باب
bāb/baːb/Egyptian Arabic, masculine
The Arabic word for door is باب (bāb). Wiktionary also lists أَبْوَاب (ar) and بَاب (bāb).
Meaning: portal of entry into a building, room or vehicle (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| باب | bāb | /baːb/ | Egyptian Arabic, masculine |
| أَبْوَاب | ar | masculine, plural | |
| بَاب | bāb | masculine |
The word is used to refer to a portal of entry into a building, a room or a vehicle.
Which one should you use?
The singular form is بَاب or باب, while the plural form is أَبْوَاب.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the word is written as باب.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun بَاب is masculine. The plural form of بَاب is أَبْوَاب.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is bāb.
Did you know?
- Some linguists suggest that because early Arabs lived primarily in tents, the word بَاب may actually be a borrowing from Aramaic or Akkadian rather than being an indigenous Semitic term.
- In classical Arabic literature and law, the word باب is often used to mean a 'chapter' or 'section' of a book.
- The expression فتح باب literally means 'opening a door' but is commonly used to describe the start of a registration period or a job application window.
Examples in context
- كان باب سامي مقفلا.Sami's door was locked.This sentence shows how to describe a door that is locked using باب.Tatoeba #7151178 by OsoHombre, translation #6567019 by OsoHombre
- دخل غوستافو بابا آخر.Gustavo walked into another door.This sentence illustrates the use of باب when entering a different door.Tatoeba #11960079 by dididodo, translation #11769671 by Amastan
- قرع سامي على باب ليلى.Sami knocked on Layla's door.This sentence demonstrates knocking on a door using باب.Tatoeba #7029796 by OsoHombre, translation #6690663 by OsoHombre
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nour and Ziad are standing in front of their apartment.
- نور Nourفين مفتاح باب الشقة؟fen meftah bab el sha'a?Where is the apartment door key?
- زياد Ziadأنا مش لاقيه يا نور.ana mesh la'ee ya nour.I can't find it, Nour.
- نور Nourبص ورا الباب ده.boss wara el bab dah.Look behind this door.
- زياد Ziadلقيته! كان واقع على الأرض.la'etoh! kan wa'e' ala el ard.I found it! It was on the floor.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “door” translations and entries باب, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries باب, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
