Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| صَحِيح | ṣaḥīḥ | |
| سَلِيم | salīm | masculine |
| مُعَاف | muʕāf | masculine |
Arabic uses different words to specify whether you mean physical soundness, recovery from illness or general health. سَلِيم describes something that is sound, intact or free from defects, such as a healthy body or a sound mind. مُعَاف is used specifically for a person who is in a state of health or has recovered from an illness.
Which one should you use?
While صَحِيح is a general term, it is more commonly used to mean 'correct', 'valid' or 'sound' in a logical sense rather than referring to physical health. Use سَلِيم to emphasize being intact or defect-free and مُعَاف to describe someone's state of recovery or wellbeing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form سَلِيم changes to the feminine form سَلِيمَة when describing a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
ṣaḥīḥ
Did you know?
- In Arabic grammar, a 'healthy' letter is called حرف صحيح, referring to a consonant that is not a 'weak' vowel-like letter.
- While English uses 'healthy' for both people and food, Arabic often uses صِحِّي for 'healthy' food to distinguish it from the physical state of a person.
- The concept of being مُعَاف is often linked to the idea of 'divine pardon' or 'wellness' granted by God, blending medical recovery with spiritual mercy.
Examples in context
- يجب على الرياضيين الحفاظ على حياة صحية وممارسة التمارين الرياضية بانتظام.Athletes should maintain a healthy lifestyle and engage in regular exercise.
- ينصح باتباع نظام غذائي صحي وممارسة الرياضة للحفاظ على بدن صحي.It is recommended to follow a healthy diet and engage in exercise to maintain a healthy body.
- بما أنك تتناول وجبات صحية وتمارس الرياضة، فأنت بإذن الله زي الفل!Since you eat healthy meals and exercise, you'll be fit as a fiddle, God willing!
Example conversation
Ziyad and Noor are talking about their fitness goals.
- زياد Ziadهل تمارسين الرياضة دائماً يا نور؟hal tumārisīna ar-riyāḍata dāʾiman yā Noor?Do you always exercise, Noor?
- نور Nourنعم، أريد أن أبقى في جسم صَحِيح.naʿam, urīdu an abqā fī jismin ṣaḥīḥ.Yes, I want to stay in a healthy body.
- زياد Ziadهذا أمر رائع جداً.hādhā amrun rāʾiʿun jiddan.That is a very wonderful thing.
- نور Nourشكراً لك يا زياد.shukran laka yā Ziyad.Thank you, Ziyad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “healthy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
