إساءة
isa'ah
The English word 'abuse' (referring to physical maltreatment) is translated into Arabic as إساءة (isa'ah).
While إساءة can mean general misuse or offense, it is frequently paired with معاملة (treatment) to specifically mean 'maltreatment' or 'abuse' in a social or physical context. The term الاستغلال is used to address the concept of exploitation alongside abuse.
Meaning: physical maltreatment (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
It literally translates to 'misuse' or 'bad doing'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun إساءة is feminine, which affects the adjectives and verbs that agree with it in a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
isa'ah
Did you know?
- The word إساءة comes from the root س و أ, which is also used to describe something that is 'ugly' or 'bad' to look at. In Arabic, the concept of doing something wrong is linguistically linked to the concept of ugliness.
- In some Arabic dialects, the word قهر is used to describe the emotional feeling resulting from abuse. It describes a specific type of oppressive heartbreak or defeat that has no single equivalent in English.
- When describing the opposite of إساءة (abuse), Arabic speakers use إحسان, which means 'doing good' or 'excellence'. These two words form a moral polarity in Arabic ethics and literature.
Examples in context
- الألم النفسي الذي سببه إساءة معاملة أبي لي يبدو له و كأن شيئاً لم يكن.My father is oblivious to the emotional pain his abuse caused me.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use إساءة when discussing emotional pain.Tatoeba #644616 by saeb, translation #644602 by darinmex
- لقد شهدت حالة إساءة في المدرسة.I witnessed a case of abuse in the school.
- الظلم العاطفي يترك آثارًا طويلة الأمد.Emotional abuse leaves long-lasting effects.
Example conversation
Mariam and Ahmed are discussing a social issues report.
- مريم Maryamهل قرأت التقرير عن إساءة معاملة الأطفال؟hal qara'ta at-taqrir 'an isa'at mu'amalat al-atfal?Did you read the report on child abuse?
- أحمد Ahmedنعم، يا مريم، إنه تقرير صادم جداً.na'am, ya Mariam, innahu taqrir sadim jiddan.Yes, Mariam, it is a very shocking report.
- مريم Maryamكيف يمكننا منع هذه الإساءة في المجتمع؟kayfa yumkinuna man' hadhihi al-isa'a fi al-mujtama'?How can we prevent this abuse in society?
- أحمد Ahmedالتوعية والتعليم هما الحل يا مريم.at-taw'iya wa at-ta'lim huma al-hall ya Mariam.Awareness and education are the solution, Mariam.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
