Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مَبْنَى | mabnā | masculine |
| بِنَاء | bināʔ | feminine |
| دَار | dār | feminine |
| بِنَايَة | bināya | feminine |
| عِمَارَة | ʕimāra | feminine |
These terms all refer to a closed structure with walls and a roof, but they are used in different contexts: مَبْنَى is a general term for any building, while عِمَارَة specifically refers to an apartment building or a large residential block. دَار is often used to refer to a house or a large estate, rather than a modern commercial building and بِنَاء can mean the physical structure of a building, but it is also the verbal noun for the act of 'construction' itself.
What does it mean word for word?
The word مَبْنَى is a noun derived from the root b-n-y (to build), specifically using the pattern for a noun of place or result.
Which one should you use?
مَبْنَى is a general term for any building. In contrast, عِمَارَة specifically refers to an apartment building or a large residential block. بِنَاء can mean the physical structure of a building, but it is also the verbal noun for the act of 'construction' itself. Additionally, دَار is often used to refer to a house or a large estate, rather than a modern commercial building.
How do you pronounce it?
mabnā
Did you know?
- The root of مَبْنَى, which is b-n-y, is also the foundation for the word for 'son' in Arabic, ابْن, which literally translates to 'the built one'.
- While عِمَارَة means an apartment building, the same word is used to describe the concept of 'civilization' or 'humanity' in a broader sense.
- The word دَار is used in the names of historical institutions, such as 'Dar al-Hikma', meaning 'House of Wisdom'.
Examples in context
- ما هذه العمارة العالية؟What is this tall building?
- توجد العديد من العمارات الحديثة في وسط المدينة.There are many modern buildings in the city center.
- ماذا تظن عن هذه البناية؟What do you think of this building?
- رأيت بناية جديدة قرب المطعم.I saw a new building near the restaurant.
- هَذَا مَبْنَى قَدِيمٌ.hādhā mabnā qadīm.This is an old building.
- الْمَبْنَى جَدِيدٌ وَكَبِيرٌ.al-mabnā jadīd wa kabīr.The building is new and large.
- أَنَا أَعْرِفُ هَذَا الْمَبْنَى.anā a'rifu hādhā al-mabnā.I know this building.
Example conversation
Nour and Yusef are looking for a specific office.
- نور Nourهل هذا هو مَبْنَى الشركة؟hal hadha huwa mabna ash-sharikah?Is this the company building?
- يوسف Youssefلا، هذا مَبْنَى آخر يا نور.la, hadha mabna akhar ya Nour.No, this is another building, Nour.
- نور Nourأين المَبْنَى الصحيح إذاً؟ayna al-mabna as-sahih idhan?Where is the correct building then?
- يوسف Youssefإنه المَبْنَى الذي في نهاية الشارع.innahu al-mabna alladhi fi nihayat ash-shari'.It is the building at the end of the street.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “building” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
