قبر
gabir/qabr/Gulf Arabic, masculine
Grave in Arabic is قبر (gabir) (qabr). Another word, ضَرِيح, is used for a grand tomb or shrine. If unsure, use قبر. Wiktionary also lists قَبْر (qabr).
Meaning: excavation for burial (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| قبر | gabir | /qabr/ /ɡa.bir/ |
Gulf Arabic, masculine |
| قَبْر | qabr | masculine | |
| ضَرِيح | ḍarīḥ | masculine |
Which one should you use?
قبر is an ordinary grave. ضَرِيح (ḍarīḥ) is used for a grand, monumental grave or a shrine. الْمَثْوَى is a formal, poetic word used in religious or literary writing.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Gulf Arabic the word is pronounced gabir, with a g sound at the start.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is masculine. The plural is قبور (qubūr).
How do you pronounce it?
In standard Arabic it is /qabr/, with the deep q sound made at the back of the throat.
Did you know?
- The root of the word قبر is linked to the behavior of larks, which are small songbirds that spend much of their time digging in the ground for food.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, it is customary to say رحمه الله ('May God have mercy on him') immediately after mentioning a قبر or a deceased person.
- In Arabic, the word الْمَثْوَى for a grave literally translates to a 'place of staying' or 'resting place'.
Examples in context
- إنه يحفر قبره بنفسه.He is digging his own grave.يحفر قبره means he is digging his grave, with قبر plus the ending for his.Tatoeba #374767 by saeb, translation #264418 by CM
- فَقَدْ وُضِعَتْ لَهُ صُوَرُهُ عَلَى مَثْوَاهُ.His pictures were placed on his grave.
- لقد حفروا قبرًا جديدًا في المقبرة.laqad hafarū qabran jadīdan fī al-maqbarah.They dug a new grave in the cemetery.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grave” translations and entries قبر, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries قبر, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
