113. 113 Marrakech A major city in Morocco, known for its markets, palaces, and historic old town.
  114. 114 Marsala A fortified wine from Sicily, ranging from dry to sweet, often used in cooking.
  115. 115 Marwan A male given name of Arabic origin.
  116. 116 Maryam A female given name of Arabic origin, equivalent to Mary.
  117. 117 masala A blend of spices used in South Asian cooking, often including cardamom, coriander, and pepper.
  118. 118 Medina A holy city in Saudi Arabia, second only to Mecca in importance to Islam, and the burial place of the Prophet...
  119. 119 Mehmet A common Turkish male given name, a variant of Muhammad.
  120. 120 Mogadishu The capital and largest city of Somalia, on the country's Indian Ocean coast.
  121. 121 Mosul A major city in northern Iraq, the capital of the Nineveh governorate.
  122. 122 Mubarak An Arabic given name and surname meaning "blessed."
  123. 123 Muhammad The founder of Islam, regarded by Muslims as God's final prophet and the one who received the Qur'an.
  124. 124 mullah A Muslim religious scholar or cleric, especially one trained in Islamic law.
  125. 125 Murad A male given name of Turkish origin, borne by several Ottoman sultans.
  126. 126 Musa A male given name from Arabic, equivalent to the English name Moses.
  127. 127 Muslim A follower of the religion of Islam.
  128. 128 Mustafa A male given name of Arabic origin, meaning "the chosen one," widely used by Muslims.
  129. 129 nawab A Muslim ruler or provincial governor in historical South Asia, especially under the Mughal Empire.
  130. 130 nazim An elected head of a local government district in Pakistan.
  131. 131 nazir The custodian or manager of an Islamic religious endowment (waqf).
  132. 132 Nuri A masculine given name of Arabic origin, related to a word meaning "light."
  133. 133 ock A slang, and now dated, New York term for a Middle Eastern deli or bodega owner.
  134. 134 Oman A country on the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia, whose capital is Muscat.
  135. 135 Oran A major port city and province in Algeria; also a masculine given name of Irish origin.
  136. 136 Osama A masculine given name of Arabic origin.
  137. 137 Qasim A male given name of Arabic origin, also the name of the eldest son of the prophet Muhammad.
  138. 138 Qatar A small, wealthy country on a peninsula in the Persian Gulf, officially the State of Qatar, with Doha as its c...
  139. 139 Qureshi A surname of Arabic origin.
  140. 140 Rabb A title meaning "lord" or "master," used in reference to God in Arabic and Islamic contexts.
  141. 141 Rafi A surname of Arabic origin.
  142. 142 Rafiq A surname of Arabic origin.
  143. 143 Rahim A male given name and surname of Arabic origin, meaning "compassionate."
  144. 144 Rahman A surname of Arabic origin, meaning "merciful."
  145. 145 raki A strong, anise-flavoured spirit popular in Turkey and neighbouring countries.
  146. 146 Ramadan The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset; also a male give...
  147. 147 Rami A surname of Arabic origin, found predominantly in Morocco and India.
  148. 148 Rashid A male given name of Arabic origin, meaning roughly "rightly guided" or "wise."
  149. 149 reis A military title in the Ottoman navy roughly equivalent to a ship's captain.
  150. 150 Reza A masculine given name and surname used among Persian and Urdu speakers, a variant of Riza meaning "satisfacti...
  151. 151 Rihanna A feminine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "basil" or "sweet basil".
  152. 152 Riyadh The capital city of Saudi Arabia, and by extension a metonym for its government.
  153. 153 Riza A masculine given name and surname of Persian origin, meaning "satisfaction" or "contentment".
  154. 154 saad The letter ص in the Arabic alphabet.
  155. 155 Sadat An Arabic surname and male given name, and the name of several places in Iran, India, Pakistan, and Egypt.
  156. 156 Saddam An Arabic male given name, most widely recognized as the first name of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
  157. 157 Sadiq An Arabic male given name and surname.
