Where does “ال” come from?

ال (Gulf Arabic) comes from Arabic ال, from Proto-Semitic ʾil- — deity; god.

ال (Gulf Arabic): the definite article; the

Definitions

  1. the definite article; the

Ancestry of “ال”, step by step

ال traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Arabic ال

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Arabicالthe
2Proto-Semiticʾil-deity; god

via Gulf Arabic الي

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Gulf Arabicالي—
2Arabicاَلَّذِي—
Every word from Proto-Semitic ʾil- →Every word from Arabic ال →