كرة السلة
kurat al-salla
The Arabic word for basketball is كرة السلة (kurat al-salla).
The term refers to the sport of basketball.
Meaning: the sport (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of kurat (ball) and al-salla (the basket).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Lebanon or Syria, the term كُرة سَلّة is used for basketball.
How do you pronounce it?
kurat al-salla
Did you know?
- The word كُرَة (ball) likely shares an ancient ancestor with the Sumerian word 'GUR', which referred to a bundle of rolled barley.
- In many Arabic-speaking countries, the word كرة is also used to describe the globe or the planet Earth through the phrase الكرة الأرضية.
- While كرة السلة is the standard term, basketball is often just called السلة (the basket) in casual sports conversations among Arabic speakers.
Examples in context
- زيري يلعب كرة السلة.Ziri plays basketball.This sentence is useful for saying that someone plays كرة السلة.Tatoeba #10240368 by Amastan, translation #10216034 by Amastan
- هل يحب توم كرة السلة؟Does Tom like basketball?This sentence is useful for asking if someone likes كرة السلة.Tatoeba #7739575 by MisterBrown, translation #7737893 by CK
- لعبنا كرة السلة بالأمس.We played basketball yesterday.This sentence is useful for stating that a group played كرة السلة in the past.Tatoeba #617301 by saeb, translation #248740 by CK
- أنا أحب لعب كُرة السلّة.I love playing basketball.
- في فريق باسكت في مدرستي.There's a basketball team in my school.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ahmed and Layla are talking about their hobbies.
- أحمد Ahmedأنا أحب كرة السلة كثيراً.Ana uhibbu kurat as-salla kathiran.I love basketball very much.
- ليلى Laylaهل تلعب كرة السلة كل يوم؟Hal tal'ab kurat as-salla kulla yawm?Do you play basketball every day?
- أحمد Ahmedنعم، ألعبها مع أصدقائي.Na'am, al'abuha ma'a as-diqa'i.Yes, I play it with my friends.
- ليلى Laylaهذا رائع يا أحمد!Hadha ra'i' ya Ahmed!That is great, Ahmed!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries كرة, كرة السلة, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
