Chapter 1
The tone and character of Mandarin
Chapter 2
Spanish, the global wanderer
Chapter 3
Hindi and the brilliant mosaic of India
Chapter 4
Arabic and the genius of the root system
Chapter 5
English, the ultimate borrowing machine
Ch 2 · Spanish, the global wanderer
duolingo About 8% of Spanish vocabulary has Arabic origins, including words starting with al like almohada and the exclamation ojalá.
Quiz
The Spanish word 'aceite' (oil) comes from the Arabic word 'al-zayt'. What was the primary source of oil in Moorish Spain?
Quiz
In what year did the Christian Reconquista of Spain end, concluding the period of Moorish rule that shaped the Spanish language?
BETA
duolingo Swipe through daily conversations to master one of the world's most spoken languages.
Quiz
Founded in 1713, which official institution is responsible for regulating and standardizing the Spanish language?
Quiz
Which of these common words was borrowed into Spanish from the Aztec language Nahuatl?
Quiz
The English word 'barbecue' originates from the Spanish word 'barbacoa,' which was borrowed from which indigenous Caribbean language?
Fun Fact
Spanish upside down: Spanish is the only major language that uses inverted question marks (¿) and exclamation points (¡) to signal sentence tone early.
Quiz
In which South American country is the pronoun 'vos' used almost universally instead of 'tú'?
Quiz
During which historical period did the pronoun 'vos' originate as a respectful, formal way to address nobility in Spain?
Glossary
spanish (noun)
A Romance language originating in the Iberian Peninsula and currently spoken by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. In 1492, Christopher Columbus carried the language to the Americas, initiating its vast global expansion.
A Romance language originating in the Iberian Peninsula and currently spoken by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. In 1492, Christopher Columbus carried the language to the Americas, initiating its vast global expansion.