Did you know that thousands of Portuguese words come from Arabic? During the Moorish rule of Portugal (711–1249 AD), the Arabic language had a profound influence on Portuguese vocabulary, particularly in areas such as architecture, food, science, and everyday life. Even today, many common Portuguese words have Arabic origins, often recognizable by the prefix “al-“, which means “the” in Arabic.
Here’s a look at some of the most commonly used Portuguese words that come directly from Arabic!
1. Algarve (الغرب – “Al-Gharb”) 🏖
🌍 Meaning: “The West”
Why It’s Arabic:
The Algarve, one of Portugal’s most famous regions, literally means “The West” in Arabic, as it was the westernmost part of the Muslim-controlled Iberian Peninsula during Moorish rule.
📌 Did You Know? The Moors ruled the Algarve for over 500 years, leaving a lasting impact on architecture, food, and local culture.
2. Almofada (المخدة – “Al-Mikhaddah”) 🛏
🌍 Meaning: “Pillow”
Why It’s Arabic:
The Arabic word “al-mikhaddah” (meaning cushion or pillow) became almofada in Portuguese.
📌 Did You Know? The Moors introduced luxury fabrics and textiles to Portugal, influencing not just vocabulary but also home decor and fashion.
3. Azeitona (الزيتون – “Az-Zaytūn”) 🫒
🌍 Meaning: “Olive”
Why It’s Arabic:
The Portuguese word azeitona comes from the Arabic “az-zaytūn”, referring to olives.
📌 Did You Know? The Moors expanded olive tree cultivation across Portugal, and today, Portuguese olive oil is among the best in the world.
4. Açúcar (السكر – “As-Sukkar”) 🍬
🌍 Meaning: “Sugar”
Why It’s Arabic:
“As-sukkar” is the Arabic word for sugar, which became açúcar in Portuguese.
📌 Did You Know? The Moors brought sugarcane cultivation to Portugal, which later became one of the key crops of Portuguese colonies like Brazil.
5. Alface (الخس – “Al-Khass”) 🥬
🌍 Meaning: “Lettuce”
Why It’s Arabic:
The Portuguese word for lettuce, alface, comes from “al-khass” in Arabic.
📌 Did You Know? The Moors introduced advanced irrigation techniques, which allowed for year-round vegetable cultivation in Portugal.
6. Armazém (المخزن – “Al-Makhzan”) 🏢
🌍 Meaning: “Warehouse, storage”
Why It’s Arabic:
“Al-makhzan”, meaning storage or warehouse in Arabic, evolved into armazém in Portuguese.
📌 Did You Know? The Arabic root of this word also gave birth to the English word “magazine”, as magazines were originally storage places for information!
7. Alfarrobeira (الخروب – “Al-Kharrub”) 🌳
🌍 Meaning: “Carob tree”
Why It’s Arabic:
The Portuguese alfarroba (carob) and alfarrobeira (carob tree) come from the Arabic word “al-kharrub”.
📌 Did You Know? The Moors cultivated carob trees in the Algarve, and carob flour is still a popular ingredient in Portugal today.
8. Alambique (الأنبيق – “Al-Anbīq”) 🏺
🌍 Meaning: “Alembic, distillation device”
Why It’s Arabic:
The alambique (a device for distilling liquids like alcohol or perfume) comes from the Arabic “al-anbīq”, which was used in early alchemical experiments.
📌 Did You Know? Portuguese aguardente (brandy) is still made using traditional Moorish distillation methods.
9. Alquimia (الكيمياء – “Al-Kīmiyā’”) ⚗️
🌍 Meaning: “Alchemy, chemistry”
Why It’s Arabic:
The study of chemistry and alchemy flourished under Arabic scholars, and the word “al-kīmiyā’” became alquimia in Portuguese.
📌 Did You Know? The Arabic influence in science helped preserve and translate Greek knowledge, later influencing the European Renaissance.
10. Xadrez (الشطرنج – “Ash-Shatranj”) ♟
🌍 Meaning: “Chess”
Why It’s Arabic:
Chess was introduced to Portugal through the Moors, who used the word “ash-shatranj”. This became xadrez in Portuguese.
📌 Did You Know? Xadrez also means “checkered” in Portuguese, since chessboards have a checkered pattern!
How Arabic Influenced Portuguese Culture
The Moors didn’t just influence the Portuguese language—they introduced:
✔ Architecture – Mudejar-style buildings and castles.
✔ Agriculture – Orange, almond, and olive tree plantations.
✔ Mathematics & Science – Advanced irrigation, medicine, and astronomy.
Even today, many Portuguese towns still have Arabic-style buildings, narrow streets, and old mosques-turned-churches.
Bonus: 5 More Portuguese Words with Arabic Influence
In addition to the many Portuguese words inherited from Arabic, some common expressions and phrases also originate from Arabic influence. Here are five more everyday words that showcase the deep connection between the two languages.
11. Ojalá / Oxalá (إن شاء الله – “InshAllah”) 🙏
🌍 Meaning: “Hopefully, God willing”
Why It’s Arabic:
In Portuguese, “Oxalá” is used to express hope or a wish for something to happen. It comes directly from the Arabic phrase “InshAllah”, which means “If God wills”.
📌 Example Sentence:
✔ “Oxalá que amanhã faça sol!” (Hopefully, tomorrow will be sunny!)
12. Aldeia (الضَيعة – “Ad-Day‘a”) 🏡
🌍 Meaning: “Village, small town”
Why It’s Arabic:
The word aldeia (village) comes from “ad-day‘a”, which was used by the Moors to describe small rural communities.
📌 Where You’ll See It: Many Portuguese village names still carry Arabic roots, especially in the Algarve and Alentejo.
13. Tarefa (تحريف – “Tarhif”) 📋
🌍 Meaning: “Task, assignment”
Why It’s Arabic:
The Portuguese tarefa (a task or duty) comes from “tarhif”, which referred to work or a duty assigned to someone.
📌 Example Sentence:
✔ “Tenho muitas tarefas para completar hoje.” (I have many tasks to complete today.)
14. Azar (الزهر – “Az-Zahr”) 🎲
🌍 Meaning: “Bad luck, misfortune”
Why It’s Arabic:
The Arabic word “az-zahr” originally meant “dice” or “luck in gambling.” Over time, in Portuguese, it evolved to mean bad luck.
📌 Example Sentence:
✔ “Que azar! Perdi o jogo.” (What bad luck! I lost the game.)
15. Javali (جَبلِي – “Jabali”) 🐗
🌍 Meaning: “Wild boar”
Why It’s Arabic:
The word javali comes from the Arabic “jabali”, meaning “of the mountains”—a fitting name for the wild boars that roamed Portugal’s forests.
📌 Where You’ll See It: “Carne de javali” (wild boar meat) is a popular dish in Alentejo cuisine!
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