الإمارات
al-’Imārāt
الإمارات (al-’Imārāt) is the Arabic word for emirates, used as the common name for the United Arab Emirates.
The term is the common name for the country. The full formal name of the country is الإمارات العربية المتحدة (al-Imārāt al-'Arabīyah al-Muttaḥidah).
What does it mean word for word?
The word consists of the definite article al- (the) and Imarat (emirates), which is the plural of imara (emirate).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egypt, people may refer to the 'United Arab Emirates' as الإمارات العربية المتحدة.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a feminine plural noun, which is why it is often treated as a feminine singular entity in certain grammatical constructions.
How do you pronounce it?
al-’Imārāt
Did you know?
- The word إمارة (emirate) can refer to a political territory, but in a different context, the same root is used to describe 'signs' or 'omens' in classical Arabic.
- In the Gulf region, the term إمارة (emirate) is distinct from دولة (state), as the former emphasizes the personal rule of the 'emir' rather than a bureaucratic government structure.
- While the name refers to a collection of territories, the word follows the pattern of a 'broken plural', where the internal structure of the word itself changes to indicate plurality rather than just adding a suffix.
Examples in context
- أبو ظبي هي عاصمة الإمارات العربية المتحدة.Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates.This sentence is useful for identifying the capital of the country using the form الإمارات.Tatoeba #13190037 by atitarev, translation #7907521 by MarijnKp
- أنا أعيش في الإمارات.ana a'īshu fī al-imārāt.I live in the Emirates.
- هل زرت الإمارات من قبل؟hal zurta al-imārāt min qabl?Have you visited the Emirates before?
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their travel plans.
- مريم Maryamهل ستسافر إلى الإمارات قريباً؟hal satusāfiru ilā al-imārāt qarīban?Will you travel to the Emirates soon?
- يوسف Youssefنعم، سأذهب إلى دبي الشهر القادم.na'am, sa-adhhabu ilā dubayy al-shahr al-qādim.Yes, I will go to Dubai next month.
- مريم Maryamأتمنى لك رحلة سعيدة يا يوسف.atamannā laka riḥla sa'īda yā yūsuf.I wish you a happy trip, Yusuf.
- يوسف Youssefشكراً لك يا مريم.shukran laki yā maryam.Thank you, Maryam.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
