Friday 3 April 2020

Words of Arabic Origin in English



“Is it your fate to tie macrame while drinking coffee and eating sherbet in a minaret? That would be an unusual destiny, but if it turns out to be your kismet, you will owe much to Turkish and Arabic. We borrowed "kismet" from Turkish in the 1800s ... In the case of "macrame" and "minaret," there is a little French influence as well.” (Merriam-Webster)



alcohol, sugar, tobacco, damask, muslin, arsenal, admiral (via Karl Sharro)

algebra
algorithm
algorithm
alkali
apricot
arsenal
artichoke, carob
assassin
aubergine
azimuth
candy
caraway
cipher
coffee
cotton
hashish
jar
jasmine
kohl
lemon
lime
magazine (from a word meaning “storehouse”)
mascara
mattress
nadir
orange
ream (of paper)
saffron
sherbet
shufti
sofa
sorbet
sugar
sumac (spice)
syrup
tamarind
tangerine (Tangier)
tarragon
zenith
zero

(Thank you Ha’aretz.)

The picture shows the minaret in Kingsland Road, which I can see from my window.

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