ألف ليلة وليلة
Alf Laylah wa-Laylah
The English phrase "arabian nights" is translated into Arabic as ألف ليلة وليلة (Alf Laylah wa-Laylah).
ألف ليلة وليلة is the title of a famous collection of Middle Eastern folk tales.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "One thousand nights and a night".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the word Laylah (night) in its singular form for the final "and one night" part of the title.
How do you pronounce it?
Alf Laylah wa-Laylah
Did you know?
- The word ألف (thousand) originates from a Proto-Semitic root meaning 'to tame' or 'to be familiar with', suggesting an original link to intimacy and instruction.
- While English calls the collection 'Arabian Nights', the Arabic title ألف ليلة وليلة makes no mention of Arabia or any specific nationality.
- The word ليلة (night) is a 'singulative' noun, created by adding a suffix to the general concept of nighttime ليل to make it a single, countable unit.
Examples in context
- أنا أحب قصة ألف ليلة وليلة.ana uḥibbu qiṣṣata alf layla wa-layla.I love the story of Arabian Nights.
- هل قرأت كتاب ألف ليلة وليلة؟hal qara'ta kitāb alf layla wa-layla?Have you read the book Arabian Nights?
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing books at a cafe.
- زياد Ziadهل تعرفين ألف ليلة وليلة يا ليلى؟hal ta'rifīna alf layla wa-layla yā Laylā?Do you know Arabian Nights, Layla?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، لقد قرأتها مرتين.na'am, laqad qara'tu-hā marratayn.Yes, I have read it twice.
- زياد Ziadهي رائعة جداً، أليس كذلك؟hiya rā'i'atun jiddan, alaysa ka-dhālik?It is very wonderful, isn't it?
- ليلى Laylaبالتأكيد، قصصها ساحرة.bi-tta'kīd, qiṣaṣu-hā sāḥira.Certainly, its stories are enchanting.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ألف, ليلة, CC BY-SA 4.0.
