مجنونة
majnūnah
The English phrase "crazy girl" is translated into Arabic as مجنونة (majnūnah).
مجنونة can be used literally to describe someone with a mental illness or figuratively to describe someone acting irrationally or impulsively.
How do you pronounce it?
majnūnah
Did you know?
- The root of مجنونة comes from the word جن, which means 'to hide' or 'cover'. To be 'crazy' in Arabic is literally to have one's intellect covered or veiled.
- The phrase is central to the famous legend of مجنون ليلى, the 'Crazy Man of Layla', a foundational story of unrequited love that is known across the Arab world.
- While 'crazy girl' is often a lighthearted insult in English, calling someone مجنونة in many Arabic dialects can carry a much heavier, more stigmatizing weight regarding their actual sanity.
Examples in context
- القصة لا تصدق! قابلت فتاة مجنونة هناك.The story is unbelievable! I met a crazy girl there.
- ما يحدث؟ لماذا تصرخ هكذا؟ أنت بنت مجنونة!What's happening? Why are you screaming like this? You're a crazy girl!
- هي فتاة مجنونة.hiya fatat majnoona.She is a crazy girl.
Example conversation
Omar and Sarah are discussing a strange woman they saw in the park.
- عمر Omarهل رأيتِ تلك المرأة؟hal ra'ayti tilka al-mar'a?Did you see that woman?
- سارة Saraنعم، كانت مجنونة جداً.na'am, kanat majnoona jiddan.Yes, she was very crazy.
- عمر Omarلقد كانت تتصرف بغرابة.laqad kanat tata-arraf bi-gharaba.She was acting strangely.
- سارة Saraإنها تبدو مجنونة تماماً.innaha tabdu majnoona tamaman.She seems completely crazy.
