Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مَلَابِس | malābis | feminine |
| ثِيَاب | ṯiyāb | feminine |
| كِسْوَة | kiswa | feminine |
These terms all refer to apparel. مَلَابِس is the standard word used in everyday speech, while ثِيَاب is more literary and كِسْوَة is used for specific sets of clothing or single garments, often in ceremonial or religious contexts.
Which one should you use?
مَلَابِس is the most common and standard way to refer to clothes in everyday Arabic. ثِيَاب is a more formal or literary term frequently found in classical or poetic contexts. كِسْوَة is a specific term used to describe a single garment or a particular set of clothing.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the term for clothes is مَلَابِس. In Levantine Arabic, مَلَابِس is also used. In Gulf Arabic, the term ثِيَاب is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word مَلَابِس is a broken plural form, which means it does not follow the standard patterns for sound plurals.
How do you pronounce it?
malābis
Did you know?
- The word كِسْوَة is most famously associated with the 'Kiswah', the black silk cloth that covers the Kaaba in Mecca, which is replaced annually in a massive ceremonial event.
- The word هِنْدَام is used instead of مَلَابِس when you are talking about someone's 'outfit' or their overall sense of style and grooming.
- In classical literature, the term لِبَاس can be used to describe something abstract, like 'the clothing of the soul', to signify an inseparable quality.
Examples in context
- أحب الثياب الجميلة.I love beautiful clothes.
- أين يمكنني شراء الثياب؟Where can I buy clothes?
- مش عايز أشتري ملابس جديدة.I don't want to buy new clothes.
- وين أقدر ألقى أحلى ثياب؟Where can I find the best clothes?
- أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى مَلَابِس جَدِيدَة.ahtaju ila malabis jadida.I need new clothes.
Example conversation
Omar and Sara are preparing for a trip.
- عمر Omarهَلْ جَهَّزْتِ كُلَّ المَلَابِس؟hal jahhazti kulla al-malabis?Did you prepare all the clothes?
- سارة Saraنَعَم، وَضَعْتُهَا فِي الحَقِيبَةِ.na'am, wadatuha fi al-haqiba.Yes, I put them in the bag.
- عمر Omarهَلْ هُنَاكَ مَلَابِس لِلشِّتَاءِ أَيْضًا؟hal hunaka malabis lil-shita' aydan?Are there winter clothes too?
- سارة Saraلَا، الجَوُّ دَافِئٌ هُنَاكَ.la, al-jawwu dafi' hunaka.No, the weather is warm there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clothes” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
