Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| شبح | šabaḥ | /ʃa.baħ/ /ʃabħ/ |
Egyptian Arabic, masculine |
| شَبَح | šabaḥ | masculine | |
| خَيَال | ḵayāl | masculine | |
| زَوْل | zawl | masculine | |
| طَيْف | ṭayf | masculine | |
| رُوح | rūḥ | feminine, masculine | |
| شَبْح | šabḥ | masculine | |
| عفريت | ʕafrīt | /ʕif.riːt/ /ʕaf.riːt/ (Morocco) |
Egyptian Arabic, masculine |
| جِنِّي | jinni | Hijazi Arabic, masculine |
The term شبح refers to a ghostly apparition or a spirit appearing after death. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a specter or shadow of something, such as the specter of war.
Which one should you use?
While شبح refers to a literal ghostly apparition, رُوح refers to the soul or the essence of a person. If you wish to describe a more ethereal, fleeting or poetic vision of a spirit, use طَيْف. The word خَيَال can mean a ghost, but it more commonly refers to a shadow, an illusion or a figment of the imagination.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word رُوح is used to discuss the soul or essence, whereas شبح is used for a ghostly apparition. In Egyptian Arabic, the term عفريت can be used to refer to a ghost or a mischievous or evil spirit.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Egyptian dialect, عفريت can mean a ghost or a mischievous or evil spirit and شبح is also used. In Hijazi Arabic, جِنِّي is a common way to refer to a spirit or a genie-like entity.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of شبح is أشباح.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is šabaḥ (/ʃa.baħ/).
Did you know?
- In some modern slang, calling someone a شبح is not a supernatural claim but a way to describe a 'tough guy' or a formidable personality.
- In Egyptian Arabic, calling a child an عفريت is often a compliment used to describe them as particularly clever or highly mischievous.
- The term طَيْف is the same word used to describe a 'spectrum' of light, linking the idea of a ghostly vision to the science of light and color.
Examples in context
- كان هناك شبح فوقي.There was a ghost above me.This sentence shows how to describe a ghost being positioned above someone using شبح.Tatoeba #11976254 by dididodo, translation #11488549 by Amastan
- يبدو و كأنه رأى شبحا.He looks like he has seen a ghost.This sentence uses شبح to describe the appearance of someone who has seen a ghost.Tatoeba #11636612 by dididodo, translation #8390723 by Amastan
- زيري شبح.Ziri is a ghost.This sentence uses شبح to identify a specific person or entity as a ghost.Tatoeba #11616073 by dididodo, translation #10208038 by Amastan
- تم تصوير شبح في هذا المنزل المهجور.A ghost was captured on camera in this abandoned house.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ziad and Laila are walking past an old, dark house at night.
- زياد Ziadتفتكري في شبح في البيت ده؟teftekry fe shabah fel beit dah?Do you think there is a ghost in this house?
- ليلى Laylaلا يا زياد، ده مجرد خيال.la ya ziad, dah mogarad khayal.No Ziad, it is just a shadow.
- زياد Ziadبس أنا شفت شبح هناك!bas ana shoft shabah honak!But I saw a ghost there!
- ليلى Laylaأنت بتتخيل حاجات يا زياد.enta bet-takhayel hagat ya ziad.You are imagining things, Ziad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ghost” translations and entries شبح, عفريت, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
