الله أكبر
Allahu akbar
The English phrase "allah is great" is translated into Arabic as الله أكبر (Allahu akbar).
الله أكبر is a phrase used by Muslims to express the greatness of God during prayer and in daily life.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "Allah is greater" rather than "Allah is great" because the word أكبر is in the comparative/superlative form.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase Allahu akbar, the u sound at the end of Allah acts as the nominative case marker for the subject.
How do you pronounce it?
Allahu akbar
Did you know?
- Beyond prayer, الله أكبر is often used as an exclamation of amazement or joy, similar to how an English speaker might say 'Oh my God'.
- The name الله shares an ancient linguistic lineage with the Hebrew word אֱלוֹהַּ and the Syriac word ܐܰܠܳܗܳܐ, tracing back to the same Proto-Semitic root.
- In the Arabic language, the word أكبر is an elative, a single form that serves as both the comparative 'greater' and the superlative 'greatest'.
Examples in context
- الله أكبر!Allah is great!This example shows how to use الله أكبر to express that Allah is great.Tatoeba #1937635 by LanguageExpert, translation #477188 by FeuDRenais
- الله أكبر في كل وقت.Allāhu akbar fī kulli waqt.Allah is great at all times.
- نقول الله أكبر في الصلاة.Naqūlu Allāhu akbar fī al-ṣalāt.We say Allah is great in prayer.
Example conversation
Maryam and Ziad are finishing their daily prayers.
- مريم Maryamالله أكبر.Allāhu akbar.Allah is great.
- زياد Ziadالحمد لله يا مريم.Al-ḥamdu lillāh yā Maryam.Praise be to Allah, Maryam.
- مريم Maryamهل صليت يا زياد؟Hal ṣallayta yā Ziyād?Did you pray, Ziad?
- زياد Ziadنعم، لقد صليت للتو.Na‘am, laqad ṣallaytu al-taw.Yes, I just prayed.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries أكبر, الله, الله أكبر, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
