Amir and Admiral Come From the Same Arabic Word
An amir is a Muslim ruler or commander. The Arabic title also produced the English word admiral.
An amir, also spelled *emir*, is a Muslim ruler, prince or military commander. The Arabic *amir* means commander, and it produced English *admiral* by an odd route: the Arabic phrase *amir al-bahr*, commander of the sea, was borrowed into Mediterranean languages, and the *al-* was absorbed into the word itself. The D was added later by false association with Latin *admirari*, to wonder at. So an admiral's title contains an Arabic definite article and a Latin misunderstanding.
- A Muslim ruler. *The amir.*
- Emir — the other spelling. *An emir.*
- Admiral — the same root. *An admiral.*
- Emirate — the territory. *An emirate.*
- Arabic — *amir*, commander. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | amir / emir | An emir. |
| Plural | amirs | Amirs. |
| Territory | emirate | An emirate. |
| Related | admiral | An admiral. |
| Arabic | amir | Commander. |
- The amir received the delegation.Title.
- Amir al-bahr means commander of the sea.Etymology.
- The D in admiral was added later.History.
Arabic words with a hidden article
- Admiral — from *amir al-bahr*, with the article absorbed
- Alcohol — from *al-kuhl*
- Algebra — from *al-jabr*
- Alchemy — from *al-kimiya*
- Apricot — from *al-barquq*, through Spanish and Portuguese
Arabic *amir*, a commander, from *amara*, to command.
Are amir and admiral related?
Yes. Admiral comes from the Arabic phrase amir al-bahr, commander of the sea, with the article al- absorbed into the word.
Where did the D in admiral come from?
It was added by false association with Latin admirari, to wonder at. The original word had no D.