Arabic
pronunciation
How to pronounce Arabic in British English:
UK [ˈærəbɪk]
How to pronounce Arabic in American English:
US [ ˈærəbɪk]
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- Noun:
- the Semitic language of the Arabs; spoken in a variety of dialects
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- Adjective:
- relating to or characteristic of Arabs
Word Origin
- Arabic (adj.)
- early 14c., from Old French Arabique (13c.), from Latin Arabicus "Arabic" (see Arab). Old English used Arabisc "Arabish." Originally in reference to gum arabic; noun meaning "Arabic language" is from late 14c. Arabic numerals (actually Indian) first attested 1727; they were introduced in Europe by Gerbert of Aurillac (later Pope Sylvester II) after a visit to Islamic Spain in 967-970. A prominent man of science, he taught in the diocesan school at Reims, but the numbers made little headway against conservative opposition in the Church until after the Crusades. The earliest depiction of them in English, in "The Crafte of Nombrynge" (c. 1350) correctly identifies them as "teen figurys of Inde."
Example
- 1. To israeli jews , arabic sounds sinister and threatening .
- 2. Hebrew and arabic are the best known examples .
- 3. The ceiling is decorated with arabic writing , lit from behind .
- 4. Arabic no longer has any cachet .
- 5. An american television service in arabic has been a flop .