'arabophil' originates from 'Arab' (referring to the peoples and cultures of the Arabian Peninsula and related regions) combined with Greek 'philos' meaning 'loving' or 'fond of'.

'arabophil' developed as a modern English compound (compare 'Arabophile'), formed from 'Arab' + the suffix '-phil(e)' ultimately from Greek 'philos'.

Initially it was coined to mean 'a lover or admirer of Arab people or culture'; this basic sense has remained stable in modern usage.