أخبار سارة
akhbar sarra
The English phrase 'good news' is translated into Arabic as أخبار سارة (akhbar sarra).
Meaning: something positive (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase أخبار سارة is composed of أخبار (akhbar), meaning 'news' and سارة (sarra), meaning 'pleasing' or 'joyful'.
Which one should you use?
In formal settings, you can also use خبر جيد or the interchangeable خبر سار.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, you can use the expression أخبار حلوة to say good news.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word أخبار is the broken plural of خبر. The adjective سارة must agree with it in gender (feminine) and number, as non-human plurals are treated as feminine singular in Arabic.
How do you pronounce it?
akhbar sarra
Did you know?
- If you are reacting to hearing 'good news' in a religious or traditional context, you might respond with ما شاء الله (Ma sha' Allah). This acknowledges that the good news is a blessing from God.
- While أخبار سارة is the standard translation, Arabic often uses the word بشرى to describe news that specifically brings glad tidings or a prophetic promise of something good.
- The root of the word سارة is related to the verb 'to gladden'. In Arabic, adjectives are often derived from the action they perform on the listener.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a job application.
- يوسف Youssefليلى، لدي أخبار سارة!Layla, ladaiya akhbar sara!Layla, I have good news!
- ليلى Laylaما هي هذه الأخبار يا يوسف؟Ma hiya hadhihi al-akhbar ya Yusuf?What is this news, Yusuf?
- يوسف Youssefلقد حصلت على الوظيفة.Laqad hasaltu 'ala al-wadhifa.I got the job.
- ليلى Laylaهذه فعلاً أخبار سارة!Hadhihi fi'lan akhbar sara!That really is good news!
