صالة ألعاب رياضية
ṣālat ʾalʿāb riyāḍiyyah
In Arabic, the English phrase 'gym' is translated as صالة ألعاب رياضية (ṣālat ʾalʿāb riyāḍiyyah).
The term refers to a sporting facility specialized for lifting weights and exercise.
Meaning: sporting facility specialized for lifting weights and exercise (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase صالة ألعاب رياضية literally translates to 'hall of sports games'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In many Arabic-speaking urban areas, people use the transliterated English word جيم in casual conversation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Gulf Arabic, the term is often translated as نادي رياضي. In Levantine Arabic, it is common to use the term جم.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word صالة (hall) is a feminine noun, so any adjective describing it must also be feminine, such as riyāḍiyyah.
How do you pronounce it?
ṣālat ʾalʿāb riyāḍiyyah
Did you know?
- The word رياضية comes from the root روض, which relates to gardens and meadows, linking 'sport' to the idea of open-air training.
- The Arabic word صالة meaning 'hall' is actually a loanword from the Italian word 'sala'.
- The word ألعاب meaning 'games' is used in the formal term even when the facility is used for solo exercise like weightlifting.
Examples in context
- أحب أن أمارس الرياضة في صالة الألعاب الرياضية.I enjoy exercising at the gym.
- رح نروح عالنادي الرياضي بكرا؟Shall we go to the gym tomorrow?
- بروح أنا النادي بكرا.I'm going to the gym tomorrow.
- رحت على نادي الرياضة اليوم.I went to the gym today.
- أنا أذهب إلى صالة ألعاب رياضية كل يوم.Ana adhhabu ilā ṣālat al'āb riyāḍiyya kull yawm.I go to a gym every day.
- هل توجد صالة ألعاب رياضية قريبة من هنا؟Hal tūjadu ṣālat al'āb riyāḍiyya qarība min hunā?Is there a gym near here?
- هذه صالة ألعاب رياضية كبيرة جداً.Hādhihi ṣālat al'āb riyāḍiyya kabīra jiddan.This is a very large gym.
Example conversation
Nour and Youssef are talking about their fitness routine.
- نور Nourهل تذهب إلى صالة ألعاب رياضية يا يوسف؟Hal tadhabu ilā ṣālat al'āb riyāḍiyya yā Yūsuf?Do you go to a gym, Youssef?
- يوسف Youssefنعم، أذهب إلى صالة ألعاب رياضية في المساء.Na'am, adhhabu ilā ṣālat al'āb riyāḍiyya fī al-masā'.Yes, I go to a gym in the evening.
- نور Nourأنا أيضاً أحب الذهاب إلى هناك.Ana ayḍan uḥibbu al-dhahāb ilā hunāk.I also like going there.
- يوسف Youssefهل تريدين الانضمام إليّ يوماً ما؟Hal turīdīna al-inḍimām ilayya yawman mā?Do you want to join me sometime?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries صالة, CC BY-SA 4.0.
