جَافّ
jāff
The English word "dry" is translated into Arabic as جَافّ (jāff). Wiktionary also lists ناشف (nāšif) and جَاف (jāf).
Meaning: free from liquid or moisture (adj)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| جَافّ | jāff | ||
| ناشف | nāšif | /naː.ʃif/ | Egyptian Arabic |
| جَاف | jāf | Hijazi Arabic | |
| نَاشِف | nāšif | Hijazi Arabic |
The adjective is used to describe things that are free from liquid or moisture. To describe the process of becoming dry, you can use the verb جَفَّ, while the verb جَفَّفَ is used when you are actively making something dry.
Which one should you use?
You may encounter جَفَّ to describe the state of becoming dry and جَفَّفَ to describe the act of making something dry.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
جَافّ is the standard formal term. In colloquial, spoken contexts, the term ناشف is commonly used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
ناشف is used in Egyptian-Arabic and is also found in Hijazi-Arabic. In Hijazi-Arabic, you may also see the form نَاشِف. The form جَاف is used in Hijazi-Arabic.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
jāff
Did you know?
- In Egyptian slang, calling someone ناشف can mean they are 'tough' or 'hard', similar to the English expression 'hard as nails'.
- In literary Arabic, the verb جَفَّ is often used as a metaphor for the fading of a memory or the drying up of human emotions.
- In many Arabic dialects, the word ناشف is also used to describe food that is stale or has lost its freshness, such as bread that is no longer soft.
Examples in context
- لم يمطر لعدة أيام، والأرض جافة.It hasn't rained for days, and the ground is dry.
- يرجى التأكد من أن الملابس جافة تمامًا قبل طيها.Please ensure that the clothes are completely dry before folding them.
- نسيت أن أروي النباتات والآن اصبحت كلها ناشفة.I forgot to water the plants, and now they're all dry.
- هذا الثوب جَافّ الآن.hadha al-thawb jaff alan.This garment is dry now.
- الجو جَافّ جداً في الصيف.al-jaw jaff jiddan fi al-sayf.The weather is very dry in the summer.
Example conversation
Layla and Yusuf are checking the laundry after a rainstorm.
- ليلى Laylaهل الملابس جَافّة يا يوسف؟hal al-malabis jaffa ya Yusuf?Are the clothes dry, Yusuf?
- يوسف Youssefلا، هي لا تزال مبللة.la, hiya la tazal muballala.No, they are still wet.
- ليلى Laylaسأضعها في المجفف.sa-adu'uha fi al-mujaffif.I will put them in the dryer.
- يوسف Youssefحسناً، شكراً لكِ يا ليلى.hasanan, shukran laki ya Layla.Okay, thank you, Layla.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dry” translations and entries ناشف, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
