طبيب
tabib
The English phrase "doctor" is translated into Arabic as طبيب (tabib).
The word refers to a person who is qualified to treat people who are ill.
Which one should you use?
While دكتور is a commonly used loanword in spoken Arabic, طبيب is the standard, formal term used in Modern Standard Arabic and professional contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, دكتور is the standard term used for both formal and informal situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify a female doctor, add the feminine suffix to the end of the word to get طبيبة. The plural form of طبيب is أطباء, which follows a broken plural pattern. You can also form specialized titles by adding the body part, such as طبيب الأسنان for dentist or طبيب العيون for ophthalmologist.
How do you pronounce it?
tabib
Did you know?
- While طبيب refers to the medical practitioner, the term حكيم was historically used for doctors and meant 'the wise one', reflecting a time when medicine and philosophy were inseparable.
- In many social settings, calling someone دكتور is used as a term of respect or social status, even if the person does not actually hold a medical degree.
- The root of طبيب is related to the concept of 'skill' or 'expertise', implying that a doctor is not just someone with a degree but someone with a mastery of a craft.
Examples in context
- هل عثرت على طبيب؟Did you find a doctor?This example shows how to ask if someone found a طبيب.Tatoeba #9688130 by issadouba, translation #1632065 by Amastan
- هل تعرف طبيبا جيدا؟Do you know any good doctor?This example shows how to ask if someone knows a good طبيب.Tatoeba #11228955 by Amghar, translation #1632047 by Amastan
- هدفي أن أصبح طبيباً.My aim is to be a doctor.This example shows how to express an ambition to become a طبيب.Tatoeba #383369 by saeb, translation #251994 by CK
- السلام عليكم دكتورHello, doctor / Peace be upon you, doctor
- أحتاج إلى طبيبI need a doctor
- جدتي تزور الطبيب العام كل شهر.My grandmother visits the general doctor every month.
- السيدة احتاجت إلى استشارة طبيب الأعصاب.The lady needed to consult a neurologist.
- والدي يعمل طبيباً في مستشفى حكومي.My father works as a doctor in a government hospital.
- 89 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Noor and Youssef are talking about a health issue.
- نور Nourأنا أشعر بالتعب، سأزور طبيباً.Ana ash'uru bi-ta'ab, sa-azuru tabiban.I feel tired, I will visit a doctor.
- يوسف Youssefهل لديك طبيب محدد في هذه المدينة؟Hal ladayka tabib muhaddad fi hadhihi al-madina?Do you have a specific doctor in this city?
- نور Nourلا، أحتاج إلى طبيب قريب من هنا.La, ahtaju ila tabib qarib min huna.No, I need a doctor near here.
- يوسف Youssefسأبحث لك عن أفضل طبيب في المنطقة.Sa-abhathu laka 'an afdal tabib fi al-mintaqa.I will look for the best doctor in the area for you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
