ذرة
dhurah
The English word 'corn' can be translated into Arabic as ذرة (dhurah).
This term refers to the cereal plant that produces large grains on a cob, which can be eaten as corn on the cob or processed into cornmeal.
Which one should you use?
dhurra is a formal variation of the word.
How do you pronounce it?
dhurah
Did you know?
- In some Arabic dialects, the word for 'atom' is also ذرة, meaning the word for 'corn' and the word for the smallest unit of matter are identical.
- In many Arab countries, grilled corn on the cob is a ubiquitous street food often seasoned with lime and salt rather than butter.
- The word ذرة shares a linguistic root with the verb meaning 'to scatter' or 'to strew', likely referencing the way tiny grains are scattered when harvested or sowed.
Examples in context
- أحب الذرة.I love corn.
- هل تعتقد أن الذرة صحية؟Do you think corn is healthy?
Example conversation
Layla and Ziad are at a street food market.
- ليلى Laylaانظر يا زياد، هناك بائع ذرة!Unzur ya Ziyad, hunaka ba'i' dhura!Look Ziad, there is a corn seller!
- زياد Ziadهل تريدين شراء بعض الذرة؟Hal turidina shira' ba'd al-dhura?Do you want to buy some corn?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، أريد واحدة بالزبدة من فضلك.Na'am, uridu wahida bil-zubda min fadlak.Yes, I want one with butter please.
- زياد Ziadسأشتري لك واحدة الآن.Sa-ashtari laki wahida al-an.I will buy one for you now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ذرة, CC BY-SA 4.0.
