Split from here.
Do you have a reference for this? Can you give any idea as to when it was supposedly borrowed?
Hello,
Indeed, we use seen س as a variable (in maths, physics and chemistry).
X Y Z are rendered as س ع ص. (when you're doing chemistry or maths for instance). It is, at least, the way I was taught.
When we want to refer to someone (as X is speaking) we use فلان flaan (from fulann) in Algeria.
Interestingly fulan comes from Greek. So I think the two cultures have influenced one another a lot. It is still not clear why the Arabs used shay? for X although its meaning suggests an unkown quantity. But that's etymology and it remains speculation after all. You can never be sure about time and place of the borrowing.
Jamshid
Do you have a reference for this? Can you give any idea as to when it was supposedly borrowed?