Phonological Processes in Words Adopted from Arabic to Spanish

Authors

  • Ahmed A. Alahmadi

    English Language and Translation Department, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh 11673, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i11.11248
Received: 24 July 2025 | Revised: 4 August 2025 | Accepted: 10 September 2025 | Published Online: 28 October 2025

Abstract

The language contact between Spanish and Arabic, resulting from the 800­year period of Muslim presence in Spain, has had a considerable impact on Spanish idioms, and modes of speech and especially lexis. The aim of this study is to contribute to illuminating the phonological processes involved in the incorporation of Arabic words into Spanish, taking into consideration the deep differences between the sound systems of the two languages. The methodology consists of three core phases: gathering the data, organizing and categorizing it, and conducting a phonological analysis. The study examines the phonetic alterations that have taken place as a result of these borrowings. Deletion, epenthesis, and fricativization are among the most observed sound alterations that occurred when Spanish integrated Arabic words. It is imperative to prioritize the study of Andalusian Arabic as it was the direct source from which Spanish borrowed these terms during that period. The study highlights practical applications in historical linguistics and language teaching. It uses the Arabic influence on Spanish during Al­Andalus as a case study to explore borrowing and sound change, thereby enriching phonological studies. Additionally, it clarifies the phonological processes of Arabic loanwords in Spanish, improving pronunciation teaching for both Arabic and Spanish learners.

Keywords:

Arabic; Spanish; Contact; Borrowing; Phonological Processes

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How to Cite

A. Alahmadi, A. (2025). Phonological Processes in Words Adopted from Arabic to Spanish. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(11), 1527–1536. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i11.11248

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 11 (November 2025)

Article Type

Article

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Copyright © 2025 Ahmed A. Alahmadi

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.