سَحَاب
saḥābmasculine
The English word "cloud" is translated into Arabic as سَحَاب (saḥāb). Wiktionary also lists غَيْم (ḡaym) and غَمَام (ḡamām).
Meaning: visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| سَحَاب | saḥāb | masculine |
| غَيْم | ḡaym | masculine |
| غَمَام | ḡamām | masculine |
| عَنَان | ʕanān | masculine |
| مُزْن | muzn | masculine |
Which one should you use?
The different forms of the word convey different nuances: غَيْم often refers to the general state of cloudiness or a cloudy sky rather than a single distinct mass. غَمَام is used in literary contexts to describe thin, white clouds or a light mist. مُزْن specifically refers to rain-bearing clouds that are heavy with water. عَنَان is a poetic term for clouds located at the horizon or the very top of the sky.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Gulf Arabic, the term غيم is used to mean cloud.
How does it change in a sentence?
All the provided forms are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
saḥāb
Did you know?
- The word سحاب comes from a root meaning 'to pull' or 'to drag'. This describes the way clouds appear to be drawn across the sky by the wind.
- In traditional Arabic literature, a person of great generosity is sometimes compared to سَحَاب or 'clouds' because they, like rain clouds, provide abundance and life to everyone they touch.
- The term عنان can refer to both the clouds at the horizon and the 'reins' of a horse, suggesting a link between the boundary of the sky and a means of control.
Examples in context
- في السماء يوجد سحابة كبيرة.There is a large cloud in the sky.
- اليوم الجو حلو، في غيم شوي بس.The weather is nice today, just a few clouds.
- هذا سَحَابٌ أبيض وكبير.hadha saḥābun abyaḍu wa kabīr.This is a white and large cloud.
- أرى سَحَاباً في السماء.arā saḥāban fī al-samā'.I see a cloud in the sky.
Example conversation
Yousef and Nour are looking out the window at the weather.
- يوسف Youssefيا نور، انظري إلى ذلك السَّحَاب!yā Nūr, unẓurī ilā dhālika al-saḥāb!Nour, look at that cloud!
- نور Nourنعم، إنه سَحَابٌ داكن جداً.na'am, innahu saḥābun dākin jiddan.Yes, it is a very dark cloud.
- يوسف Youssefأعتقد أن المطر سيسقط قريباً.a'taqidu anna al-maṭara sayasqiṭu qarīban.I think the rain will fall soon.
- نور Nourأنا أيضاً أرى ذلك يا يوسف.anā ayḍan arā dhālika yā Yūsuf.I see that too, Yousef.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cloud” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
