إلهة
ilāhastandard
The usual Arabic word for a goddess, also understood in Egypt, is إلهة (ilāha). A more literary choice is ربة (rabba).
Meaning: female deity (noun)
Ways to say it
| Egyptian | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| إلهة | ilāha | standard |
| ربة | rabba | literary |
Egyptians use إلهة when talking about ancient myths or religions, for example about the goddess Isis, called إيزيس (īzīs) in Arabic.
Which one should you use?
There is no separate everyday Egyptian word. People simply use the standard Arabic term, with Egyptian pronunciation.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use ربنا for a goddess. It means "our Lord" and refers to God in the Islamic and Christian sense.
Did you know?
- Hathor and Isis, two ancient Egyptian goddesses, are known in Arabic as حتحور (ḥatḥūr) and إيزيس (īzīs).
Examples in context
- إيزيس كانت إلهة مصرية.īzīs kānit ilāha maṣriyya.Isis was an Egyptian goddess.
- الإلهة دي كانت بتحمي البيوت.el-ilāha di kānit bitḥmi el-biyūt.This goddess used to protect homes.
Example conversation
Tourist guide Hany explains a temple relief to a visitor, Emma, in Luxor.
- Emmaمين الإلهة دي؟mīn el-ilāha di?Who is this goddess?
- Hanyدي حتحور.di ḥatḥūr.This is Hathor.
- Emmaكانت إلهة إيه؟kānit ilāha ēh?What was she the goddess of?
- Hanyإلهة الحب والموسيقى.ilāhet el-ḥubb wil-mūsīqa.Goddess of love and music.
