كَرِهَ
kariha
To hate in Arabic is expressed by كَرِهَ (kariha). Wiktionary also lists أَبْغَضَ (ʔabḡaḍa).
Meaning: to dislike intensely (verb)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| كَرِهَ | kariha |
| أَبْغَضَ | ʔabḡaḍa |
The verb كَرِهَ is a versatile word that can express a range of feelings from a strong dislike to intense hatred, depending on the context in which it is used.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean to hate, أَبْغَضَ is more intense and is often used in literary or religious contexts to express deep loathing compared to the more general كَرِهَ.
How does it change in a sentence?
From the same root, you can also use the verbal noun كَرَاهِيَة (karāhiya) to express the feeling of hatred or dislike.
How do you pronounce it?
kariha
Did you know?
- The root of كَرِهَ is shared with the word كُرْه, which can mean 'compulsion' or 'force'. In some contexts, saying someone did something out of كُرْه means they were forced to do it against their will.
- To express a very mild dislike, Arabic speakers often avoid the verb for 'hate' entirely and instead use لا أحب meaning 'I do not love'.
- While English speakers use 'hate' for everything from bad food to enemies, using أَبْغَضَ for trivial matters in Arabic would sound strangely dramatic or even satirical.
Examples in context
- أشعر بالكراهية تجاههI feel hatred towards him
- لا أحبه بتاتًاI don't like him at all
- يَعْنِي مَا بَحْتَمِلَهُI can't tolerate him or I can't bear him
- كَرِهَ الطِّفْلُ الطَّعَامَ المُرَّ.kariha aṭ-ṭiflu aṭ-ṭa'āma al-murra.The child hated the bitter food.
- كَرِهَ الرَّجُلُ الكَذِبَ.kariha ar-rajulu al-kadhiba.The man hated lying.
Example conversation
Yousef and Nour are discussing a difficult book.
- يوسف Youssefهَلْ كَرِهْتِ هَذَا الكِتَابَ يَا نُورُ؟hal karihti hadhā al-kitāba yā Nūr?Did you hate this book, Nour?
- نور Nourنَعَمْ، كَرِهْتُ أَسْلُوبَ الكَاتِبِ.na'am, karihtu uslūba al-kātib.Yes, I hated the writer's style.
- يوسف Youssefأَنَا أَيْضًا كَرِهْتُ النِّهَايَةَ.anā ayḍan karihtu an-nihāya.I also hated the ending.
- نور Nourلَقَدْ كَرِهَ جَمِيعُ القُرَّاءِ ذَلِكَ.laqad kariha jamī'u al-qurrā'i dhalika.All the readers hated that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hate” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
