Arroba is a Portugal and Spain customary unit of weight, mass or volume. Its symbol is At sign.
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 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 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, Ecuador, and Peru the arroba is equivalent to .[La República, En Feria de la Mujer Emprendedora presentan antibióticos naturales saludables ]
In Bolivia 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
-
Spanish customary units
