Arroba

For the @ as a character, see At sign.

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 ^[1] (الربع) or "quarter," specifically the fourth part (of a quintal), which defined the average load which a donkey could carry.^{[citation needed]}

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 15 kilograms (33 lb).

In Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru the arroba is equivalent to 12.5 kilograms (28 lb).^[2]

In Bolivia nationally it is equivalent to 30.46 litres (6.70 imp gal; 8.05 US gal). However locally there are many different values, ranging from 11.5 litres (2.5 imp gal; 3.0 US gal) in Inquisivi to 16 litres (3.5 imp gal; 4.2 US gal) in Baures.^[3]

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