The Influence of Arabic on Spanish and Portuguese

🌍Languages are influenced by the events that affect their speakers, and the Arabic language has left a significant impact on Spanish and Portuguese.

📚Spanish and Portuguese both developed on the Iberian Peninsula and began as romance dialects that evolved from vulgar Latin.

🕌During the medieval period, a significant part of the Iberian Peninsula was under Muslim rule, which led to the influence of Arabic on the languages spoken in the region.

🍽️Arabic influence can be seen in the vocabulary related to food, architecture, and daily life in Spanish and Portuguese.

🧮Islamic civilization made significant contributions to mathematics and science, and words like 'algebra' and 'algorithm' are of Arabic origin.

How many Arabic words are there in Spanish and Portuguese?

—There are around 4,000 Spanish words and about 1,000 Portuguese words that have Arabic origins.

Why aren't Spain and Portugal Arabic-speaking countries?

—Although much of the Iberian Peninsula was under Muslim rule, Spain and Portugal eventually regained Christian rule, leading to the decline of Arabic and the resurgence of Spanish and Portuguese.

Are there any Arabic-influenced place names in Spanish and Portuguese?

—Yes, there are many place names of Arabic origin in both languages, such as Alhambra in Spain and Algarve in Portugal.

Did Arabic influence syntax or grammatical structure in Spanish and Portuguese?

—There is little or no evidence of Arabic influence on syntax in Spanish and Portuguese. The main influence lies in vocabulary.

What other languages have borrowed words from Arabic?

—Many languages, including English and French, have borrowed words from Arabic, particularly in areas of science, mathematics, and cuisine.

00:00Introduction to the influence of Arabic on Spanish and Portuguese.

04:15Explanation of how Arabic influenced the vocabulary related to residence and architecture.

05:53Discussion of Arabic influence on food-related vocabulary in Spanish and Portuguese.

08:11Explanation of how Arabic influenced words related to mathematics and science.

11:23Overview of Arabic-influenced place names in Spain, Portugal, and Mexico.