10 French Words Borrowed from Arabic

The linguistic heritage of the French language is constantly evolving, adapting, and borrowing. From pastèque (watermelon) to albatros or seum (slang for frustration), more than 500 words in French originate from Arabic, enriching our vocabulary every day.

After English and Italian, Arabic is the third most borrowed language in French. Arabic has carved out a space in our dictionaries and daily lives, and today it is further popularized by rap culture.

Here’s a selection of 10 common words of Arabic origin – some of which you might not even realize!

Note: The words in this list originate from both ancient and more recent periods.

1. Toubib

The word toubib, which refers to a doctor, originates from Arabic, specifically from Algeria.

During the colonization of Algeria in the late 19th century, French soldiers searching for doctors were often directed to tbib (or ebîb). This term, derived from military slang, became common in military hospitals starting in 1914.

By the 1920s in France, toubib informally referred to a doctor.

2. Caoua

How to start your workday at Aimigo the right way? With a good coffee, of course! The informal term caoua appeared in French in 1863 and is a distortion of the Arabic word qahwa, meaning “aperitif liqueur” in old Arabic.

According to some geographers, caoua can also be linked to an old Ethiopian province named Kaffa, considered the birthplace of coffee plants.

Accepted alternative spellings: kawa, kaoua, or cahoua.

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3. Kiffer

Originaly spelled kaif or kayf, the word kiffer comes from the Maghrebi Arabic word kēf, which refers to pleasure, relaxation, or a state of bliss. It also described the enjoyment derived from consuming Indian hemp, or hashish.

Today, many variations have emerged: people talk about a kiffante (awesome) situation or surkiffer (loving something even more).

Note: The verb kiffer does not share the same origin as kif-kif, an older invariant adjective that literally means “same same” in Arabic.

Fun fact: Renowned poets like Baudelaire and Apollinaire used the word (spelled kief) in their works during the 19th century.

4. Clebs

In French slang, clebs and its derivative clébard refer to a four-legged companion: a dog.

The term is derived from kilab, the plural of kelb, meaning “dog” in classical Arabic. French borrowed the term as cleb, and by the end of World War I, it gained an s at the end, used in both singular and plural forms.

Today, clebs has several accepted spellings, including kleb and cleps. According to Le Larousse, the singular klebs is also recognized.

5. Mousseline

The word mousseline, a delicate cotton fabric used for embroidery, does not derive from its resemblance to foam (mousse in French) but rather from its origin in the city of Mosul, in northern Iraq.

By analogy, the term is also used to describe the light texture and white color of mashed potatoes, often adored by children.

6. Orange

The word orange has roots in the Arabic nāranj (which itself was borrowed from Persian narang). It entered Spanish as naranja, Portuguese as laranja, and finally Italian as arancia.

Fun fact: Oranges originated in China and were introduced to the rest of the world by Portuguese sailors. In Arabic, the word for orange once also referred to Portugal!

7. Zenith

The zenith refers to the point in the sky directly above an observer, derived from the Arabic phrase samt ar-ra’s, meaning “the path overhead.”

Medieval scribes misread the word samt (“path”) as zemt, which evolved into zenit and finally zenith, entering the French lexicon in the 14th century.

Fun fact: French has borrowed many scientific terms from Arabic, including algèbre (algebra), algorithme (algorithm), and zéro (zero).

8. Magasin

The word magasin originally comes from the Arabic makhāzin, meaning “warehouse” or “storehouse.” Over time, it became mahazin and then magasin.

Note: English later adopted the term as magazine.

9. Bougie

The Algerian city of Béjaïa was historically called Bougie and was renowned across Europe for its high-quality wax candles made from beeswax.

The word entered the French language nearly eight centuries ago, initially referring to the wax of these imported candles. Today, bougie refers to candles themselves.

Note: The Mediterranean city of Béjaïa has three different names: Bgayet, Béjaïa, and… Bougie.

10. Hasard

The word hasard comes from the Arabic expression az-zahr, meaning “dice.” In the Middle Ages, it referred to the dice game itself and, by extension, to a favorable outcome in the game.

In the 15th century, the word’s meaning shifted slightly to imply “risk,” “danger,” or “peril,” which can still be seen in derivatives like hasarder (to take a risk) and the English word hazard (“danger”). Over time, its meaning broadened to encompass “a chance event,” “a coincidence,” or an occurrence with an unknown cause. Today, the term can carry either a positive or negative connotation.

Bonus: Alcool

Did you know that the word alcool comes from the Arabic al khôl? This term originally referred to a fine mineral powder used to beautify and protect the eyes. By extension, al khôl was used by Arab and Berber alchemists to describe all types of fine powders and distilled liquids with therapeutic properties. This term eventually spread to many languages, including French in the 16th century.

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