مَلُول
malūlmasculine
The English word 'bored' can be translated into Arabic as مَلُول (malūl) or ضَجِر.
Meaning: suffering from boredom (adj)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مَلُول | malūl | masculine |
| ضَجِر | ḍajir | masculine |
The term is used to describe a person experiencing boredom or a tendency toward it. The choice between the available forms depends on whether you are describing a person's character or a temporary emotional state.
Which one should you use?
The form مَلُول (malūl) implies a person who is prone to boredom or easily bored as a personality trait. In contrast, ضَجِر (ḍajir) is more commonly used to describe the temporary state of feeling annoyed, weary or bored with a specific situation.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the feminine versions of these adjectives, add a feminine ending: the feminine form of مَلُول is مَلُولَة (malūlah) and the feminine form of ضَجِر is ضَجِرَة (ḍajirah).
How do you pronounce it?
malūl
Did you know?
- In many Arabic dialects, people avoid using formal words like ضجر and instead say زهقان, which literally means 'squeezed' or 'pressed'. This reflects a cultural metaphor of boredom as pressure.
- The word ضجر is closely linked to the sound of sighing or complaining. To be 'bored' in this sense is historically tied to the audible expression of frustration.
- In Arabic, the concept of boredom is often expressed as a feeling of 'tightness' or 'constriction' in the chest, using the root ضيق. This describes boredom as a physical sensation of being trapped rather than just a lack of interest.
Examples in context
- أشعر بالملل.I feel bored.
- الواجبات مملة.The tasks are boring.
Example conversation
Sara and Omar are waiting at a bus stop.
- سارة Saraلماذا تبدو مَلُولاً يا عمر؟Limadha tabdu maloolan ya Omar?Why do you look bored, Omar?
- عمر Omarأنا مَلُول لأن الحافلة تأخرت.Ana malool li'anna al-hafila ta'akharat.I am bored because the bus is late.
- سارة Saraيمكننا التحدث حتى تصل.Yumkinuna al-tahaduth hatta tasil.We can talk until it arrives.
- عمر Omarهذه فكرة جيدة جداً.Hadhihi fikra jayyida jiddan.That is a very good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bored” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
