From Zero to Serendipity: Ten English Words Traced to Arabic Roots

The English language absorbed a majority of its Arabic loanwords during the 12th and 13th centuries through Latin-derived languages. A subsequent influx emerged in the 16th century, introducing vocabulary related to food and religion. Notable examples are "zero," derived from Arabic sifr; "chess" and "check," originating from Persian shah; "magazine," from Arabic makhazin; "assassin," from hashīshīn; and "sequin," from sikka. The term "serendipity" was created by Horace Walpole, inspired by The Three Princes of Serendip. The word "ghoul" first appeared in 1786 in Vathek, likely borrowed from French goule. Arabic zirafa gave rise to "giraffe." Terms with the prefix al- include "alchemy," "algebra," "algorithm," "albatross," and "alcohol," while food-related words encompass "apricot," "tangerine," "lemon," "lime," "orange," "artichoke," "aubergine," "coffee," "sugar," "syrup," "sorbet," and "candy."