تمساح
timsāḥ
The Arabic word for crocodile is تمساح (timsāḥ).
The word تمساح is a noun used to refer to the reptile known as a crocodile.
Meaning: reptile (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
While تمساح is the singular form, the plural form for crocodiles is تماسيح.
How do you pronounce it?
timsāḥ
Did you know?
- Ancient Egyptians viewed the ancestor of the تمساح as a manifestation of the god Sobek, who was often depicted as a crocodile.
- The root of تمساح avoids the typical three-letter root system found in most Arabic words, which is a clue to its non-Arabic origin.
- In some Arabic dialects, تمساح is used as a slang term to describe someone who is cunning, greedy or a predatory opportunist.
Examples in context
- عضّ تمساحٌ ساقه.His leg was bitten by a crocodile.This sentence illustrates the use of تمساح in a sentence about a bite.Tatoeba #629021 by Samer, translation #287066 by CK
- رأيت تمساحا كبيرا في النهر.I saw a big crocodile in the river.
- رأيتُ تمساحاً كبيراً في الحديقة.ra'aytu timsāḥan kabīran fī al-ḥadīqa.I saw a big crocodile in the park.
Example conversation
Nour and Yusuf are watching a nature documentary together.
- نور Nourهل هذا تمساح حقيقي؟hal hādhā timsāḥ ḥaqīqī?Is this a real crocodile?
- يوسف Youssefنعم، إنه تمساح ضخم جداً.na'am, innahu timsāḥ ḍakhm jiddan.Yes, it is a very huge crocodile.
- نور Nourأنا خائفة منه يا يوسف.anā khā'ifa minhu yā yūsuf.I am afraid of it, Yusuf.
- يوسف Youssefلا تقلقي، نحن نشاهده في التلفاز فقط.lā taqlaqī, naḥnu nushāhiduhu fī al-tilfāz faqaṭ.Don't worry, we are only watching it on TV.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
