طَمَّاع
ṭammāʕ
The English word "greedy" can be translated into Arabic. The default form is طَمَّاع (ṭammāʕ). Wiktionary also lists جَشِع (jašiʕ) and بَخِيل (baḵīl).
Meaning: having greed, consumed by selfish desires (adj)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| طَمَّاع | ṭammāʕ |
| جَشِع | jašiʕ |
| بَخِيل | baḵīl |
Which one should you use?
The choice between the three terms depends on the nuance of the behavior: طَمَّاع is used to describe someone who is covetous of things belonging to others or has an insatiable desire for wealth. In contrast, جَشِع often implies a more primal, animalistic greed. Finally, بَخِيل is used for someone who is stingy / miserly. While "greedy" implies a desire to acquire more, بَخِيل specifically refers to someone who refuses to spend or give what they already have.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective طَمَّاع can be modified to match the subject: to describe a female subject, add the feminine suffix 'ah' to get طَمَّاعَة. In a nominative context, the masculine plural form is طَمَّاعُونَ.
How do you pronounce it?
ṭammāʕ
Did you know?
- The word طَمَّاع is derived from the root طمع, which can also be used as a verb meaning 'to hope' or 'to aspire'. In certain contexts, the line between being 'greedy' and being 'hopeful' is linguistically thin.
- The root of بَخِيل is also used to describe a 'stingy' rain or a drought, referring to a sky that refuses to give water to the earth.
- In traditional Arabic poetry, greed and stinginess are often contrasted with 'Karam' (generosity), which is considered one of the highest virtues of Arab chivalry.
Examples in context
- لا تَكُن طَمَّاعاً فِي المَالِ.la takun tammā'an fī al-māl.Do not be greedy for money.
- هُوَ رَجُلٌ طَمَّاعٌ جِدّاً.huwa rajulun tammā'un jiddan.He is a very greedy man.
- هَذَا الشَّرِيكُ طَمَّاعٌ وَلَا يُؤْمَنُ.hādhā al-sharīku tammā'un wa lā yu'man.This partner is greedy and untrustworthy.
Example conversation
Ziad and Nour are discussing a former business partner.
- زياد Ziadلَقَدْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِيكُ طَمَّاعاً.laqad kāna dhālika al-sharīku tammā'an.That partner was greedy.
- نور Nourنَعَمْ، لَقَدْ أَرَادَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ لِنَفْسِهِ.na'am, laqad arāda kullu shay'in li-nafsihi.Yes, he wanted everything for himself.
- زياد Ziadهَلْ تَعْتَقِدِينَ أَنَّهُ سَيَعُودُ؟hal ta'taqīdīna annahu saya'ūdu?Do you think he will return?
- نور Nourلَا، لَنْ نَتَعَامَلَ مَعَهُ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى.lā, lan nata'āmala ma'ahu marratan ukhrā.No, we will not deal with him ever again.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “greedy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
