لِحَاف
liḥāfmasculine
The English word blanket can be translated into Arabic as لِحَاف (liḥāf), بَطَّانِيَّة or حِرَام.
Meaning: fabric (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| لِحَاف | liḥāf | masculine |
| بَطَّانِيَّة | baṭṭāniyya | feminine |
| حِرَام | ḥirām | masculine |
Which one should you use?
While all three words mean blanket, لِحَاف specifically refers to a thicker, heavier blanket or a duvet/comforter. The word حِرَام is a common colloquial term for a blanket. بَطَّانِيَّة is a feminine form used for blankets.
Is it said differently in some regions?
حِرَام is a common colloquial term, particularly in Levantine dialects.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the standard word لِحَاف is لِحَافَات. The plural form of the feminine word بَطَّانِيَّة is بَطَّانِيَّات.
How do you pronounce it?
liḥāf
Did you know?
- In many Arabic dialects, the word حِرَام sounds exactly like the word for 'forbidden' or 'sinful'. This can lead to humorous confusion if the context of bedding is not clear.
- The plural لِحَافَات uses a feminine plural ending even though the singular لِحَاف is masculine.
- The term لِحَاف is often used in poetic Arabic literature to describe things that cover or envelop, such as 'the blanket of night' or 'a blanket of snow'.
Examples in context
- أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى لِحَافٍ دَافِئٍ.ahtāju ilā liḥāfin dāfi'in.I need a warm blanket.
- هَذَا لِحَافٌ جَدِيدٌ.hādhā liḥāfun jadīdun.This is a new blanket.
Example conversation
A husband and wife are preparing the bedroom for the night.
- يوسف Youssefهَلْ نَسِيتِ لِحَافَ السَّرِيرِ؟hal nasīti liḥāfa as-sarīri?Did you forget the bed blanket?
- سارة Saraلَا، لِحَافُ السَّرِيرِ فِي الْخِزَانَةِ.lā, liḥāfu as-sarīri fī al-khizānati.No, the bed blanket is in the closet.
- يوسف Youssefحَسَنًا، سَأُحْضِرُهُ الآنَ.ḥasanan, sa-uḥḍiruhu al-ān.Okay, I will bring it now.
- سارة Saraشُكْرًا لَكَ يَا يُوسُفُ.shukran laka yā yūsufu.Thank you, Yusuf.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “blanket” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
