مَخْبَأ
maḵbaʔmasculine
The English word 'bunker' can be translated into Arabic as مَخْبَأ (maḵbaʔ) or قَبْو.
Meaning: hardened shelter designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مَخْبَأ | maḵbaʔ | masculine |
| قَبْو | qabw | masculine |
What does it mean word for word?
The word مَخْبَأ is derived from the root خ–ب–أ (kh-b-') which means to hide or conceal.
Which one should you use?
مَخْبَأ is a general term for a hiding place or shelter, whereas قَبْو specifically refers to a cellar or underground vault. قَبْو is used when the 'bunker' is a subterranean room or cellar, often used for storage or as a structural basement.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both مَخْبَأ and قَبْو are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
maḵbaʔ
Did you know?
- In classical Arabic literature, the concept of a 'hiding place' often carries a poetic connotation of privacy or intimacy, rather than just physical protection.
- While قَبْو means 'bunker' or 'cellar', it is also the architectural term for a 'vault' or 'arch', referring to the curved shape of the ceiling.
- The word مَخْبَأ can be used metaphorically in Arabic to describe a 'cache' of information or a hidden truth, much like how 'bunker' is strictly physical in English.
Examples in context
- هذا مَخْبَأ قديم.hadha makhba' qadim.This is an old bunker.
Example conversation
Ziad and Nour are discussing a historical site during a tour.
- زياد Ziadهل هذا مَخْبَأ حربي؟hal hadha makhba' harbi?Is this a military bunker?
- نور Nourنعم، هو مَخْبَأ قديم جداً.na'am, huwa makhba' qadim jiddan.Yes, it is a very old bunker.
- زياد Ziadأين يقع مدخل المَخْبَأ؟ayna yaqa' madkhal al-makhba'?Where is the bunker entrance located?
- نور Nourالمدخل خلف هذا الجدار.al-madkhal khalf hadha al-jidar.The entrance is behind this wall.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bunker” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
