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Ojalá
Words
Certain: The standard etymology in the RAE dictionary and in Corriente; no serious doubt.Clothes & colour · Everyday

alfiler

pin — a fine metal spike with a point and head for holding clothclavillo fino de metal con punta y cabeza para sujetar tela

Comes from Arabic

الخِلَال

al-khilāl

“a small stick, needle or skewer”«palillo, aguja o espetón»

Arabic today says

دَبُّوس

dabbūs

Root

خ ل ل

kh-l-l

The article

Spanish kept the Arabic article al- glued to the word.

The story

Arabic kh was sometimes heard as f in Romance (also in alfayate, "tailor", from al-khayyāṭ). In Arabic خلال today is mostly a toothpick.La kh árabe a veces se oyó como f en romance (también en alfayate, de al-khayyāṭ, «el sastre»). En árabe خلال hoy es sobre todo el palillo de dientes.

In a sentence

Sujeta el dobladillo con alfileres.

Pin the hem in place.

ثَبِّتِ الحَاشِيَةَ بِالدَّبَابِيس.

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