ذئب البراري
dhi'b al-barārī
The English word coyote is translated into Arabic as ذئب البراري (dhi'b al-barārī).
ذئب البراري is used to refer to the coyote, a canine species.
Meaning: canine (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ذئب (wolf) and البراري (the wilderness or open lands/prairies).
How do you pronounce it?
dhi'b al-barārī
Did you know?
- In some Arabic dialects, calling someone a ذئب is actually a compliment meaning they are sharp, clever and capable.
- In classical Arabic poetry, the ذئب often represents the loneliness of the desert wanderer or the cruelty of fate.
- The word ذئب (wolf) used in the phrase is a direct descendant of the Proto-Semitic root *ḏiʔb-, a linguistic ancestor shared by many languages in the Middle East.
Examples in context
- صوت ذئب البراري مسموع ليلاً.Sawt dhi'b al-barari masmu' laylan.The sound of a coyote is heard at night.
Example conversation
Ziad and Maryam are watching a nature documentary on TV.
- زياد Ziadانظري، هذا ذئب البراري.Unzuri, hadha dhi'b al-barari.Look, that is a coyote.
- مريم Maryamإنه يبدو سريعاً جداً يا زياد.Innahu yabdu sari'an jiddan ya Ziad.It looks very fast, Ziad.
- زياد Ziadنعم، هو حيوان ذكي.Na'am, huwa hayawan dhaki.Yes, it is a smart animal.
- مريم Maryamأنا أحب مراقبة ذئب البراري.Ana uhibbu muraqabat dhi'b al-barari.I love watching the coyote.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ذئب, CC BY-SA 4.0.
