List of English Words of Spanish Origin - A

A

abaca

via Spanish abacá from Tagalog abaká

abalone

from Spanish abulón, from Ohlone aluan or Rumsen awlun.

adios

from Spanish 'adiós' meaning "goodbye"

adobe

From Egyptian via Arabic "Al-tub"

aficionado

from French 'amateur' "unprofessional person" or "affection" too.

albatross

from alcatraz, see below.

Alcatraz

(meaning "gannet") from Arabic غطاس al-ġaţţās ("the diver")

alidade

via French, Spanish alidada and Medieval Latin alhidade from Arabic العهدة al-idada, "the revolving radius"

alligator

from el lagarto, "the lizard"

alpaca

from Spanish, from Aymara allpaka/allpaqa

aludel

from Old French alutel, via Spanish and Medieval Latin from Arabic الأثال al-ʾuṯāl, "the sublimation vessel"

amigo

from Spanish and/or Portuguese amigo, "friend"; from Latin amicus meaning "friend," derived from amare (to love).

amole

Mexican Spanish from Nahautl amolli meaning "soap root."

amontillado

from the village of Montilla, Province of Córdoba, Spain

ancho

from Mexican Spanish (chile) ancho, "wide (chili)"

anchovy

from Spanish anchoa or more probably Portuguese anchova meaning "bluefish"; from Genoese or Corsican dialect; ultimately from Latin apua meaning "small fish" and Greek Αφυε aphye meaning "small fry" or from Basque anchuva meaning "dry"

Angeleno

from American Spanish

Apache

from Mexican Spanish from Yavapai ´epache meaning "people" or from Zuni apachu" meaning "enemy"

armada

"armed " from the Spanish navy, La armada española

armadillo

from armadillo, "little armored one"

arroyo

from arroyo, "stream"

avocado

alteration of Spanish aguacate, from Nahuatl ahuacatl which also means "testicle" in that language.

ayahuasca

via Spanish from Quechua ayawaska meaning "soul vine."