This is a list of English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 words of Semitic

Semitic languages

The Semitic languages are a group of related languages whose living representatives are spoken by more than 270 million people across much of the Middle East, North Africa and the Horn of Africa...

 origin other than those solely of Arabic origin or Hebrew origin.

Common words

abba

Abba

ABBA is the name of a former Swedish pop music group.Abba may also refer to:* ABBA , a self-titled album by the Swedish pop music group ABBA* "Abba ", a song by Christian pop and rock artist, Rebecca St...

 : from Aramaic ܐܒܐ abba 'father' (AHD)
abbé

Abbé

Abbé is the French word for abbot. It is the title for lower-ranking Catholic clergymen in France....

 : from Aramaic ܐܒܐ abba 'father' (AHD, MW)
abbot

Abbot

The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...

 : from Aramaic ܐܒܐ abba 'father' (AHD, MW)
abracadabra

Abracadabra

Abracadabra is an incantation used as a magic word in stage magic tricks, and historically was believed to have healing powers when inscribed on an amulet...

 : disputed (OED) + probably Balkan (WNW) + probably from Aramaic עבדא כדברא abhadda kedhabhra 'disappear as this word' (NI)
adonis

Adonis

Adonis , in Greek mythology, the god of beauty and desire, is a figure with Northwest Semitic antecedents, where he is a central figure in various mystery religions. The Greek , Adōnis is a variation of the Semitic word Adonai, "lord", which is also one of the names used to refer to God in the Old...

 : from Phoenician 𐤍𐤏𐤃𐤀 adon 'lord' (AHD)
alphabet

Alphabet

An alphabet is a standard set of letters—basic written symbols or graphemes—each of which represents a phoneme in a spoken language, either as it exists now or as it was in the past. There are other systems, such as logographies, in which each character represents a word, morpheme, or semantic...

 : perhaps from Hebrew אלוף alef 'ox', 'leader' (WNW) + from Canaanite alp 'ox' (AHD) + from Hebrew בית bet 'house', probably from Phoenician (WNW) + from Canaanite bet 'house' (AHD)
apron

Apron

An apron is an outer protective garment that covers primarily the front of the body. It may be worn for hygienic reasons as well as in order to protect clothes from wear and tear. The apron is commonly part of the uniform of several work categories, including waitresses, nurses, and domestic...

 : from Latin mappa 'cloth' (MW), probably from Hebrew menafa 'fluttering banner' (WNW) + perhaps from Carthaginian (AHD)
arbiter

Arbiter

Arbiter may refer to:*Arbiter , in computing and electronics a circuitry component*Arbiter , a character in the Halo video game series*ArbiterSports, a sports officiating software company owned by the NCAA...

 : from Latin arbitr-, arbiter 'judge' (MW), from Phoenician (AHD)
babel

Babel (disambiguation)

Babel is the name used in the Hebrew Bible for the city of Babylon.Babel may also refer to:-People:*Isaak Babel, Soviet journalist, playwright, and short story writer*Ryan Babel, Dutch footballer*Markus Babbel, German footballer-Places:...

 : from (AHD, MW) Hebrew בלל balal 'confound' (SC) + in part from (AHD) Akkadian 𒇷𒄿 𒀊𒁀 bab-ilu 'gate of God' (MW)
balm

Balm

Balm can refer to:*Liniment, a topical medical preparation*Melissa , a plant genus, particularly the species commonly known as Lemon balm*Balm of Gilead, a medicinal resin from the North American species Populus candicans...

 : from Greek βάλσαμον balsamon (AHD), probably of Semitic origin, akin to Hebrew basham 'aromatic substance' (MW)
balsam

Balsam

Balsam is a term used for various pleasantly scented plant products, and the plants which produce them. Balsams are oily or gummy oleoresins, usually containing benzoic acid or cinnamic acid, obtained from the exudates of various trees and shrubs and used as a base for some botanical medicines...

