arroba
/aˈroba/feminine
The English phrase "at sign" is arroba in Spanish. Wiktionary also lists a comercial.
Meaning: name of the symbol @ (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| arroba | /aˈroba/ | feminine |
| a comercial | /a komeɾθjal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /a komeɾsjal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
In the context of email addresses and social media handles, arroba is the standard term used to refer to the '@' symbol.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun arroba is feminine and is typically used with the feminine article la.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈroba/
When do people say it?
Historically, an arroba was a unit of weight or volume used in Spain and Latin America, which is why the symbol shares the same name.
Did you know?
- The name for the symbol comes from the Arabic word 'ar-rubʕ', meaning 'one fourth', because an 'arroba' was a unit of weight representing one quarter of a quintal.
- In some Latin American countries, an arroba is still used in traditional markets to weigh bulk goods like coffee or rice.
- The term arroba is used across nearly all Spanish-speaking countries, creating a rare linguistic unity for a technical symbol.
Examples in context
- ¿Cómo se pone la arroba para el email?How do I type the "at" sign for an email address?This sentence is useful for asking how to type the arroba for an email address.Tatoeba #1266493 by wallebot, translation #1334182 by marcelostockle
- Mi dirección de correo electrónico es juanito arroba ejemplomail punto com.My email address is juanito at ejemplomail dot com.
- Escribe la arroba después del nombre de usuario.Write the at sign after the username.
- Olvidé incluir la arroba en la dirección de correo.I forgot to include the at sign in the email address.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are checking a printed email address.
- Elena¿Dónde va la arroba en este correo?Where does the at sign go in this email?
- JavierVa justo después del nombre de la empresa.It goes right after the company name.
- ElenaAh, ya veo la arroba ahora.Ah, I see the at sign now.
- JavierPerfecto, Elena, ya está correcto.Perfect, Elena, it is correct now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “at sign” translations and entries arroba, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, arroba, comercial, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
