عَرَبِيّ
ʕarabiyymasculine
The English word 'arab' corresponds to the Arabic word عَرَبِيّ (ʕarabiyy). If unsure, use عَرَبِيّ. Wiktionary also lists عَرَبِيَّة (ʕarabiyya) and عَرَب (ʕarab).
Meaning: person from Arabia (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| عَرَبِيّ | ʕarabiyy | masculine |
| عَرَبِيَّة | ʕarabiyya | feminine |
| عَرَب | ʕarab | collective |
The term is used to describe a person from Arabia.
Which one should you use?
The masculine form عَرَبِيّ serves as both the noun for an Arab man and an adjective for things such as 'Arab culture'. The collective noun عَرَب is used to refer to the Arab people as a whole.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form عَرَبِيَّة is used when referring to an Arab woman or when modifying a feminine noun like 'country' (دولة).
How do you pronounce it?
ʕarabiyy
Did you know?
- In Arabic, the word عَرَبِيّ describes an ethnicity and language, meaning a person can be an 'Arab' without being a Muslim or living in a country with an 'Arab' majority.
- In certain classical contexts, the root of the word عَرَب can be linked to words meaning 'clear' or 'eloquent', suggesting that being 'Arab' was historically tied to the clarity of one's speech.
- Arabic has a distinct word for 'Arabized' people, مُتَعَرِّب, referring to those who were not originally عَرَب but adopted the language and culture.
Examples in context
- كَانَ يَهُوداً في دُوَلٍ عَرَبيَّةٍ قَبلَ تَقسِيمِ فَلَسطِينِ.There were Jews in Arab countries before the partition of Palestine.This sentence is useful for seeing how to refer to Arab countries using the form عَرَب.Tatoeba #4025252 by eeyinn, translation #4025257 by eeyinn
- هي شخصية عربية رائعة.She is a wonderful Arab personality.
- هو رجل عربي مدهش!He is an amazing Arab man!
- هي فتاة عربية جميلة جداً!She is a very beautiful Arab girl!
- أنا رجل مصري.I am an Egyptian man.
Example conversation
Ziad and Sarah are discussing Ziad's heritage.
- زياد Ziadأَنَا عَرَبِيّ، لَكِنِّي وُلِدْتُ فِي كَنَدَا.Ana 'arabiyy, lakinnī wulidtu fī Kanada.I am an Arab, but I was born in Canada.
- سارة Saraهَلْ تَتَحَدَّثُ العَرَبِيَّةَ بِطَلَاقَةٍ يَا زِيَادُ؟Hal tatahaddath al-'arabiyyah bi-talaqah ya Ziyad?Do you speak Arabic fluently, Ziad?
- زياد Ziadأَتَحَدَّثُهَا قَلِيلًا مَعَ عَائِلَتِي.Atahaddathuhā qalīlan ma'a 'ā'ilatī.I speak it a little with my family.
- سارة Saraهَذَا رَائِعٌ جِدًّا!Hadha rā'i' jiddan!That is very wonderful!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “arab” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
