Roots

In Arabic, almost every word grows from a root of three consonants. These are the roots that left their mark on Spanish — and what they mean.

• و د ي

  w-d-y

  valley, rivervalle, río

  7 in Spanish

  • Guadalajaraوَادِي الحِجَارَة
  • Guadalmedinaوَادِي المَدِينَة
  • Guadalquivirالوَادِي الكَبِير
  • Guadalupeوَادِي
  • Guadarramaوَادِي الرَّمْل
  • Guadianaوَادِي آنَة
  • Guadixوَادِي آش

• ق ل ع

  q-l-ʿ

  fortressfortaleza

  3 in Spanish

  • Alcalá de Henaresالقَلْعَة
  • Calatayudقَلْعَة أَيُّوب
  • Calatravaقَلْعَة رَبَاح

• ش ر ف

  sh-r-f

  height, nobilityaltura, nobleza

  3 in Spanish

  • Aljarafeالشَّرَف
  • almojarifazgoالمُشْرِف
  • jarifoشَرِيف

• ب ح ر

  b-ḥ-r

  seamar

  2 in Spanish

  • albuferaالبُحَيْرَة
  • Albufera de Valenciaالبُحَيْرَة

• ب ن ي

  b-n-y

  build; also “sons” (banū, banī)construir; también «hijos» (banū, banī)

  2 in Spanish

  • albañilالبَنَّاء
  • Benicàssimبَنِي قَاسِم

• ح ر ر

  ḥ-r-r

  freelibre

  2 in Spanish

  • ahorrarحُرّ
  • horroحُرّ

• ج ب ب

  j-b-b

  well, cistern; also the long robe (jubba)pozo, cisterna; también la aljuba (jubba)

