سَكْرَان
sakrānmasculine
The English word 'drunk' is translated into Arabic as سَكْرَان (sakrān). Wiktionary also lists ثَمِل (ṯamil).
Meaning: intoxicated after drinking too much alcohol (adj)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| سَكْرَان | sakrān | masculine |
| ثَمِل | ṯamil | masculine |
The terms used to describe being intoxicated after drinking too much alcohol are primarily adjectives. If you wish to refer to a person who is a habitual drinker or a drunkard, you would use related noun forms such as سِكِّير, خِمِّير or مُعَاقِر.
Which one should you use?
سَكْرَان is the most common and standard way to say 'drunk' in everyday Arabic. In contrast, ثَمِل is a more formal or literary term used to describe someone who is intoxicated or inebriated.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Gulf Arabic, the term سِكْرَان is used to describe someone who is drunk.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
While adjectives like سَكْرَان describe a current state of intoxication, noun forms such as سِكِّير refer specifically to a person who is a habitual drinker.
How do you pronounce it?
sakrān
Did you know?
- In classical Arabic poetry, the state of being ثَمِل is sometimes used metaphorically to describe someone who is 'intoxicated' by love or passion rather than alcohol.
- The root of the word سَكْر is conceptually linked to the idea of 'covering' or 'veiling', suggesting that intoxication is a layer that blocks the mind from reality.
- Because alcohol is prohibited in many Arabic-speaking societies, calling someone سَكْرَان is often used as an insult to suggest they lack sanity or reason.
Examples in context
- هو ثَمِيلHe is drunk
- هُوَ سَكْرَان جِدًّا اليَوْمَ.huwa sakrān jiddan al-yawm.He is very drunk today.
- بَدَا سَكْرَانَ بَعْدَ الحَفْلَةِ.badā sakrān ba‘da al-ḥafalah.He seemed drunk after the party.
Example conversation
Layla and Ziad are talking about a guest at a party.
- ليلى Laylaانظر إلى زياد، هل هو سَكْرَان؟unzur ila Ziyad, hal huwa sakran?Look at Ziad, is he drunk?
- زياد Ziadلا، هو ليس سَكْرَان.la, huwa laysa sakran.No, he is not drunk.
- ليلى Laylaلكنه لا يستطيع المشي جيداً.lakinnahu la yastati' al-mashi jayyidan.But he cannot walk well.
- زياد Ziadربما هو متعب فقط.rubbama huwa mut'ab faqat.Maybe he is just tired.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drunk” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
