مَاس
māsmasculine
The English word diamond is مَاس (mās) in Arabic. Wiktionary also lists أَلْمَاسَة (ʔalmāsa) and أَلْمَاس (ʔalmās).
Meaning: gemstone (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مَاس | mās | masculine |
| أَلْمَاسَة | ʔalmāsa | feminine, singulative |
| أَلْمَاس | ʔalmās | collective, masculine |
| مَاسَة | māsa | feminine, singulative |
In Arabic, the terms used for diamond depend on whether you are referring to the gemstone as a concept, a specific piece or a material.
Which one should you use?
The collective noun أَلْمَاس is used to refer to the substance or the material of diamonds in general. The base form مَاس is used when discussing the gemstone as a concept or a material.
How does it change in a sentence?
The base form مَاس is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
mās
Did you know?
- The word مَاس is a loanword that entered Arabic from the Greek word 'adamas', which means 'unconquerable' or 'invincible'.
- In Arabic, the gemstone مَاس and the geometric rhombus shape مُعَيَّن are entirely different words, unlike in English where 'diamond' describes both.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, calling someone a مَاسَة is a high compliment, suggesting the person is rare, precious, and possesses a pure heart.
Examples in context
- هذا الخاتم فيه مَاس.hadha al-khatim fihi mas.This ring has a diamond in it.
- الْمَاسُ غَالٍ جِدًّا.al-masu ghalin jiddan.Diamond is very expensive.
- يَلْمَعُ الْمَاسُ تَحْتَ الضَّوْءِ.yalma'u al-masu tahta al-daw'i.The diamond shines under the light.
Example conversation
Layla and Ahmed are at a jewelry store.
- ليلى Laylaانظر يا أحمد، هذا العقد من مَاس!Unzur ya Ahmed, hadha al-iqd min mas!Look Ahmed, this necklace is made of diamond!
- أحمد Ahmedإنه جميل جداً ولامع.Innahu jamil jiddan wa lami'.It is very beautiful and shiny.
- ليلى Laylaهل تعتقد أن سعره غالٍ؟Hal ta'taqid anna si'rahu ghalin?Do you think its price is expensive?
- أحمد Ahmedنعم، لأن المَاس نادر وثمين.Na'am, li'anna al-mas nadir wa thamin.Yes, because diamond is rare and precious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “diamond” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
