ذهب
dhahab
The English word "gold" is translated into Arabic as ذهب (dhahab).
The term ذهب is used to refer to the substance or element gold.
Meaning: made of gold, golden (adj)
Which one should you use?
While ذهب refers to the substance itself, the adjective ذهبي is used to describe something as being golden or gold-colored. For a more poetic or classical way to describe pure, unalloyed gold, the term إبريز can be used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Arabic dialects, especially Egyptian, the word for gold is pronounced as دهب instead of the formal ذهب.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
dhahab
Did you know?
- The Arabic word ذهب is a cognate with the Hebrew word 'zahav' and the Classical Syriac 'dahba'.
- Ancient Arabic alchemy texts often referred to the process of creating gold as 'transmutation', using specialized terminology that differs from modern chemistry.
- In Arabic, the phrase 'silence is gold' is a common proverb. It is often paired with the idea that speaking is 'silver', emphasizing that listening is more valuable than talking.
Examples in context
- هل هذا ذهب خالص؟Is that pure gold?This sentence is useful for asking if something is pure gold using ذهب.Tatoeba #450165 by saeb, translation #442974 by CK
- قدمت له المدرسة ساعة من ذهب.He was given a gold watch by the teacher.This sentence is useful for describing a gold watch using ذهب.Tatoeba #7085367 by Amastan, translation #300637 by AlanF_US
- إذا كان الكلام من فضة فالسكوت من ذهب.Speech is silver, silence is gold.This sentence illustrates a proverb about the value of silence using ذهب.Tatoeba #371628 by saeb, translation #239721 by jakov
- خاتَم ذَهبGold ring
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ziad and Nour are looking at jewelry in a shop.
- زياد Ziadهل هذا الخاتم من ذهب؟hal hadha al-khatim min dhahab?Is this ring made of gold?
- نور Nourنعم، إنه من ذهب خالص.na'am, innahu min dhahab khalis.Yes, it is made of pure gold.
- زياد Ziadإنه جميل جداً يا نور.innahu jamil jiddan ya Nour.It is very beautiful, Nour.
- نور Nourشكراً لك، هذا ذوقك.shukran lak, hadha dhawquka.Thank you, that is kind of you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ذهب, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
