alharaca

Spanish

FWOTD – 7 October 2023

Etymology

From Andalusian Arabic الحَرَٰكَة (al-ḥaráka), from Arabic حَرَكَة (ḥaraka).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /alaˈɾaka/ [a.laˈɾa.ka]

• Audio (El Salvador):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aka
• Syllabification: al‧ha‧ra‧ca

Noun

alharaca f (plural alharacas)

1. clamour, vociferation; fuss

   Synonyms: jaleo, alboroto

   • 1891, Benito Pérez Galdós, Ángel Guerra:

     Oíanse los golpazos que daba Palomeque, como si quisiera derribar la casa. Buscaba la continuación de la alfarda o viga, y la encontró, descubriendo además una magnífica alharaca que le hizo saltar de júbilo.

     Palomeque was banging loudly, as if he was trying to knock down the house. He was looking for the continuation of the batten or beam, and found it, also discovering a magnificent clamour that made him jump for joy.

Derived terms

• alharaquiento

Related terms

• alaraco

Further reading

• “alharaca”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025