Arroba


Arroba is a Portuguese and Spanish custom unit of weight, mass or volume. Its symbol is @.

History

The word arroba has its origin in Arabic ar-rubʿ or "quarter," specifically the fourth part, which defined the average load which a donkey could carry .

Spain and Portugal

In weight it was equal to 32 pounds in Portugal and 25 pounds in Spain.
The unit is still used in Portugal by cork merchants.
Arroba and bushel as weight units are similar.

Latin America

The unit is still used in Brazil by the agricultural sector. The modern metric arroba used in these countries in everyday life is defined as.
In Peru the arroba is equivalent to.
In Bolivia nationally it is equivalent to. However locally there are many different values, ranging from in Inquisivi to in Baures.

Internet

In Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries, "arroba" has continued as the word for the "@" symbol used in Internet email addresses.