 : from Greek βάλσαμον balsamon (AHD), probably of Semitic origin, akin to Hebrew basham 'aromatic substance' (MW)
bdellium

Bdellium

Bdellium is an aromatic gum like myrrh that is exuded from a tree. A medieval Arab writer first made the identification with gum guggul, the species Commiphora wightii, although "bdellium" has also been used to identify the African species C. africana and at least one other Indian species, C....

 : from Greek βδέλλιον bdellion (MW), from (AHD) Hebrew בְּדֹלַח bedolach (WNW) 'pieces' (SC) + from Assyrian 𒁍𒁺𒆷𒄷 budulḥu (WNW)
birr

Birr

Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....

 : from Arabic بير birr '100 cents' (MW), probably from Amharic (AHD)
camel

Camel

A camel is an even-toed ungulate within the genus Camelus, bearing distinctive fatty deposits known as humps on its back. There are two species of camels: the dromedary or Arabian camel has a single hump, and the bactrian has two humps. Dromedaries are native to the dry desert areas of West Asia,...

 : from Greek κάμηλος kamelos (AHD), from (WNW) Hebrew גמל gamal 'desert animal' (MW) + from Phoenician (WNW)
camelopard : from Greek κάμηλος kamelos (AHD), from (WNW) Hebrew גמל gamal 'desert animal' (MW) + from Phoenician (WNW) + from Greek (MW) πάρδος pardos 'large cat', probably from Iranian (AHD)
camisado

Camisado

In military tactics, a camisado, or camisade, is a surprise attack occurring at night, or at daybreak, when the enemy are supposed to be asleep....

 : from (MW) Greek καμισίων kamision, probably of Semitic origin, akin to Arabic قميص qamis 'shirt', Hebrew qamas 'enclose', 'grasp', Ugaritic qms 'garment' (AHD)
camise : perhaps from Latin camisia (MW), probably of Semitic origin, akin to Arabic قميص qamis 'shirt', Hebrew qamas 'enclose', 'grasp', Ugaritic qms 'garment' (AHD)
camisole

Camisole

A camisole is a sleeveless undergarment for women, normally extending to the waist. The camisole is usually made of satin, nylon, or cotton.- Historical definition :...

 : from (MW) Greek καμισίων kamision, probably of Semitic origin, akin to Arabic قميص qamis 'shirt', Hebrew qamas 'enclose', 'grasp', Ugaritic qms 'garment' (AHD)
cane

Cane

Cane are either of two genera of tall, perennial grasses with flexible, woody stalks from the family Poaceae that grow throughout the world in wet soils. They are related to and may include species of bamboo. The genus Arundo is native from the Mediterranean region to the Far East. Arundinaria...

 : from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from Hebrew קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW)
canella

Canella

Canella is a monospecific genus containing the species Canella winterana, a tree native to the Caribbean from the Florida Keys to Barbados...

 : from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from Hebrew קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW);
canister : from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from Hebrew קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW);
cannelloni

Cannelloni

Cannelloni are a cylindrical type of pasta generally served baked with a filling and covered by a sauce. Some type of cannelloni need to be boiled beforehand, for some others is enough to use runnier sauces/filling....

 : from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from Hebrew קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW)
cannon

Cannon

A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...

 : from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from Hebrew קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW)
cannula

Cannula

A cannula or canula is a tube that can be inserted into the body, often for the delivery or removal of fluid or for the gathering of data...

 : from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from Hebrew קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW)
canon : from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from Hebrew קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW)
canyon

Canyon

A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...

 : from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from Hebrew קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW)
cinnamon

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...

 : from Greek κίνναμομον kinnamomon (MW), of Semitic origin, akin to Hebrew קִנָּמוֹן qinnamon 'aromatic inner bark' (AHD)
cumin

Cumin

Cumin is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to India. Its seeds are used in the cuisines of many different cultures, in both whole and ground form.-Etymology:...

 : from Greek (AHD) κύμινον kyminon (MW), perhaps from Hebrew כמן kammon 'umbel' (WNW), akin to Akkadian kamunu 'carrot family plant' (MW)
deltoid

Deltoid

Deltoid can refer to:* The deltoid muscle, a muscle in the shoulder* Kite , also known as a deltoid, a type of quadrilateral* A deltoid curve, a three-sided hypocycloid* A leaf shape* The deltoid tuberosity, a part of the humerus...

