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Elixir of life
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin. Paulo Coelho is one of the contemporary writers who has introduced Arabic words like Maktoob and Zahir to the mainstream English readers. Yet, there is a common English word, used in the book ‘The Alchemist’ which too has an Arabic origin. Any guesses? Opinions on the book ‘The Alchemist’?
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Arabic and Anatomy – Dura mater
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin. I loved memorizing the names of different parts of brain during my first year Anatomy class in college. Cerebrum, cerebellum and Medulla Oblongata. Or the three layers of meninges – Dura mater, Pia mater and Arachnoid. I felt they had a musical twist to it while reading it loudly, in an effort to memorize all these new words for the first time ! Guess which of those names have an Arabic connection to them? Any interesting first day of Anatomy-dissection-class stories ?
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Coffee in a nutshell
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin Only in the Arab world can you see a Starbucks Coffee and a Qahwa joint in the same street. Rarely, do we realize the underlying connection between both the Eastern and Western word and worlds. What is your morning drink? Tea, Coffee or none? I leave you with this still from Gilmore Girls. Lorelai Gilmore and her famous love for coffee ! (This month will fly. I am sure. Already the third day of the A to Z Challenge. How are you people…
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Bezoar of Harry Potter fame
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. My theme for the month is A to Z of words in English with an Arabic origin Along with Harry, Hermione and Ron, every Harry Potter fan too would have learnt about the “Bezoar” in the first year Potion’s class. Did you know the word ‘Bezoar’ had an Arabic connection to it? We should learn the concept of coexistence from languages – Every language is influenced by other languages across borders, culture and centuries. Did the Harry Potter books inspire you to get into the habit of reading as a teenager/young adult?