'arabophobic' originates from Modern English, specifically the combination of 'Arab' and the Greek-derived suffix '-phobic', where 'Arab' referred to the Arab people and '-phobic' comes from Greek 'phobos' meaning 'fear'.

'Arab' entered English via Latin and Old French (e.g. Latin 'Arabes', Old French 'Arabe'), while the suffix '-phobic' comes through New Latin '-phobicus' from Greek 'phobos'; the compound form 'arabophobic' arose in modern English by combining these elements.

Initially the components signified a literal 'fear of Arabs', but over time the term has come to be used more broadly for prejudice, hostility, or discriminatory attitudes toward Arabs rather than only clinical fear.