15 English Words You Wouldn't Believe Were of Arabic Origin

Flat White Coffee
Flat White Coffee | © Russell James Smith
Thais Kelly

The Arabic language is poetic and beautiful, full of words that can’t even be translated into English without losing their meaning. However, there are certain words that not only can be easily translated, they actually gave origin to words in English which people use every single day. So next time you’re ordering your coffee or sitting on your sofa, remember where these words came from: Arabic!

Coffee

Written in Arabic as: قهوة

Coffee

Giraffe

Giraffe

Algebra

Written in Arabic as: الجبر

Algebra

Sofa

Written in Arabic as: صفّة

Sofa

Sugar

Written in Arabic as: سكّر

Sugar

Cotton

Written in Arabic as: قطن

Cotton

Safari

Written in Arabic as: سفر

Safari

Ghoul

Written in Arabic as: غول

Ghoul

Candy

Written in Arabic as: قندي

Candy

Alchemy

Written in Arabic as: الكيمياء

Alchemy

Gazelle

Written in Arabic as: غزال

Gazelle

Mattress

Written in Arabic as: مطرح

Mattress

Admiral

Written in Arabic as: أمير

Admiral

Tariff

Written in Arabic as: تعريف

Tariff

Alcohol

Written in Arabic as: الكحل

Alcohol

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Culture Trip Spring Sale

Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.

X
close-ad
Edit article