Discover the Fascinating History of Spanish-Arabic Linguistic Connections

What was the period of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula?

During which historical event did the lexical influence of Arabic reach its greatest level in Spanish?

In which Spanish dialects is the influence of Arabic more noticeable?

What percentage of the Spanish dictionary is estimated to have Arabic roots or derived words?

When was the high point of Arabic word use in Spanish?

What types of place names in the Iberian peninsula are derived from Arabic?

What is the main influence of Arabic on the Spanish language?

What is the name of the period when Christian kingdoms reconquered territories from the Moors?

What is the name for the Spanish dialects from regions with a longer history of Moorish domination?

Arabic has had a significant influence on the Spanish language dating back to the Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula between 711 and 1492. The influence is mainly from the large number of Arabic loanwords and derivations in Spanish, plus a few other less obvious effects. The lexical influence of Arabic reached its greatest level during the Christian Reconquista when the Kingdom of Castile conquered large territories from Moorish rulers. The influence of the Arabized Mozarabic and of Arabic itself is more noticeable in the Spanish dialects from regions with a longer history of Moorish domination than those where it was shorter-lived. Spanish words of Arabic origin are common in most varieties of Modern Spanish. It is estimated that there are about one thousand Arabic roots, and approximately three thousand derived words, for a total of around four thousand words or 8% of the Spanish dictionary. The high point of Arabic word use in Spanish was in late medieval times and has declined since then, but hundreds are still used in normal conversation. Arabic has had a significant influence on Spanish vocabulary, and there are thousands of place names derived from Arabic in the Iberian peninsula including provinces and regions, cities, towns, villages, and even neighborhoods and streets.

Test your knowledge of Spanish vocabulary with our quiz on Arabic loanwords! Discover the fascinating history of the influence of the Arabic language on Spanish, dating back to the Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula. Learn about the different regions with a longer history of Moorish domination and their unique dialects. With approximately 4,000 words of Arabic origin in the Spanish dictionary, challenge yourself to identify common words and place names derived from Arabic. Take our quiz and explore the linguistic connections between Arabic and Spanish