  158. 158 safari A trip into the wild to observe, photograph, or hunt animals in their natural habitat.
  159. 159 Sahab A municipality located southwest of Amman, Jordan.
  160. 160 Sahara The vast desert covering most of North Africa, the largest hot desert in the world.
  161. 161 sahib A historical term of respect used in colonial India for a European man of rank or authority.
  162. 162 sais A groom or stable hand employed to look after horses, especially in South Asia.
  163. 163 Sajid An Arabic male given name and surname, especially common in Pakistan.
  164. 164 sakina In Islamic teaching, a deep sense of calm or peace believed to come from God, often associated with reciting t...
  165. 165 salaam A greeting meaning "peace," used especially among Muslims and in parts of South Asia and the Middle East.
  166. 166 sandalwood A tropical tree valued for its fragrant, fine-grained heartwood.
  167. 167 sash A decorative band of cloth worn around the waist or over one shoulder, often as part of formal dress or a unif...
  168. 168 Saudi A person from Saudi Arabia.
  169. 169 seen The name of the letter س in the Arabic alphabet, representing an "s" sound.
  170. 170 Selim A surname of Arabic origin, mostly found in Egypt.
  171. 171 senna A plant whose leaves and pods are used to make a strong natural laxative.
  172. 172 Shahid A masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "witness" or "martyr."
  173. 173 Shakira A feminine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "grateful" or "thankful," notably borne by the Colombian singe...
  174. 174 shalom A traditional Jewish greeting or farewell, meaning peace.
  175. 175 Shaquille A male given name, popular in the United States, styled after an Arabic word meaning "handsome."
  176. 176 sharia Islamic religious law, derived from the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, covering both religio...
  177. 177 sharif A traditional Arab title given to someone entrusted with protecting a tribe and its interests.
  178. 178 Shazia A female given name of Arabic origin, meaning something rare or precious.
  179. 179 sheik A leader of an Arab family, village, or tribe.
  180. 180 sherbet A frozen dessert of fruit juice or puree with a small amount of dairy added, milder and creamier than a sorbet...
  181. 181 Sherif A masculine given name and surname of Arabic origin, meaning "noble" or "honorable."
  182. 182 shura A council that offers advice or guidance to a ruler or leader.
  183. 183 Sudan A country in northeastern Africa, south of Egypt, with a long and turbulent political history.
  184. 184 Sufi A follower of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam that emphasizes direct, personal experience of the divine.
  185. 185 Suleiman A male given name of Arabic origin, the Arabic form of Solomon.
  186. 186 Sunni Belonging to the largest branch of Islam, which follows the Qur'an and the Sunnah (the recorded practices of t...
  187. 187 sura A chapter of the Quran (one of 114).
  188. 188 Swahili A Bantu language widely spoken across East Africa, historically shaped by contact between Bantu and Arabic-spe...
  189. 189 taj A tall, brimless ceremonial hat traditionally worn as a mark of rank in some Muslim cultures.
  190. 190 Taliban A Deobandi Islamist political and military movement founded in Afghanistan in 1994, which has governed the cou...
  191. 191 Tariq A male given name of Arabic origin.
  192. 192 Tobruk A port city in eastern Libya on the Mediterranean coast.
  193. 193 typhoon A powerful tropical storm that forms over the northwestern Pacific Ocean, equivalent to a hurricane elsewhere.
  194. 194 vizier A senior minister or official in an Islamic government, especially the Ottoman Empire.
  195. 195 wadi A valley or streambed in North Africa or the Middle East that stays dry except during rare rains.
  196. 196 Yemen A country on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East, with Sanaa as its capital.
  197. 197 Yusuf A male given name from Arabic, the Islamic form of the name Joseph, also referring to the prophet of that name...
  198. 198 Zaara A variant spelling of Sahara, also used as a given name.
  199. 199 Zina In Islamic law, sex outside of marriage, covering both adultery and premarital sex.