ظَرِيف
ẓarīf
The English word "elegant" can be translated into Arabic as ظَرِيف (ẓarīf) or أَنِيق.
Meaning: exhibiting elegance (adj)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| ظَرِيف | ẓarīf |
| أَنِيق | ʔanīq |
In Arabic, the term for elegant varies depending on whether you are describing a person's physical style or their personality.
Which one should you use?
The form أَنِيق is the most direct translation for elegance regarding style, fashion or physical appearance. In contrast, ظَرِيف is more commonly used to describe someone who is witty, charming or pleasant in character rather than purely aesthetic elegance.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Levantine dialect, the word for elegant is راقي.
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe a feminine noun using the form أَنِيق, add the feminine suffix ة to the end of the masculine form to get أَنِيقَة. For the masculine plural, the form أَنِيقُونَ is used in the nominative case.
How do you pronounce it?
ẓarīf
Did you know?
- In many Arabic dialects, ظَرِيف can be used sarcastically to mean 'funny' in a weird or awkward way. Calling a situation ظَرِيف might actually mean it is strange or absurd.
- The Levantine word راقي shares the same root as the verb meaning 'to ascend' or 'to rise'. To be elegant in this context literally means to be 'high-class' or 'elevated'.
- The word ظَرِيف was originally used in classical Arabic to describe someone with a refined and sophisticated sense of humor. Over time it evolved from describing a sharp intellect to describing a pleasant and charming personality.
Examples in context
- تصفيفة شعرها متأنقة وراقية.Her hairstyle is elegant and classy.
- هذه ساعة أنيقة جدًا.This watch is very elegant.
- أحب هذا التصميم الأنيق للمطعم.I love the elegant design of this restaurant.
- فستانها راقي جدًا.Her dress is very elegant.
- رغم بساطتها، كانت مناسبة راقية.Despite its simplicity, the occasion was elegant.
- الديكور الداخلي للمكان راقي وجميل.The interior design of the place is elegant and beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “elegant” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
