فلفل حار
filfil hārr
The English phrase "chilli" is translated into Arabic as فلفل حار (filfil hārr).
The term فلفل حار refers to a small spicy pepper used in cooking to add heat to food. The core term فلفل specifically refers to a pepper.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the noun فلفل (pepper) and the adjective حار (hot/spicy).
Which one should you use?
To specify a bell pepper or a non-spicy pepper, you would use فلفل حلو (sweet pepper) instead of فلفل حار.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The Levantine dialect uses the term فلفل حار for "chilli".
How does it change in a sentence?
In Arabic, the adjective حار follows the noun فلفل and agrees in gender. If referring to a single pepper, it remains فلفل حار.
How do you pronounce it?
filfil hārr
Did you know?
- The word فلفل was used in Arabic long before the chilli pepper was brought to the region from the Americas. It originally referred to black pepper.
- In some contexts, describing a person as حار can imply they are intense or passionate, mirroring how the chili pepper is intense.
- The Arabic word فلفل actually comes from the Sanskrit word 'pippali' for long pepper. This shows how ancient spice trade routes linked India and the Arab world.
Examples in context
- هذه الشطة حارة جدًا!This chilli is very hot!
- أنا لا أستطيع تحمل الفلفل الحار!I can't handle spicy chilli!
- أريد إضافة فلفل حار إلى السلطة.uridu idafata filfil har ila al-salata.I want to add chilli to the salad.
- اشتريت فلفل حار من السوق اليوم.ishtaraytu filfil har min al-suq al-yawm.I bought chilli from the market today.
Example conversation
Maryam and Ziyad are cooking dinner together in the kitchen.
- مريم Maryamزياد، هل تريد وضع فلفل حار في الطبخة؟Ziyad, hal turid wad' felfel har fi al-tabkha?Ziyad, do you want to put chilli in the dish?
- زياد Ziadنعم، أضف القليل من فضلك.Na'am, adif al-qalil min fadlak.Yes, add a little please.
- مريم Maryamسأضع قطعة واحدة فقط.Sa-ada' qit'a wahida faqat.I will put only one piece.
- زياد Ziadهذا ممتاز، شكراً لكِ يا مريم.Hadha mumtaz, shukran laki ya Maryam.That is excellent, thank you Maryam.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries حار, فلفل, CC BY-SA 4.0.