 : from Greek delta (AHD), perhaps from Hebrew דלת daleth 'door' (WNW), akin to Phoenician dalt 'door' (AHD)
earnest (money)

Earnest payment

An earnest payment is a deposit towards the purchase of real estate or publicly tendered government contract made by a buyer or registered contractor to demonstrate that he/she is serious about wanting to complete the purchase...

 : from (MW, AHD) Hebrew ערב arav 'pledge' (WNW) + from Canaanite irrabon 'pledge', 'surety' (AHD)
hyssop

Hyssop

Hyssop is a genus of about 10-12 species of herbaceous or semi-woody plants in the family Lamiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to central Asia. They are aromatic, with erect branched stems up to 60 cm long covered with fine hairs at the tips. The leaves are narrow oblong, 2–5 cm...

 : from Greek (AHD) ὕσσωπος hyssopos (MW), from Hebrew אזוב ezobh 'mint herb' (WNW)
iotacism

Iotacism

Iotacism is the process by which a number of vowels and diphthongs in Ancient Greek converged in pronunciation so that they all sound like iota in Modern Greek....

 : from Greek Ιώτα iota, perhaps from Hebrew יד yodh 'hand' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician (AHD)
jot : from Greek Ιώτα iota, perhaps from Hebrew יד yodh 'hand' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician (AHD)
madeleine

Madeleine (disambiguation)

Madeleine or Madeline is a female name. See Madeleine . It means "woman of Magdala," or "magnificent." It can be shortened into "Maddie" or "Maddy" or "Maddi." It may also refer to:...

 : from (NI) Greek Μαγδαλα 'Magdala

Magdala

Magdala is the name of at least two places in ancient Israel mentioned in the Jewish Talmud and one place that may be mentioned in the Christian New Testament...

' (WNW) (='tower'), perhaps from גדל gadal 'large' (SC) + from (MW) Aramaic Magdela 'Magdala

Magdala

Magdala is the name of at least two places in ancient Israel mentioned in the Jewish Talmud and one place that may be mentioned in the Christian New Testament...

' (OED) (='tower') (SC)
magdalen

Magdalen Asylum

Magdalene asylums were institutions from the 18th to the mid-20th centuries ostensibly for "fallen women", a term used to imply sexual promiscuity....

 : from (MW) Greek Μαγδαλα 'Magdala

Magdala

Magdala is the name of at least two places in ancient Israel mentioned in the Jewish Talmud and one place that may be mentioned in the Christian New Testament...

' (WNW) (='tower'), perhaps from Hebrew גדל gadal 'large' (SC) + from (MW) Aramaic Magdela 'Magdala

Magdala

Magdala is the name of at least two places in ancient Israel mentioned in the Jewish Talmud and one place that may be mentioned in the Christian New Testament...

' (OED) (='tower') (SC)
map

Map

A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....

 : from Latin mappa 'cloth' (MW), probably from Hebrew menafa 'fluttering banner' (WNW) + perhaps from Carthaginian (AHD)
mat

Mat

A mat is a generic term for a piece of fabric or flat material, generally placed on a floor or other flat surface, and serving a range of purposes including:* providing a regular or flat surface, such as a mousepad....

 : from Greek ματτα matta, of Semitic origin (MW), perhaps from Phoenician 𐤌𐤀𐤕𐤕𐤀 matta, akin to Hebrew מצע mitta 'bed', 'couch' (AHD)
messiah

Messiah

A messiah is a redeemer figure expected or foretold in one form or another by a religion. Slightly more widely, a messiah is any redeemer figure. Messianic beliefs or theories generally relate to eschatological improvement of the state of humanity or the world, in other words the World to...

 : from Hebrew (AHD) משיח mashiah 'anointed' (MW) + in part from Aramaic (AHD) meshiha 'anointed' (MW)
napkin

Napkin

A napkin, or face towel is a rectangle of cloth used at the table for wiping the mouth while eating. It is usually small and folded...

