قرد أسود
qird aswad
The English phrase "black monkey" is قرد أسود (qird aswad) in Arabic.
The phrase is used to describe a monkey that has black fur.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase قرد أسود, the adjective for black (aswad) follows the noun for monkey (qird). When referring to multiple black monkeys, the form changes to قرود سوداء. This uses the broken plural for the noun and the feminine plural for the adjective to agree with the non-human plural.
How do you pronounce it?
qird aswad
Did you know?
- In Arabic culture, calling a child a قرد is often a lighthearted way to describe them as mischievous.
- The word قرد is related to the word ḳərd in Ge'ez, which is the ancient liturgical language of Ethiopia.
- The Arabic language uses different words for 'black' depending on whether you are describing a person, a fabric or a dark sky.
Examples in context
- هل هذا قرد أسود؟hal hadha qirdun aswad?Is this a black monkey?
- هناك قرد أسود على الشجرة.hunaka qirdun aswad 'ala al-shajara.There is a black monkey on the tree.
Example conversation
Yousef and Layla are visiting a zoo.
- ليلى Laylaانظر يا يوسف، هناك قرد أسود!unzur ya Yousef, hunaka qirdun aswad!Look Yousef, there is a black monkey!
- يوسف Youssefنعم، إنه قرد أسود جميل جداً.na'am, innahu qirdun aswad jamil jiddan.Yes, it is a very beautiful black monkey.
- ليلى Laylaهل هو جائع؟hal huwa ja'i'?Is he hungry?
- يوسف Youssefأعتقد ذلك، ليلى.a'taqid dhalika, Layla.I think so, Layla.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries أسود, قرد, CC BY-SA 4.0.
