أعمال
a'māl
The Arabic word for business is أعمال (a'māl).
When referring specifically to a businessman, you use رجل أعمال and for a businesswoman, you use سيدة أعمال.
Meaning: commercial enterprise or establishment (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
أعمال is the plural of عمل (work/action/deed).
Which one should you use?
Use تِجَارَة when focusing specifically on the commerce and trade aspects of business. If you are referring to a specific company, use شَرِكَة and for a formal establishment or corporation, use مَؤَسَّسَة.
How do you pronounce it?
a'māl
Did you know?
- While 'business' in English often implies a neutral commercial entity, using the root of أعمال in a religious or moral context can refer to the 'deeds' a person performs that will be judged in the afterlife.
- The term أعمال is used in many contexts outside of the office, such as in the phrase أعمال فنية to mean 'artistic works', showing that the word describes any output or creation.
- In formal Arabic, the word for a large business corporation, مَؤَسَّسَة, is the same word used for an 'institution' like a university or a foundation.
Examples in context
- أنا في رحلة أعمال.I am on a business trip.This sentence shows how to use أعمال in the context of a business trip.Tatoeba #3053479 by altusi, translation #11820858 by Slam4
- حضر سامي اجتماع أعمال.Sami attended a business meeting.This sentence demonstrates using أعمال when describing a business meeting.Tatoeba #6966282 by OsoHombre, translation #6689626 by OsoHombre
- بُنيت هذه العيادة من طرف رجل أعمال ثري.The clinic was built by a business tycoon.This sentence uses أعمال to refer to a businessman.Tatoeba #6994424 by OsoHombre, translation #6401345 by OsoHombre
Example conversation
Ahmed and Layla are talking about their professional goals.
- أحمد Ahmedهل تريدين بدء أعمال خاصة بك؟Hal turidina bad' a'mal khassa biki?Do you want to start your own business?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، أحلم بإنشاء أعمال في مجال التكنولوجيا.Na'am, ahlamu bi-insha' a'mal fi majal al-tiknuluja.Yes, I dream of starting a business in the field of technology.
- أحمد Ahmedهذه فكرة رائعة يا ليلى.Hadhihi fikra ra'i'a ya Layla.That is a great idea, Layla.
- ليلى Laylaشكراً لك يا أحمد على دعمك.Shukran laka ya Ahmed 'ala da'mika.Thank you, Ahmed, for your support.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
