arroba: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (specialist/historical)Technical (computing), Historical/Regional (weights and measures)
Quick answer
What does “arroba” mean?
A symbol (@) used in email addresses to separate the username from the domain name.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A symbol (@) used in email addresses to separate the username from the domain name; historically a Spanish unit of weight.
The word can refer to the symbol itself in modern digital contexts. In historical/commercial Spanish contexts, it refers to a unit of weight (approx. 11.5 kg or 25 pounds). It is also used in Portuguese. In computing, it is universally known as the "at sign".
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Virtually none for the symbol meaning. Both regions use 'at sign' primarily. 'Arroba' as a term for @ is more likely encountered in multilingual or linguistic contexts.
Connotations
In the UK/US, using 'arroba' to mean @ sounds either technical (e.g., in tech localization discussions) or deliberately referencing Spanish/Latin American usage.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general English. Higher frequency in specific contexts: 1) IT localization manuals, 2) historical texts about Spanish trade, 3) linguistics papers on symbol names.
Grammar
How to Use “arroba” in a Sentence
The symbol is known as an arroba.It weighed several arrobas.The @ is called 'arroba' in Spanish.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “arroba” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The arroba character is on the keyboard.
American English
- He discussed the arroba usage in medieval manuscripts.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in historical context: 'The shipment was priced per arroba.' In modern IT, possibly in regional email formatting guidelines.
Academic
Found in linguistics (history of symbols), history (Spanish colonial trade), and computer science (internationalization).
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday English. An English speaker would say 'at sign'.
Technical
Used in software localization and encoding standards (e.g., Unicode documentation) to denote the symbol's name in Spanish/Portuguese.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “arroba”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “arroba”
- Misspelling as 'aroba', 'arobba', or 'arobba'.
- Mispronouncing with a strong rolled 'r' or stress on the first syllable.
- Using 'arroba' in everyday English instead of 'at sign' or just 'at'.
- Assuming all English speakers know the term 'arroba'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency loanword from Spanish/Portuguese. The common English term is 'at sign' or simply 'at'.
It is not recommended. You should say "at," as in "name at gmail dot com." Using 'arroba' will likely confuse the listener unless they are familiar with Spanish.
It comes from Arabic 'ar-rubʿ' (الربع), meaning 'the quarter,' referring to a quarter of a Spanish quintal (a hundredweight). The symbol was used in commerce to mean 'at the rate of,' which evolved into its email use.
Yes, primarily in the vowel of the second syllable. British English uses a short 'o' /ɒ/ (as in 'lot'), while American English uses a long 'o' /oʊ/ (as in 'go').
A symbol (@) used in email addresses to separate the username from the domain name.
Arroba is usually technical (computing), historical/regional (weights and measures) in register.
Arroba: in British English it is pronounced /əˈrɒbə/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈroʊbə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A Robber (@) took my email address' – linking the sound 'a-robber' to 'arroba' and the @ symbol.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER (email address) = PLACE [user]@[domain] (The @ symbol metaphorically places the user 'at' the domain location).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'arroba' most likely to be used in English?