 : from Latin mappa 'cloth' (MW), probably from Hebrew menafa 'fluttering banner' (WNW) + perhaps from Carthaginian (AHD)
pharisee : from Aramaic (AHD) perisha 'separated', from (MW) פרש Hebrew parash 'separate' (SC), 'cleave' (WNW)
sac : from Greek σάκκος sakkos (MW), perhaps from שק saq 'bag', 'sackcloth' (OED), from Phoenician, akin to Akkadian saqqu (AHD)
sack : from Greek σάκκος sakkos (MW), perhaps from Hebrew שק saq 'bag', 'sackcloth' (OED), from Phoenician, akin to Akkadian saqqu (AHD)
schwa

Schwa

In linguistics, specifically phonetics and phonology, schwa can mean the following:*An unstressed and toneless neutral vowel sound in some languages, often but not necessarily a mid-central vowel...

 : from Hebrew שוא schewa 'unstressed

Unstressed vowel

In English, vowel reduction is the centralization and weakening of an unstressed vowel, such as the characteristic change of many vowels at the ends of words to schwa. Stressed vowels are never reduced in English.-Reduced vowels :...

 mid-central vowel' (MW), probably from Syriac ܥܗܘܐܝܝܐ sewayya 'equal' (AHD)
shekel

Shekel

Shekel , is any of several ancient units of weight or of currency. The first usage is from Mesopotamia around 3000 BC. Initially, it may have referred to a weight of barley...

 : from Hebrew (MW) שקל saqal 'weigh', from Canaanite tql (AHD)
souk

Souk

A souq is a commercial quarter in an Arab, Berber, and increasingly European city. The term is often used to designate the market in any Arabized or Muslim city, but in modern times it appears in Western cities too...

 : from Arabic سوق suq (AHD) 'market' (MW), from Aramaic שוקא suqa 'street', 'market', from Akkadian 𒊓𒆪 saqu 'narrow'
sycamore

Sycamore

Sycamore is a name which is applied at various times and places to three very different types of trees, but with somewhat similar leaf forms....

 : from Hebrew שִׁקמָה shikma 'mulberry' (WNW) + in part from Greek (AHD, WNW) συκόμορος sykomoros 'fig tree', probably of Semitic origin (MW)

Letter names

alpha

Alpha (letter)

Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 1. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Aleph...

 : from Greek Άλφα alpha, perhaps from Hebrew אלוף alef 'ox', 'leader' (WNW) + from Canaanite 𐤀𐤋𐤐 alp 'ox' (AHD)
beta

Beta (letter)

Beta is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. In Ancient Greek, beta represented the voiced bilabial plosive . In Modern Greek, it represents the voiced labiodental fricative ....

 : from Greek Βήτα beta, from Hebrew בית bet 'house', probably from Phoenician (WNW) + from Canaanite 𐤁𐤉𐤕 bet 'house' (AHD)
gamma

Gamma

Gamma is the third letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 3. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Gimel . Letters that arose from Gamma include the Roman C and G and the Cyrillic letters Ge Г and Ghe Ґ.-Greek:In Ancient Greek, gamma represented a...

 : from Greek Γάμμα gamma, perhaps from Hebrew גמל gimel 'ruminant beast' (WNW) + from Phoenician 𐤋𐤌𐤀𐤂 (AHD)
delta

Delta (letter)

Delta is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 4. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Dalet...

 : from Greek Δέλτα delta (AHD), perhaps from Hebrew דלת deleth 'door' (WNW) + of Semitic origin, akin to Phoenician 𐤕𐤋𐤀𐤃 dalt 'door' (AHD)
zeta

Zeta

-Science:* Zeta functions, in mathematics** Riemann zeta function* Zeta potential, the electrokinetic potential of a colloidal system* Tropical Storm Zeta , formed in December 2005 and lasting through January 2006* Z-pinch, in fusion power...

