arobase
/a.ʁɔ.baz/
The English phrase 'arroba' refers to the @ symbol, which is called arobase in French.
arobase is the name for the @ symbol used in email addresses to separate a username from a domain name.
How do you pronounce it?
The word consists of three syllables: /a.ʁɔ.baz/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the Spanish or Portuguese word arroba instead of the French arobase when referring to the @ symbol.
Did you know?
- The French word arobase was borrowed from the Spanish arroba, which was originally a unit of weight used in the Mediterranean for goods like oil and wool.
- Unlike English speakers who use the preposition 'at' as a connector, French speakers treat arobase as a noun and usually precede it with the article l'.
- If you use the Spanish word arroba instead of the French arobase in a conversation, a French speaker might think you are talking about ancient units for weighing wool or oil.
Examples in context
- N'oublie pas l'arobase dans l'adresse.Don't forget the at sign in the address.
- Il faut taper l'arobase pour envoyer le mail.You have to type the at sign to send the email.
- Où se trouve l'arobase sur mon clavier ?Where is the at sign on my keyboard?
Example conversation
Nathan is asking Manon for help with a login.
- NathanManon, quel est le mot de passe ?Manon, what is the password?
- ManonC'est ton nom suivi d'un arobase et un point fr.It's your name followed by an at sign and a dot fr.
- NathanD'accord, j'ai trouvé l'arobase.Okay, I found the at sign.
- ManonSuper, maintenant tu peux te connecter.Great, now you can log in.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry arobase, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arobase, CC BY-SA 4.0.
