بسكويت مملح
baskawīt mumallah
The English phrase "cracker" can be translated into Arabic as بسكويت مملح (baskawīt mumallah).
The term refers to a crispy baked bread that is typically salty or savoury.
Meaning: crispy baked bread, usually salty or savoury (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of بسكويت (biscuit) and مملح (salted).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, you may also use بسكويت مالح to mean salty biscuit or بسكويت مقرمش to mean crispy biscuit.
How do you pronounce it?
baskawīt mumallah
Did you know?
- Because بسكويت is a loanword, it does not follow the standard Arabic triliteral root system that governs almost every other word in the language.
- The word بسكويت is a direct linguistic traveler from French, specifically from the word 'biscuit', which originally meant 'twice-baked' in Middle French.
- While بسكويت مملح describes a cracker, Arabic has a separate category of 'savory pastries' called معجنات that often fill the same role as crackers in appetizers.
Examples in context
- جبت بسكويت مالح للأصدقاء اليوم.I brought salty biscuits for the friends today.
- هل هذا بسكويت مملح أم حلو؟Hal hadha baskuit mumallah am hulw?Is this a salty cracker or a sweet one?
Example conversation
Ahmed and Mariam are preparing a snack in the kitchen.
- أحمد Ahmedيا مريم، هل لدينا بسكويت مملح؟Ya Mariam, hal ladayna baskuit mumallah?Mariam, do we have any salty crackers?
- مريم Maryamنعم، يوجد في الخزانة.Na'am, yujad fi al-khizana.Yes, there are some in the cupboard.
- أحمد Ahmedرائع، سأحضره الآن.Ra'i', sa-uhdiruhu al-an.Great, I will bring them now.
- مريم Maryamشكراً لك يا أحمد.Shukran laka ya Ahmed.Thank you, Ahmed.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries بسكويت, CC BY-SA 4.0.
