ظَهْر
ẓahrmasculine
The English word "back" is translated into Arabic as ظَهْر (ẓahr). Wiktionary also lists ظَهَر (ḍahar).
Meaning: the rear of body (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ظَهْر | ẓahr | masculine |
| ظَهَر | ḍahar | Hijazi Arabic, masculine |
The word ظَهْر refers to the anatomical rear of the body. When referring to the physical back of a person or an object, the form الظهر (adh-dhar) is used. If you need to describe something located at the rear, such as a "back seat", use the adjective خَلْفِيّ instead.
Which one should you use?
While ظَهْر is the noun for the anatomical body part, the related adjective خَلْفِيّ is used to describe the position of something, meaning "rear" or "back".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Moroccan dialect, the phrase لورا (l-wara) is used to mean "to the back". In the Hijazi-Arabic dialect, the form ظَهَر (ḍahar) is used.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
ẓahr
Did you know?
- In Arabic, the word ظَهْر (ẓahr) can also refer to 'noon' or 'midday' in certain contexts. This connection is linked to the sun reaching its highest point in the sky, directly above one's back.
- The phrase كسر ظهري meaning 'he broke my back' is frequently used in Arabic to express profound grief or the emotional devastation of losing a provider, rather than a physical injury.
- While ظَهْر describes the body, the word for the 'back' of a book or document is غِلَاف, which actually means 'cover'.
Examples in context
- ممكن تطلع لورا بالصف؟ (momkin titla' l-wara bil-saff?)Could you please move to the back of the line?
- أشعر بألم في ظَهْرِي.ash'uru bi-alam fi ẓahrī.I feel a pain in my back.
- يجب أن تجلس بشكل مستقيم لسلامة ظَهْرِكَ.yajibu an tajlisa bishaklin mustaqīmin lisalāmati ẓahrika.You must sit straight for the safety of your back.
- حمل الحقيبة الثقيلة يؤلم ظَهْرِي.ḥamlu al-ḥaqībati al-thaqīlati yu'limu ẓahrī.Carrying the heavy bag hurts my back.
Example conversation
Layla and Yusuf are talking at home about his posture.
- ليلى Laylaهل أنت بخير يا يوسف؟hal anta bikhayrin ya Yusuf?Are you okay, Yusuf?
- يوسف Youssefنعم، لكن ظَهْرِي يؤلمني قليلاً.na'am, lakin ẓahrī yu'limunī qalīlan.Yes, but my back hurts a little.
- ليلى Laylaربما تحتاج إلى استراحة.rubbamā taḥtāju ilā istirāḥah.Maybe you need a break.
- يوسف Youssefأعتقد أنكِ على حق.a'taqidu annaki 'alā ḥaq.I think you are right.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “back” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
