طَلَاق
ṭalāqmasculine
The English word "divorce" is translated into Arabic as طَلَاق (ṭalāq). Wiktionary also lists تَطْلِيق (taṭlīq) and خُلْع (ḵulʕ).
Meaning: legal dissolution of a marriage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| طَلَاق | ṭalāq | masculine |
| تَطْلِيق | taṭlīq | masculine |
| خُلْع | ḵulʕ | masculine |
The term refers to the legal dissolution of a marriage. While طَلَاق is the standard noun for the concept, other forms exist to specify the initiator or the legal nature of the proceedings.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on who initiates the divorce and the context of the word. طَلَاق refers to a divorce initiated by the husband. In contrast, خُلْع refers specifically to a divorce initiated by the wife, often involving the return of the dowry. Furthermore, while طَلَاق is the standard noun for the concept, تَطْلِيق is used to describe the legal process or the specific act of a divorce being enacted.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
All three nouns provided, طَلَاق, تَطْلِيق and خُلْع, are masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
ṭalāq
Did you know?
- The root letters of طَلَاق (ط ل ق) are also used in words describing 'looseness' or 'fluency' in speech, suggesting a movement from restriction to flow.
- The term خُلْع is derived from a word meaning 'to take off a garment'. This metaphorically describes the wife removing the marriage bond like a piece of clothing.
- In traditional contexts, a husband could pronounce طَلَاق three times in a row to make the divorce immediate and irrevocable, leaving no room for reconciliation.
Examples in context
- قررت أن تتقدم بطلب الطلاقShe decided to file for divorce
Sources
- Wiktionary, “divorce” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
