The Middle East’s cultural influence on the world is vast and enduring – evident not only in food, fashion, mathematics and medicine, but also in the global lingua franca, the English language that millions around the world use everyday.
If you ordered a coffee this morning, you were – perhaps unknowingly – speaking Arabic, or at least a version of it. Some of the most common English words, including lemon, sofa, giraffe and, US president Donald Trump’s favourite buzzword, tariff, all trace their roots back to Arabic.
Here are 20 such words – and the fascinating stories behind them.
Admiral
The naval term entered English via the Anglo-French “amiral”, meaning commander, which came from the Arabic “amir al-bahr” – “amir” meaning commander and “bahr” meaning sea.
Algebra
This mathematical term stems from the Arabic “al-jabr”, which originally referred to the surgical setting of bones. It was adopted into mathematics by ninth-century Persian scholar Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi in his influential book Al-Kitab al-Mukhtasar fi Hisab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala (The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing).
Candy
This sweet-sounding word originates from the Arabic “qandi”, meaning sugar. It likely entered English via the Old French çucre candi – “sugar candy”.
Checkmate
The final move in chess comes from the Persian “shah mat”, meaning the king is helpless. As the game spread through the Arab world into Europe, it evolved into chequemate, and later checkmate in English. The Arabic “mat” also means died.
Coffee
Coffee culture began in 15th-century Yemen, and the word itself derives from qahwa. The chocolate-infused cafe mocha takes its name from the Yemeni port city of Mocha, once a hub for the global coffee trade.
Elixir
Meaning a magical or medicinal potion, elixir comes from the Arabic “al-iksir”, which itself was derived from the Greek “xerion”, meaning powder for drying wounds.
Giraffe
The long-necked animal’s name evolved from the Arabic “zarafa”. It entered European languages in the 13th century, likely after giraffes were transported from Cairo to Italy.
Hazard
Today associated with danger, hazard originates from “al-zahr”, the Arabic word for dice – an object once used in games of chance. It entered English via the Old French “hasard”.
Jar
From the Arabic “jarra”, meaning earthenware vessel, the term appeared in medieval European texts referring to containers for oil or preserves.
Jasmine
This fragrant flower, prominent in traditional Arabic medicine, entered western texts in the 13th century from the Arabic “yasmin”, and became widely known across Europe by the 16th century.
Jumper
The cosy pullover’s etymology leads back to the Arabic “jubba”, a loose outer garment. It passed through Latin (iuppa), then French (jupe), before arriving in English as jump or jumper in the 17th century.
Lemon
Though now strongly associated with the Mediterranean, lemons were introduced to southern Europe by Arabs in the Middle Ages. The Arabic “limun” or “al-lamun” referred to a citrus fruit that was larger and thicker-skinned than those known in classical antiquity.
Magazine
From the Arabic “makhazin” (plural of makhzan), meaning storehouse, the word entered English via Italian and French. In early English usage, a magazine referred to a place where ammunition or supplies were kept, before evolving into its current meaning as a printed periodical. Today it is used to refer to both, written publications and an ammunition storage device for a firearm, more commonly known as mag.
Mattress
Derived from the Arabic “matrah”, meaning place where something is thrown down – such as a mat or cushion. It reflects the traditional practice of sleeping on floor cushions.
Orange
The English word comes from the Persian “naranj” after the word was adopted in Arabic, introduced to Europe via Arabic-speaking traders around the 10th century. The Spanish word “naranja” retains this older form.
Safari
From the Arabic “safar”, meaning journey, the word entered English in the 19th century via Swahili, where it described long overland expeditions.
Serendipity
Coined in 1754 by English writer Horace Walpole, the word has its roots in Sanskrit, and was then inspired by the Persian folktale The Three Princes of Serendip – a reference to Sri Lanka's old Arabic-language name Serendip. The story’s heroes were known for their knack for making unexpected discoveries.
Sofa
Sofa entered English through Turkish in the 16th century, describing a cushioned bench or seat. The Turkish word came from the Arabic “soffa”, meaning a raised platform or long bench.
Tariff
A word frequently in the headlines, tariff stems from the Arabic “tarif”, meaning notification or definition. It passed into European languages through Latin and Italian, often used in shipping and trade contexts.
Zero
A cornerstone of modern mathematics, zero comes from the Arabic “sifr”, meaning empty or nothing. The concept reached Europe through Latin translations of Arabic texts, although the term didn’t appear in English until the 17th century.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra
Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa
Rating: 4/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Company%20profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
England Test squad
Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Jamie Porter, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
