سفارة
sifārah
The English word embassy is translated into Arabic as سفارة (sifārah).
The term refers to an organization representing a foreign state.
Meaning: organization representing a foreign state (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is derived from the root s-f-r, which relates to traveling or sending an envoy.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of سفارة is سفارات (sifārāt).
How do you pronounce it?
sifārah
Did you know?
- The word سفير for 'ambassador' shares a root with the word for 'uncovering' or 'revealing'. Historically, the ambassador was seen as the one who reveals the intentions and secrets of one state to another.
- While سفارة means 'embassy', the word سفر can mean 'travel' or 'a book' depending on the vowels used. A learner might see the same letters and confuse a diplomatic building with a trip or a piece of literature.
- In some Arabic dialects, the root s-f-r is used in words relating to the 'dawn' or the 'breaking of light' سَفَر. This suggests an ancient conceptual link between the start of a journey and the start of a day.
Examples in context
- أحتاج أن أزور السفارة.I need to visit the embassy.
