مُحَاسِب
muḥāsibmasculine
The Arabic word for accountant is مُحَاسِب (muḥāsib). If unsure, use مُحَاسِب. Wiktionary also lists مُحَاسِبَة (muḥāsiba).
Meaning: one whose profession includes organizing, maintaining and auditing the records of another (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مُحَاسِب | muḥāsib | masculine |
| مُحَاسِبَة | muḥāsiba | feminine |
An accountant is a person whose profession involves organizing, maintaining and auditing the records of another.
What does it mean word for word?
The word مُحَاسِب is an active participle derived from a verb meaning 'to calculate' or 'to account', literally meaning 'one who calculates/accounts'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the term is pronounced Muhasab (محاسب), while in Gulf Arabic, it is pronounced Muhassib (محاسب).
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a female accountant, use the feminine form مُحَاسِبَة.
How do you pronounce it?
muḥāsib
Did you know?
- The root of مُحَاسِب is the same as the word for 'reckoning' or 'judgment' on the Day of Judgment in Islamic tradition. This links the professional act of accounting to the spiritual act of divine accounting.
- In some contexts, saying أنا سأحاسبك ('I will account you') is not about finances but is a common way to say 'I will hold you responsible' or 'I will get even with you'.
- In many Arabic speaking countries, the word مُحَاسِب can also refer to a cashier in a shop or restaurant. This is because both roles involve the immediate calculation of a bill.
Examples in context
- أحتاج إلى مُحَاسِب لمراجعة الحسابات.Ahtaju ila muhasib li-muraja'at al-hisabat.I need an accountant to audit the accounts.
- هل أنت مُحَاسِب محترف؟Hal anta muhasib muhtarif?Are you a professional accountant?
Example conversation
Ziyad and Layla are discussing career choices at a café.
- زياد Ziadأريد أن أصبح مُحَاسِب في المستقبل.Uridu an asbiha muhasib fil-mustaqbal.I want to become an accountant in the future.
- ليلى Laylaهذا هدف رائع يا زياد.Hadha hadaf ra'i' ya Ziyad.That is a great goal, Ziyad.
- زياد Ziadهل تعرفين أي مُحَاسِب جيد؟Hal ta'rifina ayya muhasib jayyid?Do you know any good accountant?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، يمكنني تقديم المساعدة لك.Na'am, yumkinuni taqdim al-musa'ada lak.Yes, I can provide help to you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “accountant” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
