{{short description|Unit of mass}} {{Italic title}} {{for|the @ as a character|At sign}}
'''''Arroba''''' is a Portuguese, Catalan and Aragonese customary unit of weight, mass or volume. Its symbol is @.
==History== The word ''arroba'' has its origin in Arabic ''ar-rubʿ'' <ref>{{cite web |url=https://dle.rae.es/?w=arroba |title=arroba |website=Diccionario de la lengua española |publisher=Real Academia Española |access-date=2020-02-14}}</ref> (الربع) or "quarter," specifically the fourth part (of a quintal), which defined the average load which a donkey could carry.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}
==Iberian Peninsula== In weight it was equal to 32 pounds (14.7 kg) in Portugal and 25 pounds (11.5 kg) in Galicia, Asturias, Basque Country, Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Castille, León and Andalusia.
The unit is still used 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 {{convert|15|kg}}.
In Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru the arroba is equivalent to {{convert|12.5|kg}}.<ref>La República, [http://www.larepublica.pe/sociedad/24/04/2010/en-feria-de-la-mujer-emprendedora-presentan-antibioticos-naturales-saludables En Feria de la Mujer Emprendedora presentan antibióticos naturales saludables] {{in lang|es}}</ref>
In Bolivia nationally it is equivalent to {{convert|30.46|L}}. However locally there are many different values, ranging from {{convert|11.5|L}} in Inquisivi to {{convert|16|L}} in Baures.<ref>[http://www.sizes.com/units/arroba_bolivia.htm Arroba in Bolivia] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206230602/http://www.sizes.com/units/arroba_bolivia.htm |date=February 6, 2010 }}</ref>
==Internet==
In Ibero-Romance and Occitano-Romance languages, "''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
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Units of mass