The Two Common Spanish Expressions that are actually Invocations to Allah

What’s the deal with all these Al- words that we have to learn in Spanish vocabulary?

Well, the answer goes way back to the year 711 A.D., when the Arab forces, called the Moors, ousted the Visigoths who were controlling the Iberian peninsula (the current area of Spain), and set up an occupation that eventually led the way for a flourishing subculture of arts & sciences. These Moors, along with their progressive cultural pursuits, managed to heavily influence the tongue of would-be Spain with Arab-based vocabulary and structures...

One of the most obvious is the lending of the pronoun al, which in this Moorish tongue was simply an equivalent to "the". Therefore, when you find Spanish words that begin with the al combination, it's a safe bet to say that the root could be traced back to the Moorish occupation. Here's a sampling:

Alfombra = Rug
Alcohol = Ok, you know that one
Algodón = Cotton
Almohada = Pillow
Almorzar = Lunch

Oh, and how about these ENGLISH words? Didn't know you were speaking early Arabic, did you?

Alcove
Algebra
Alchemy
Alfalfa
Almanac
(Make sure you note how many of these words are based in the sciences.)

But al- words aren't the only Moorish contribution to Spanish. These common words also come to us from the Moors:

Arroz = Rice
Azul = Blue
Azúcar = Sugar
Limón = Lime
Paraíso = Paradise
Tarea = Work/homework

Many city names in Spain were left over once the Moors were expelled in the 1400s/1500s, including Guadalajara, Caceres and Gibraltar.

And did you know that two common Spanish expressions are actually invocations to Allah? Sure enough, when bullfighting fans are shouting “olé,” they are actually calling to Allah. And the expression “ojalá que” (I hope that, I wish that) comes from the Arabic phrase wa-sa Alláh, meaning “May God Wish It.”

There are also some negative expressions that can be attributed to the Moorish/Arabic influence. For example, we can explore the root for the word for pig, marrano.

Don Lorenzo.com indicates that the Arabic word marrano comes from the word harem, meaning a forbidden place. Let's keep in mind that marrano, pig, is a forbidden food, and there you have the connection!

Spanish language learners can use this linguistic knowledge to think of new cues and learning tricks to add to their Spanish vocabulary. For example, every single time I think of the word alfombra, I make the connection to the flying carpet story, which, of course, is a story of Arabian Nights fame!

Happy learning!