  2 in Spanish

  • aljibeالجُبّ
  • jubónجُبَّة

• ج ب ل

  j-b-l

  mountainmontaña

  2 in Spanish

  • Gibraltarجَبَل طَارِق
  • jabalíجَبَلِيّ

• ج ز ر

  j-z-r

  islandisla

  2 in Spanish

  • Algecirasالجَزِيرَة الخَضْرَاء
  • Alziraالجَزِيرَة

• خ ز ن

  kh-z-n

  store, keepalmacenar, guardar

  2 in Spanish

  • alacenaالخِزَانَة
  • almacénالمَخْزَن

• م د ن

  m-d-n

  cityciudad

  2 in Spanish

  • Medina Sidoniaمَدِينَة شَذُونَة
  • Medinaceliمَدِينَة سَالِم

• ق ب ل

  q-b-l

  receive, acceptrecibir, aceptar

  2 in Spanish

  • alcabalaالقَبَالَة
  • gabelaقَبَالَة

• ق ض ي

  q-ḍ-y

  judge, decidejuzgar, decidir

  2 in Spanish

  • alcaldeالقَاضِي
  • cadíقَاضِي

• ق ن ط ر

  q-n-ṭ-r

  bridge, archpuente, arco

  2 in Spanish

  • Alcántaraالقَنْطَرَة
  • alcantarillaالقَنْطَرَة

• ق و د

  q-w-d

  lead, command troopsconducir, mandar tropas

  2 in Spanish

  • alcahueteالقَوَّاد
  • alcaideالقَائِد

• ص ف ر

  ṣ-f-r

  emptyvacío

  2 in Spanish

  • ceroصِفْر
  • cifraصِفْر

• س م ت

  s-m-t

  path, directioncamino, dirección

  2 in Spanish

  • acimutالسُّمُوت
  • cénitسَمْتُ الرَّأْس

• س و ق

  s-w-q

  drive (animals); marketarrear, conducir; mercado

  2 in Spanish

  • zagaسَاقَة
  • zocoسُوق

• ش ر ب

  sh-r-b

  drinkbeber

  2 in Spanish

  • jarabeشَرَاب
  • sorbeteشَرْبَة

• ط ر ف

  ṭ-r-f

  end, tipextremo, punta

  2 in Spanish

  • Tarifaجَزِيرَة طَرِيف
  • Trafalgarطَرَف الأَغَرّ

• و ز ر

  w-z-r

  burden; help carry itcarga; ayudar a llevarla

  2 in Spanish

  • alguacilالوَزِير
  • visirوَزِير

• ز ه ر

  z-h-r

  flowerflor

  2 in Spanish

  • azaharالزَّهْر
  • azarالزَّهْر

• ز ي ت

  z-y-t

  oil, oliveaceite, oliva

  2 in Spanish

  • aceiteالزَّيْت
  • aceitunaالزَّيْتُونَة

• ء م ر

  ʾ-m-r

  commandmandar

  2 in Spanish

  • almiranteأَمِير
  • emirأَمِير

• ع ر ب

  ʿ-r-b

  Arabárabe

  2 in Spanish

  • algarabíaالعَرَبِيَّة
  • mozárabeمُسْتَعْرَب

• ب ل د

  b-l-d

  country, townpaís, población

  1 in Spanish

  • baladíبَلَدِيّ

• ب ل ع

  b-l-ʿ

  swallowtragar

  1 in Spanish

  • albañalالبَلَّاعَة

• ب ر ك

  b-r-k

  blessing; pool (birka)bendición; estanque (birka)

  1 in Spanish

  • albercaالبِرْكَة

• ب ر ر

  b-r-r

  dry land, the outsidetierra firme, el exterior

  1 in Spanish

  • barrioبَرِّيّ

• ب ر ء

  b-r-ʾ

  be free, exemptquedar libre, exento

  1 in Spanish

  • albaránالبَرَاءَة

• ب س ط

  b-s-ṭ

  spread out; plainextender; llanura

  1 in Spanish

  • Albaceteالبَسِيط

• ب ش ر

  b-sh-r

  good newsbuena noticia

  1 in Spanish

  • albriciasالبُشْرَى

• ب ط ل

  b-ṭ-l

  vain, void, uselessvano, nulo, inútil

  1 in Spanish

  • de baldeبَاطِل

• ب ط ن

  b-ṭ-n

  belly, inside, liningvientre, interior, forro

  1 in Spanish

  • badanaبِطَانَة

• ب ي ض

  b-y-ḍ

  white, whitenessblanco, blancura

  1 in Spanish

  • albayaldeالبَيَاض

• ض ب ب

  ḍ-b-b

  lizard; boltlagarto; cerrojo

  1 in Spanish

  • aldabaالضَّبَّة

• د ب ر

  d-b-r

  the back; follow behindlo de atrás; seguir detrás

  1 in Spanish

  • Aldebaránالدَّبَرَان

• د ف ف

  d-f-f

  frame drumpandero

  1 in Spanish

  • adufeالدُّفّ

• د ج ن

  d-j-n

  stay put, become tamequedarse, domesticarse

  1 in Spanish

  • mudéjarمُدَجَّن

• د ل ل

  d-l-l

  guide, point the wayguiar, indicar

  1 in Spanish

  • adalidالدَّلِيل

• ض م ن

  ḍ-m-n

  guaranteegarantizar

  1 in Spanish

  • ademánالضَّمَان

• د ر ب

  d-r-b

  path, narrow passagecamino, paso estrecho

  1 in Spanish

  • adarveالدَّرْب

• ض ر ب

  ḍ-r-b

  strikegolpear

  1 in Spanish

  • almadrabaالمَضْرَبَة

• د ر ق

  d-r-q

  leather shieldescudo de cuero

  1 in Spanish

  • adargaالدَّرَقَة

• ض ي ع

  ḍ-y-ʿ

  estate, hamletfinca, aldea

  1 in Spanish

  • aldeaالضَّيْعَة

• ف خ ر

  f-kh-r

  pride; baked clay (fakhkhār)orgullo; barro cocido (fakhkhār)

  1 in Spanish

  • alfareroالفَخَّار

• ف ل ن

  f-l-n

  so-and-so, someone unnamedfulano, alguien sin nombrar

  1 in Spanish

  • fulanoفُلَان

• ف ن ق

  f-n-q

  large sack (fanīqa)costal, saco grande (fanīqa)

