طوبة
ṭūba/tˤuː.ba/
The English word 'brick' is translated into Arabic as طوبة (ṭūba).
طوبة refers to a single manufactured brick.
Meaning: a building material (noun)
Which one should you use?
While طوبة refers specifically to a manufactured brick, the term حجر is the more general word for a stone or a block. Additionally, قرميد is sometimes used to indicate a specific type of brick with curved edges.
Is it said differently in some regions?
طوبة is commonly used in many Arabic dialects to refer to a single brick.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of طوبة is طوب.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as ṭūba (/tˤuː.ba/). It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word طوبة is a loanword from the Coptic language, which was the final stage of the ancient Egyptian language.
- The emphatic ط in طوبة is produced by pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth, a sound that fundamentally changes the meaning of the word if replaced with a standard 'T'.
- While طوبة is the standard word for a brick in Egypt, in other Arabic-speaking regions like the Levant, the word طوب is more common for the material regardless of quantity.
Examples in context
- ولكنني سأكون دائماً أميناً معكم حول التحديات التي سنواجهها. وسأصغي إليكم، خاصة حينما نختلف. وفوق كل ذلك، سأطلب منكم المشاركة في الجهود الرامية لإعادة بناء هذه الأمة على نفس النحو الذي اِنتُهِجَ منذ مئتين وواحد وعشرين عاماً؛ حجراً بحجر، وطوبةً طوبة، ويداً أخشنها العمل فوق يد.But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years, block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.This sentence is useful for illustrating the phrase طوبة in the context of building something bit by bit.Tatoeba #376811 by saeb, translation #347776 by pllim
- لبنة حمراءRed brick
- طوب رماديGray brick
- اشتريت طوبة واحدة لبناء الحائط.Ishtaraytu tooba wahida libina' al-ha'it.I bought one brick to build the wall.
Example conversation
Ziad and Maryam are working on a small construction project in the garden.
- مريم Maryamهل تحتاج إلى طوبة أخرى يا زياد؟Hal tahtaj ila tooba ukhra ya Ziad?Do you need another brick, Ziad?
- زياد Ziadنعم، أحتاج إلى طوبة إضافية بسرعة.Na'am, ahtaj ila tooba idafiya bi-sur'a.Yes, I need an extra brick quickly.
- مريم Maryamسأحضر لك هذه الطوبة الحمراء.Sa-uhdiru laka hadhihi al-tooba al-hamra'.I will bring you this red brick.
- زياد Ziadشكراً لكِ يا مريم، أنتِ تساعدينني كثيراً.Shukran laki ya Maryam, anti tusa'idinani kathiran.Thank you, Maryam, you are helping me a lot.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry طوبة, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries طوبة, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
