طَائِرَة
ṭāʔirafeminine
The English word 'airplane' is translated into Arabic as طَائِرَة (ṭāʔira). Wiktionary also lists طَيَّارَة (ṭayyāra).
Meaning: powered aircraft (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| طَائِرَة | ṭāʔira | feminine |
| طَيَّارَة | ṭayyāra | feminine |
Both provided forms refer to a powered aircraft.
What does it mean word for word?
The word طَائِرَة is a noun derived from the root meaning 'to fly', literally meaning 'a thing that flies'.
Which one should you use?
طَائِرَة is the standard, formal term used in Modern Standard Arabic and news reporting, whereas طَيَّارَة is an informal way to say airplane.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The informal form طَيَّارَة is especially prevalent in Levantine Arabic.
How does it change in a sentence?
The sound feminine plural of the formal form طَائِرَة is طَائِرَات.
How do you pronounce it?
ṭāʔira
Did you know?
- The root of طَائِرَة is also used in the word طِيَرَة, which historically referred to the practice of augury or predicting the future by watching the flight of birds.
- The root of طَائِرَة is also found in words describing 'fate' or 'destiny' in certain historical literary contexts, referring to things that 'fly' or 'pass by' unexpectedly.
- The root of the word طَائِرَة is the same as the root used for the word 'bird' in many Arabic dialects, linking technology directly to nature.
Examples in context
- أرى طائرة في السماء.I see an airplane in the sky.
- أنا آسف، لم أرَ طيارتَك تحلَق في السماء.Sorry, I didn't see your airplane flying in the sky.
- هَذِهِ طَائِرَةٌ كَبِيرَةٌ.hadhihi ta'iratun kabiratun.This is a large airplane.
- رَأَيْتُ طَائِرَةً فِي السَّمَاءِ.ra'aytu ta'iratan fi al-sama'.I saw an airplane in the sky.
Example conversation
Nour and Omar are watching planes at the airport.
- نور Nourاُنْظُرْ، هَذِهِ طَائِرَةٌ جَدِيدَةٌ.unzur, hadhihi ta'iratun jadidatun.Look, this is a new airplane.
- عمر Omarنَعَمْ، إِنَّهَا سَرِيعَةٌ جِدًّا.na'am, innaha sari'atun jiddan.Yes, it is very fast.
- نور Nourهَلْ تُحِبُّ الطَّائِرَةَ؟hal tuhibbu al-ta'irata?Do you like the airplane?
- عمر Omarأَنَا أُحِبُّ الرِّحْلَةَ بِالطَّائِرَةِ.ana uhibbu al-rihlata bi-al-ta'irati.I love traveling by airplane.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “airplane” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