  1 in Spanish

  • fanegaفَنِيقَة

• ف ق ه

  f-q-h

  understand; legal knowledgecomprender; saber jurídico

  1 in Spanish

  • alfaquíالفَقِيه

• ف ر س

  f-r-s

  horse; horsemancaballo; jinete

  1 in Spanish

  • alférezالفَارِس

• غ ن د ر

  gh-n-d-r

  idle, vain young manmozo ocioso y presumido

  1 in Spanish

  • gandulغُنْدُر

• غ و ر

  gh-w-r

  raid, surprise attackincursión, ataque por sorpresa

  1 in Spanish

  • algaradaالغَارَة

• غ ز ل

  gh-z-l

  gazelle (and also spinning)gacela (y también hilar)

  1 in Spanish

  • gacelaغَزَالَة

• غ ز ر

  gh-z-r

  abundanceabundancia

  1 in Spanish

  • algazaraالغَزَارَة

• ح ب ق

  ḥ-b-q

  basilalbahaca

  1 in Spanish

  • albahacaالحَبَقَة

• ح م م

  ḥ-m-m

  heat; hot bathcalor; baño caliente

  1 in Spanish

  • Alhama de Granadaالحَمَّة

• ح م ر

  ḥ-m-r

  redrojo

  1 in Spanish

  • La Alhambraالحَمْرَاء

• ح ن ب ل

  ḥ-n-b-l

  carpet, rugalfombra, tapiz

  1 in Spanish

  • alfombraالحَنْبَل

• ه ر ج

  h-r-j

  uproar, buffooneryalboroto, bufonada

  1 in Spanish

  • mamarrachoمُهَرِّج

• ح ر ك

  ḥ-r-k

  movemover

  1 in Spanish

  • alharacaالحَرَكَة

• ح ر م

  ḥ-r-m

  forbidden; sacredprohibido; sagrado

  1 in Spanish

  • marranoمُحَرَّم

• ه ر س

  h-r-s

  crush, poundmachacar, majar

  1 in Spanish

  • almirezالمِهْرَاس

• ح س ب

  ḥ-s-b

  count, calculatecontar, calcular

  1 in Spanish

  • almotacénالمُحْتَسِب

• ح س ن

  ḥ-s-n

  good, beautifulbueno, bello

  1 in Spanish

  • hazañaحَسَنَة

• ح ش ش

  ḥ-sh-sh

  grass; hashishhierba; hachís

  1 in Spanish

  • asesinoحَشَّاشِين

• ح ي ز

  ḥ-y-z

  space, enclosureespacio, recinto

  1 in Spanish

  • alféizarالحَيِّز

• ج ب ر

  j-b-r

  restore, set what is brokenrestaurar, componer lo roto

  1 in Spanish

  • álgebraالجَبْر

• ج ف ن

  j-f-n

  large bowlcuenco grande

  1 in Spanish

  • jofainaجُفَيْنَة

• ج ر ر

  j-r-r

  drag; jararrastrar; jarra

  1 in Spanish

  • jarraجَرَّة

• ك ح ل

  k-ḥ-l

  kohl, eye powderkohl, polvo para los ojos

  1 in Spanish

  • alcoholالكُحْل

• ك ن ي

  k-n-y

  honorific byname (kunya)sobrenombre honorífico (kunya)

  1 in Spanish

  • alcurniaالكُنْيَة

• ك ن ز

  k-n-z

  treasuretesoro

  1 in Spanish

  • alcancíaالكَنْز

• ك ر ي

  k-r-y

  rent, hirealquilar

  1 in Spanish

  • alquilerالكِرَاء

• ك و ن

  k-w-n

  be, existser, existir

  1 in Spanish

  • menganoمَنْ كَان

• ك ي ل

  k-y-l

  measure grainmedir el grano

  1 in Spanish

  • maquilaمَكِيلَة

• خ د د

  kh-d-d

  cheekmejilla

  1 in Spanish

  • almohadaالمِخَدَّة

• خ ل ف

  kh-l-f

  succeed, come aftersuceder, venir detrás

  1 in Spanish

  • califaخَلِيفَة

• خ ل ل

  kh-l-l

  toothpick, spikepalillo, púa

  1 in Spanish

  • alfilerالخِلَال

• خ ز م

  kh-z-m

  lavenderlavanda

  1 in Spanish

  • alhucemaالخُزَامَى

• ن د و

  n-d-w

  call out, proclaimllamar, pregonar

  1 in Spanish

  • almonedaالمُنَادَاة

• ن ف ر

  n-f-r

  rush out together; war trumpetsalir en tropel; trompeta de guerra

  1 in Spanish

  • añafilالنَّفِير

• ن خ ع

  n-kh-ʿ

  spinal cordmédula espinal

  1 in Spanish

  • nucaنُخَاع

• ن ظ ر

  n-ẓ-r

  look; what lies oppositemirar; lo que está enfrente

  1 in Spanish

  • nadirنَظِيرُ السَّمْت

• ن ع ر

  n-ʿ-r

  groan, roar (of water, of the wheel)gemir, rugir (el agua, la rueda)

