''Arroba'' is a
Portuguese and
Spanish customary unit of weight, mass or volume. Its symbol is
@.
History
The word ''arroba'' has its origin in Arabic ''ar-rubʿ'' (الربع) or "quarter," specifically the fourth part (of a
quintal), which defined the average load which a
donkey
The donkey or ass is a domesticated equine. It derives from the African wild ass, ''Equus africanus'', and may be classified either as a subspecies thereof, ''Equus africanus asinus'', or as a separate species, ''Equus asinus''. It was domes ...
could carry.
Iberian Peninsula
In weight it was equal to 32
pounds (14.7 kg) in Portugal and 25
pounds (11.5 kg) in Spain.
The unit is still used in Portugal and Spain by
cork merchants and pig farmers.
Latin America
The unit is still used in
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
by the agricultural sector, mainly in the cotton and cattle business. The modern metric arroba used in these countries in everyday life is defined as .
In
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...
,
Ecuador
Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...
, and
Peru
Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...
the arroba is equivalent to .
In
Bolivia
Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country located in central South America. The country features diverse geography, including vast Amazonian plains, tropical lowlands, mountains, the Gran Chaco Province, w ...
nationally it is equivalent to . However locally there are many different values, ranging from in
Inquisivi to in
Baures.
Arroba in Bolivia
Internet
In Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries, "''arroba''" has continued as the word for the "@" symbol used in Internet email addresses and other messaging and collaboration software.
See also
* Portuguese customary units
Portuguese units were used in Portugal, Brazil, and other parts of the Portuguese Empire until the adoption of the metric system in the 19th century and have continued in use in certain contexts since.
The various systems of weights and measures ...
* Spanish customary units
There are a number of Spanish units of measurement of length or area that are virtually obsolete due to metrication. They include the vara, the cordel, the league and the labor. The units of area used to express the area of land are still encount ...
References
{{reflist
Units of mass