Word origins

• asTo such an extent or degree; to the same extent or degree.
• CaliforniaThe most populous state of the United States. Capital: Sacramento. Largest city: Los Angeles.
• tellTo determine the number, amount, or value of [something].
• binA box, frame, crib, or enclosed place, used as a storage container.
• bathA tub or pool which is used for bathing: bathtub.
• benA prayer; a petition.
• sudanA traditional Korean punch, made from boiled rice flour cakes and honeyed water, often consumed on holidays.
• grabTo grip suddenly; to seize; to clutch.
• cosSynonym of romaine lettuce, a long-leaved variety of lettuce.
• SenegalA river on the border between Senegal and Mauritania in West Africa.
• AbuA common part of Arabic-derived names, meaning "father of" in Arabic.
• huthey (singular). Gender-neutral third-person singular subject pronoun, coordinate with gendered pronouns he and she.
• allahGod, in Islamic or Arabic contexts
• lamTo beat or thrash.
• dinarThe official currency of several countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Serbia, Tunisia and (as denar) North Macedonia.
• alkalineOf, or relating to an alkali, one of a class of caustic bases.
• almaAn Egyptian female singer or dancing girl employed for entertainment or as a professional mourner.
• hudA huck or hull, as of a nut.
• ArmaniAn item sold by the House of Armani
• vegaAn automobile that was manufactured by Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors Corporation from 1970 to 1977.
• AbdulA Muslim.
• tajA tall brimless hat, usually conical or curved on top, worn in Muslim countries as a sign of distinction and prestige.
• ASIthe Orontes (a river in Lebanon, Syria and Turkey).
• AladdinAn Arabic tale about a young man named Aladdin who is recruited by a sorcerer to get a magic lamp from a cave; often adapted into comic pantomime in Britain.
• shamIntended to deceive; false.
• LuxorA city in Egypt, located on the site of the ancient Thebes.
• HassanA male given name from Arabic.
• malikA tribal chieftain in certain areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan, especially among the Pashtuns.
• zarA religious set of beliefs and practices in parts of northern Africa and the Middle East, involving the possession of an individual (usually female) by a type of spirit.
• kohlA dark powder, usually powdered stibnite (an antimony ore), used as eye makeup, especially in Eastern countries.
• SamiA member of an indigenous Finno-Ugric people of Lapland.
• TrafalgarA headland in the Province of Cádiz in the south-west of Spain.
• NadiaA female given name from Russian used since the twentieth century.
• AzizA male given name from Arabic.
• amirA male given name from Arabic.
• kaliThe prickly glasswort (Kali turgidum, syn. of Salsola kali).
• mochaA coffee drink with chocolate syrup added, or a serving thereof.
• mascaraA cosmetic used to darken and thicken the eyelashes.
• aminAn arbitrator who assessed and collected revenue in the pargana.
• IsmailIshmael, the first son of Abraham; traditionally the ancestor of the Arabs and a prophet of Islam.
• MustafaA male given name from Arabic used by Muslims.
• LeilaA female given name from Arabic.
• BarakThe commander of the army of Deborah in the Old Testament.
• AssadAn Arab surname, notably borne by Syrian presidents Hafez al-Assad and Bashar al-Assad.
• issaA member of a Somali clan, mainly residing in Djibouti; it is the larger of the two dominant ethnic groups.
• JeddahA port city in Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia.
• habibmate; a term of endearment for a friend
• riyalThe official currency of Qatar, divided into 100 dirhams.
• rifTo lay off from work due to a reduction in force.
• filsUsed after a proper name that is common to a father and his son to indicate that the son is being referred to rather than the father.
• saisA groom, or servant with responsibility for the horses.
• nadirThe point of the celestial sphere, directly opposite the zenith; inferior pole of the horizon; point of the celestial sphere directly under the place of observation.
• saadThe letter ص in the Arabic script.
• SabianA member of a group (mentioned in the Qur'an) that is entitled to Muslim religious toleration, along with Jews and Christians. The group's identity is unknown, but they are usually identified with the Mandaeans or the Elkesaites.
• BerberA member of a particular ethnic group indigenous to Western North Africa.
• ISINThe ancient city in Mesopotamia.
• QatariA person from Qatar or of Qatari descent.
• damanThe rock hyrax.
• AltairThe brightest star in the constellation Aquila; Alpha (α) Aquilae. It is the twelfth brightest star in the sky, and forms one corner of the Summer Triangle.
• KirkukA city in northeastern Iraq.
• LailaA female given name from Arabic, variant of Leila.
• HaqA surname.
• YahyaA prophet of Islam.
• saifA type of Arabian sword.
• ShaquilleA male given name from Arabic of modern American usage.
• NoreenA female given name from Irish.
• NabilA male given name from Arabic.
• EminA county of Tacheng prefecture, Xinjiang autonomous region, China.
• jinnA human-like spiritual or immaterial being, as opposed to al-ins (people), often invisible but able to manifest in form and also inhabit people or animals; origin of the genie of Western literature, film etc.
• AnsariA surname.
• BahaA male given name from Arabic.
• BilalA male given name from Arabic.
• nabiA prophet of Islam.
• BasharA male given name from Arabic.
• ockA man of Middle Eastern descent that runs a deli or bodega, typically in New York.
• RigelA blue supergiant star in the constellation Orion; Beta (β) Orionis. The seventh brightest star in the night sky.
• AssiA surname.
• BaathThe Arab Socialist Baath Party, a secular Arab socialist political party present in several countries in the Middle East, most prominently Iraq and Syria.
• aliyahThe calling up of someone to the bimah for the reading of the Torah.
• WalidA male given name from Arabic.
• AdilA male given name from Arabic.
• HashimA surname.
• AlgolAn eclipsing binary star in the constellation of Perseus; Beta (β) Persei. It represents the eye of Medusa, whose head is being held by Perseus.
• sersA hamlet and village in Vayots Dzor, Armenia.
• alcantaraA suede-like synthetic textile, composed of polyester and polyurethane.
• MaghrebThe predominantly Arabic-speaking geographic region comprising northwest Africa, particularly the region of Africa north of the Sahara and west of the Nile; the coastal plains of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and western Libya.
• KarnakA temple complex in Egypt, located on the site of the ancient Thebes.
• shatSynonym of shatter (“a pine needle”).
• HammametA town in Tunisia, in the northeast of the country.
• HarunAaron, a prophet in Islam.
• zainA horse of a dark colour with no lighter spots.
• misrAn Arab frontier outpost or garrison town, chiefly in the period of early Islamic expansion.
• SaladinThe first sultan of Egypt and Syria and the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, who led the Muslim opposition to the European crusaders in the Levant.
• SayyidArabic equivalent of English Mr., Sir, Lord or Master, or a title of a nobleman.
• curcuminA polyphenol (1E,6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione; a major constituent of the spice turmeric.
• yayaA nanny; female caregiver; nursemaid
• Alpheccaa binary star in the constellation Corona Borealis, about 75 light years away
• MalukuA province of Indonesia. Capital: Ambon.
• EbrahimA surname from Arabic [in turn originating as a patronymic].
• talcumPowdered and perfumed talc for toilet use.