شتائم
The phrase curse words in Arabic is شتائم.
While شتائم refers to the curse words themselves, the verb or noun سب is often used to describe the actual act of swearing or insulting someone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word شتائم is a broken plural noun. Its singular form, which means a single curse word, is شتيمة.
Did you know?
- There is a distinct difference between سب (insulting someone) and لعن (cursing someone), where the latter specifically asks God to remove His mercy from the person.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, the most offensive شتائم involve the mother or sisters, making certain words much more taboo than the 'f-word' is in English.
- In many Arabic dialects, a person who constantly uses شتائم is often called a سليط اللسان, which literally translates to 'one with a sharp tongue'.
Example conversation
Layla and Omar are talking about a fight they saw.
- ليلى Laylaهل سمعت ماذا قال عمر؟hal sami'ti madha qala Omar?Did you hear what Omar said?
- عمر Omarنعم، لقد استخدم الكثير من شتائم.na'am, laqad istakhdama al-kathir min shata'im.Yes, he used a lot of curse words.
- ليلى Laylaهذا تصرف غير لائق أبداً.hadha tasarruf ghayr la'iq abadan.This is completely inappropriate behavior.
- عمر Omarأنا أتفق معك يا ليلى.ana attafiq ma'aki ya Layla.I agree with you, Layla.
