Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| جَوَاب | jawāb | masculine |
| إِجَابَة | ʔijāba | feminine |
| رَدّ | radd | masculine |
Arabic uses different words depending on whether you are referring to the content of an answer or the act of replying. جَوَاب is a general term for an answer, while رَدّ emphasizes the act of replying or reacting to something previously said or done. The related verb أَجَابَ is used to describe the act of providing an answer, and رَدَّ can mean to reply or to respond to a call.
Which one should you use?
جَوَاب is a general term for an answer, whereas إِجَابَة is often used in more formal contexts, such as providing a response to a specific question or a formal request. In contrast, رَدّ focuses on the act of replying or the reaction to a statement, while جَوَاب focuses on the content of the answer itself.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To form a plural, use جَوَابَات for the plural of جَوَاب and إِجَابَات for the plural of إِجَابَة. When using the verb رَدَّ (to reply) with an object, it is almost always followed by the preposition عَلَى (on/to). The verb أَجَابَ is the active form used to describe the act of providing an answer.
How do you pronounce it?
jawāb
Did you know?
- The verb رَدَّ can shift from a verbal meaning to a physical one, meaning 'to repel' or 'to push back' an attacker.
- The Arabic word رَدّ (reply) shares the same root as the word for 'returning' an item to a store, as both involve sending something back.
- In Arabic, the social obligation of returning a greeting is expressed as رَدّ السَّلَام, using the word for 'reply'.
Examples in context
- من فَضْلَكَ أَعْطِنِي الجَوَابَ / Min fadlika a'tini al-jawaba.Please give me the answer.
- هَذَا جَوَابٌ صَحِيحٌ.hādhā jawābun ṣaḥīḥ.This is a correct answer.
- أُرِيدُ جَوَاباً سَرِيعاً.urīdu jawāban sarī'an.I want a quick answer.
- هَلْ لَدَيْكَ جَوَابٌ لِلْمَسْأَلَةِ؟hal ladayka jawābun lil-mas'alah?Do you have an answer to the problem?
Example conversation
Layla and Ahmed are discussing a homework assignment.
- ليلى Laylaأَيُّ جَوَاب اخترتَ؟Ayyu jawab ikhtarta?Which answer did you choose?
- أحمد Ahmedاخترتُ الجَوَاب الثاني.Ikhtartu al-jawab al-thani.I chose the second answer.
- ليلى Laylaهل أنتَ مُتأكد؟Hal anta muta'akkid?Are you sure?
- أحمد Ahmedنعم، هذا هو جَوَاب صَحيح.Na'am, hadha huwa jawab sahih.Yes, this is a correct answer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “answer” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
