arroba
/aˈroba/
The English phrase "at symbol" is translated into Spanish as arroba.
arroba is the standard term used to refer to the @ symbol.
Which one should you use?
símbolo de arroba can be used in formal contexts to refer to the symbol.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈroba/
When do people say it?
The term arroba originally refers to an old unit of weight or volume, which is why the symbol is called by this name in Spanish.
Did you know?
- The word arroba comes from the Arabic word ar-rubʕ, meaning 'one-fourth'.
- While it looks like a circle, the arroba symbol was historically used in commercial bookkeeping to denote a specific quantity of goods.
- If you were reading an email address aloud in Spanish, you would say 'arroba' instead of translating the 'at' part of the address, as the symbol name itself represents the location.
Examples in context
- Escribe la arroba después de mi nombre.Write the at symbol after my name.
- ¿Cómo se dice arroba en inglés?How do you say at symbol in English?
- No olvides poner la arroba en el correo.Don't forget to put the at symbol in the email.
Example conversation
Lucía is giving her email address to Javier.
- LucíaMi dirección es lucia arroba gmail punto com.My address is lucia at gmail dot com.
- JavierPerdón, ¿pusiste una arroba?Sorry, did you put an at symbol?
- LucíaSí, es necesaria para el correo.Yes, it is necessary for the email.
- JavierPerfecto, ya lo anoté, Lucía.Perfect, I already wrote it down, Lucía.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry arroba, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arroba, CC BY-SA 4.0.
