بصوت عال
bisawtin 'alin
The English word "aloud" is translated into Arabic as بصوت عال (bisawtin 'alin).
Meaning: loudly (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the preposition ب (with), the noun صوت (voice/sound) and the adjective عال (high/loud).
How does it change in a sentence?
In formal written Arabic, the adjective عال must follow the case of the noun صوت.
How do you pronounce it?
bisawtin 'alin
Did you know?
- While بصوت عال means 'aloud', the word صوت is also used in Arabic to mean 'a vote' in an election. Therefore, the act of voting is literally described as 'giving a voice'.
- If you are reading a religious text, using بصوت عال might be seen as 'recitation' rather than just reading, which carries a much more formal and sacred weight in Arabic culture.
- The root of عال is shared with the word علي, which is a common name meaning 'exalted' or 'high'. This links the physical volume of a voice to a position of social or spiritual height.
Examples in context
- قرأ الورقة بصوت عالٍ.He read the document aloud.This sentence is useful for showing how to say someone read a document aloud using بصوت عال.Tatoeba #375756 by saeb, translation #299442 by papabear
- اقرأ بصوت عالي.Read aloud.This sentence is useful for giving a command to read aloud using بصوت عال.Tatoeba #10228116 by Amastan, translation #8534642 by Amastan
- اقرأ النص بصوت مرتفعRead the text aloud.
- تحدث بصوت عالٍSpeak aloud.
- قرأ بصوت مرتفعRead with a loud voice.
- تحدثت بصوت عالٍ في الغرفة.Tahaddathtu bi-sawt 'alin fil-ghurfa.I spoke loudly in the room.
Example conversation
Nour and Omar are in a library.
- نور Nourهل يمكنك القراءة بصوت عالٍ يا عمر؟hal yumkinuka al-qira'a bisawtin alin ya Omar?Can you read aloud, Omar?
- عمر Omarلكننا في المكتبة الآن يا نور.lakinnana fil-maktaba al-an ya Nour.But we are in the library now, Nour.
- نور Nourأريد فقط سماع نطق هذه الكلمة.uridu faqat sama' nutq hadhihi al-kalima.I just want to hear the pronunciation of this word.
- عمر Omarحسناً، سأقرأها بصوت عالٍ قليلاً.hasanan, sa-aqra'uha bisawtin alin qalilan.Okay, I will read it a little aloud.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
