Middle School English Words Derived from...: English Words Derived from Arabic

All of the English words on this lists have Arabic origins. While some, like caliph and afghan, clearly come from Arabic sources, you might be surprised to discover that algebra, chemistry, and zero are also derived from Arabic. Learn these words that contribute to the richness and variety of the English language.
15 words 6 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. admiral
    the supreme commander of a fleet
  2. afghan
    a blanket knitted or crocheted in strips or squares
  3. alcove
    a small recess opening off a large room or garden
  4. algebra
    the mathematics of generalized arithmetical operations
  5. algorithm
    a precise rule specifying how to solve some problem
  6. amber
    a hard yellowish to brownish translucent fossil resin
  7. arsenal
    all the weapons and equipment that a country has
  8. assassinate
    murder; especially of socially prominent persons
  9. caliph
    the civil and religious leader of a Muslim state
  10. chemistry
    the science of matter
  11. decipher
    convert something hidden or secretive into ordinary language
  12. ghoul
    an evil spirit or ghost
  13. minaret
    a slender tower with balconies, especially on a mosque
  14. sultan
    the ruler of a Muslim country
  15. zero
    the mathematical symbol 0 denoting absence of quantity
Created on Tue May 13 14:26:38 EDT 2025 (updated Wed May 14 13:17:55 EDT 2025)

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