  1 in Spanish

  • noriaنَاعُورَة

• ق ب ب

  q-b-b

  domecúpula

  1 in Spanish

  • alcobaالقُبَّة

• ق ه و

  q-h-w

  coffee (earlier, wine)café (antes, vino)

  1 in Spanish

  • caféقَهْوَة

• ق ل ي

  q-l-y

  fry, roastfreír, tostar

  1 in Spanish

  • álcaliالقِلْي

• ق ر ي

  q-r-y

  village, settlementaldea, poblado

  1 in Spanish

  • alqueríaالقَرْيَة

• ق ص ب

  q-ṣ-b

  reed; citadelcaña; ciudadela

  1 in Spanish

  • alcazabaالقَصَبَة

• ق ط ن

  q-ṭ-n

  cottonalgodón

  1 in Spanish

  • algodónالقُطْن

• ر ب ب

  r-b-b

  lord, master; raiseseñor, dueño; criar

  1 in Spanish

  • rabelرَبَاب

• ر ب ض

  r-b-ḍ

  suburb, outer quarterarrabal, barrio exterior

  1 in Spanish

  • arrabalالرَّبَض

• ر ب ط

  r-b-ṭ

  tie; fortified postatar; puesto fortificado

  1 in Spanish

  • maravedíمُرَابِطِيّ

• ر ب ع

  r-b-ʿ

  four, a quartercuatro, cuarta parte

  1 in Spanish

  • arrobaالرُّبْع

• ر ه ن

  r-h-n

  pledge, pawnprenda, empeño

  1 in Spanish

  • rehénرَهْن

• ر ك ب

  r-k-b

  mount, ridemontar, cabalgar

  1 in Spanish

  • recuaرَكُوبَة

• ر ك ن

  r-k-n

  corner, pillaresquina, pilar

  1 in Spanish

  • rincónرُكْن

• ر م ل

  r-m-l

  sandarena

  1 in Spanish

  • ramblaرَمْلَة

• ر ص ف

  r-ṣ-f

  pave; paved roadempedrar; calzada

  1 in Spanish

  • arrecifeالرَّصِيف

• ر ت م

  r-t-m

  broom (the shrub)retama

  1 in Spanish

  • retamaرَتَمَة

• ر و ح

  r-w-ḥ

  wind, scentviento, aroma

  1 in Spanish

  • arrayánالرَّيْحَان

• س د د

  s-d-d

  close, blockcerrar, tapar

  1 in Spanish

  • azudالسَّدّ

• ص ف ف

  ṣ-f-f

  row; built-in benchfila; banco corrido

  1 in Spanish

  • sofáصُفَّة

• س ف ه

  s-f-h

  foolishness, follynecedad, insensatez

  1 in Spanish

  • zafioسَفِيه

• س ف ط

  s-f-ṭ

  basketcesta, canasto

  1 in Spanish

  • azafateالسَّفَط

• س ك ك

  s-k-k

  mint coins; coin dieacuñar; cuño de moneda

  1 in Spanish

  • cecaسِكَّة

• س ك ن

  s-k-n

  stillness; poverty (miskīn)quietud; pobreza (miskīn)

