Arroba in Spanish & English: Meaning & Details

What is arroba symbol?

The symbol “@,” widely known as the arroba or “at sign,” possesses an origin deeply embedded in historical commercial practices. Its roots can be traced back to the medieval era, where it emerged as a convenient form of shorthand within the world of trade and accounting.

Arroba in Spanish & English: Meaning & Details

The most credible etymological explanation posits that the arroba symbol originated as a graphic abbreviation for the Spanish and Portuguese word “arroba.” This term denoted a unit of weight and, in some contexts, volume, with a general equivalence to approximately twenty-five pounds.

 

Arroba: Origin, Uses, Significance & More

 

Evidence suggests that merchants in the Iberian Peninsula, as early as the 16th century, employed this symbol in their handwritten ledgers and commercial documents. Its use facilitated the concise representation of quantities of various goods, such as agricultural produce and liquids, thereby streamlining record-keeping processes.

 

In this context, the “@” symbol functioned similarly to other abbreviations, serving as an efficient visual cue for a specific unit of measurement.

 

Arroba symbol meaning

The meaning of arroba symbol is – ‘at’ or ‘toward’. Here’s the explanation behind the meaning –

 

Explanation: Arroba symbol is denoted by the sign @. This symbol is used as a shorthand for the Latin word ‘ad’. Ad, in Latin, means “toward” or “at”

 

Arroba Spanish meaning

Earlier, arroba term was used as a unit of measurement. Arroba term was used to denote unit of weight or volume (in general). It is equivalent to today’s 25 pounds.

 

Apart from that, arroba term was also used by the Spanish and Portuguese to denote the quantity of various goods (for example – fruits, eggs & vegetables). As of now, arroba in Spanish simply means ‘at’ or ‘toward’.

 

Arroba in English

Arroba in English means ‘at’ or ‘toward’.

 

Arroba symbol in English

It is denoted by the ‘@’ symbol across the world.

Arun Kallarackal
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