 : from Greek ζήτα zeta, from Phoenician, akin to Aramaic ܙܝܢܐ zayin, Hebrew זין zayin (AHD) 'weapon'
eta

ETA

ETA , an acronym for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna is an armed Basque nationalist and separatist organization. The group was founded in 1959 and has since evolved from a group promoting traditional Basque culture to a paramilitary group with the goal of gaining independence for the Greater Basque Country...

 : from Greek Ήτα eta, perhaps from Hebrew chet (WNW) 'terror' (SC) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤕𐤇 (AHD)
theta

Theta

Theta is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, derived from the Phoenician letter Teth...

 : from Greek Θήτα theta, from (MW) Phoenician 𐤕𐤄𐤈, akin to Hebrew טת tet (AHD) 'snake'
iota

Iota

Iota is the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 10. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Yodh . Letters that arose from this letter include the Roman I and J and the Cyrillic І , Yi , Je , and iotified letters .Iota represents...

 : from Greek Ιώτα iota, perhaps from Hebrew יד yodh 'hand' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤕𐤏𐤉 (AHD)
kappa

Kappa

Kappa is the 10th letter of the Greek alphabet, used to represent the voiceless velar stop, or "k", sound in Ancient and Modern Greek. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 20. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Kaph...

 : from Greek Κάππα kappa, perhaps from Hebrew כף kaph (WNW) 'palm of the hand' (MW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤅𐤀𐤊 (AHD)
lambda

Lambda

Lambda is the 11th letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals lambda has a value of 30. Lambda is related to the Phoenician letter Lamed . Letters in other alphabets that stemmed from lambda include the Roman L and the Cyrillic letter El...

 : from Greek Λάμβδα lambda, perhaps from Hebrew למד lamedh 'whip', 'club' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤃𐤌𐤀𐤋 (AHD)
mu

Mu (letter)

Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo is a Grammy Award and three-time Latin Grammy Award winning-Colombian singer, composer and actor.-Biography:...

 : from Greek Μυ mu, from Phoenician, akin to Hebrew מים mem 'water' (AHD)
nu

Nu (letter)

Nu , is the 13th letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 50...

 : from Greek Νυ nu, perhaps from Hebrew נון nun 'fish' (WNW) + of Semitic origin (AHD)
pi

Pi (letter)

Pi is the sixteenth letter of the Greek alphabet, representing . In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 80. Letters that arose from pi include Cyrillic Pe , Coptic pi , and Gothic pairthra .The upper-case letter Π is used as a symbol for:...

 : from Greek Πι pi, perhaps from Hebrew פה pe 'mouth' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤄𐤐 (AHD)
rho

Rho (letter)

Rho is the 17th letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 100. It is derived from Semitic resh "head"...

 : from Greek Ρω rho, perhaps from Hebrew ראש rosh 'head' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤔𐤏𐤓 (AHD)
sigma

Sigma

Sigma is the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet, and carries the 'S' sound. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 200. When used at the end of a word, and the word is not all upper case, the final form is used, e.g...

 : from Greek Σίγμα sigma, from Phoenician, akin to Hebrew סמיך‎ samek (AHD) 'prop'
tau

Tau

Tau is the 19th letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 300.The name in English is pronounced , but in modern Greek it is...

 : from Greek Ταυ tau, perhaps from Hebrew taw (WNW) 'mark', 'cross' (MW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤅𐤀𐤕 (AHD)
izzard

Izzard

Izzard may refer to:* Bob Izzard* Brad Izzard* Craig Izzard* Eddie Izzard, English comedian and actor* Grant Izzard* Mark Izzard* Ralph Izzard* An 18th century dialectal name for the letter Z...

 : probably from French et zede 'and Z', in part from Greek ζήτα zeta (MW), from Phoenician, akin to Aramaic ܙܝܢܐ zayin, Hebrew זין zayin (AHD) 'weapon'
zed

Zed

Zed , in Commonwealth English, is the name of the twenty-sixth and final letter of the basic modern Latin alphabet Zed may also refer to:- Living persons :*Zed Shaw, US computer programmer...

: from Greek ζήτα zeta (MW), from Phoenician, akin to Aramaic ܙܝܢܐ zayin, Hebrew זין zayin (AHD) 'weapon'