  1 in Spanish

  • mezquinoمِسْكِين

• س ل م

  s-l-m

  peace, well-beingpaz, salud

  1 in Spanish

  • zalameroالسَّلَام عَلَيْك

• س ل ط

  s-l-ṭ

  power, authoritypoder, autoridad

  1 in Spanish

  • sultánسُلْطَان

• س ن و

  s-n-w

  irrigate with a waterwheelregar con noria

  1 in Spanish

  • aceñaالسَّانِيَة

• ص ق ل

  ṣ-q-l

  polish, burnishpulir, bruñir

  1 in Spanish

  • acicalarالصِّقَال

• ص ق ر

  ṣ-q-r

  falconhalcón

  1 in Spanish

  • sacreصَقْر

• س ق ي

  s-q-y

  irrigate, give to drinkregar, dar de beber

  1 in Spanish

  • acequiaالسَّاقِيَة

• س ط ح

  s-ṭ-ḥ

  flat surface, flat roofsuperficie plana, terrado

  1 in Spanish

  • azoteaالسُّطَيْحَة

• ش ب ك

  sh-b-k

  interlace, latticeentrelazar, enrejar

  1 in Spanish

  • tabiqueتَشْبِيك

• ش ك و

  sh-k-w

  complainquejarse

  1 in Spanish

  • achaqueالشَّكَاة

• ش ق ق

  sh-q-q

  split; halfpartir; mitad

  1 in Spanish

  • jaquecaشَقِيقَة

• ش ر ك

  sh-r-k

  strap, thong; sharelazo, correa; compartir

  1 in Spanish

  • ajorcaالشُّرُك

• ش ر ق

  sh-r-q

  east, sunriseoriente, salir el sol

  1 in Spanish

  • Axarquíaالشَّرْقِيَّة

• ش و ر

  sh-w-r

  trousseau, a bride’s household goodsajuar, enseres de la novia

  1 in Spanish

  • ajuarالشَّوَار

• ش ي خ

  sh-y-kh

  old man, chiefanciano, jefe

  1 in Spanish

  • jequeشَيْخ

• ش ي ء

  sh-y-ʾ

  will, wishquerer (la voluntad)

  1 in Spanish

  • ojaláلَوْ شَاءَ اللّٰه

• ط ب ل

  ṭ-b-l

  drumtambor

  1 in Spanish

  • atabalالطَّبْل

• ط ح ن

  ṭ-ḥ-n

  grindmoler

  1 in Spanish

  • tahonaطَاحُونَة

• ط ل ع

  ṭ-l-ʿ

  look out, keep watchasomarse, otear

  1 in Spanish

  • atalayaالطَّلَائِع

• ط ر ح

  ṭ-r-ḥ

  throw; impose a burdenechar; imponer una carga

  1 in Spanish

  • tareaطَرِيحَة

• ط ر ق

  ṭ-r-q

  strike, knock at the doorgolpear, llamar a la puerta

  1 in Spanish

  • matracaمِطْرَقَة

• ث م ن

  th-m-n

  eight; an eighthocho; octava parte

  1 in Spanish

  • azumbreالثُّمْن

• و ل د

  w-l-d

  beget, be bornengendrar, nacer

  1 in Spanish

  • muladíمُوَلَّد

• و ص ي

  w-ṣ-y

  entrust; last willencomendar; testamento

  1 in Spanish

  • albaceaصَاحِب الوَصِيَّة

• ز ل ج

  z-l-j

  smooth surface, slipsuperficie lisa, resbalar

  1 in Spanish

  • azulejoالزُّلَيْج

• ء ل ه

  ʾ-l-h

  goddios

  1 in Spanish

  • oléوَاللّٰه

• ع ض د

  ʿ-ḍ-d

  upper arm, supportbrazo, apoyo

  1 in Spanish

  • alidadaالعِضَادَة

• ع د ن

  ʿ-d-n

  dwell; mineresidir; mina

  1 in Spanish

  • Almadénالمَعْدِن

• ع ق ر ب

  ʿ-q-r-b

  scorpionescorpión

  1 in Spanish

  • alacránالعَقْرَب

• ع ر ض

  ʿ-r-ḍ

  show, review (troops)mostrar, pasar revista

  1 in Spanish

  • alardeالعَرْض

• ع ر ف

  ʿ-r-f

  knowconocer, saber

  1 in Spanish

  • alarifeالعَرِيف

• ع ص ر

  ʿ-ṣ-r

  squeeze, pressexprimir, prensar

  1 in Spanish

  • almazaraالمَعْصَرَة

• ع و د

  ʿ-w-d

  wood; returnmadera; volver

  1 in Spanish

  • laúdالعُود