دَجَاجَة
dajājafeminine
The English word 'hen' is translated into Arabic as دَجَاجَة (dajāja). Wiktionary also lists دُجَاجَة (dujāja) and دِجَاجَة (dijāja).
Meaning: female chicken (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| دَجَاجَة | dajāja | feminine |
| دُجَاجَة | dujāja | feminine |
| دِجَاجَة | dijāja | feminine |
| فَرْخَة | farḵa | Egyptian Arabic, feminine |
| دُجاجة | dujāja | Hijazi Arabic, feminine |
| دْجاجة | djæja | Moroccan Arabic, feminine |
| جاجة | jāje | North Levantine Arabic, feminine |
The word refers to a female chicken or can be used to refer to a female chicken in general.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, you will often hear فَرْخَة used for a hen or chicken. In North Levantine Arabic, the initial 'd' sound is often dropped, resulting in جاجة. In Moroccan Arabic, the first vowel is often omitted or shortened, resulting in دْجاجة. In Hijazi Arabic, the form دُجاجة is used.
How do you pronounce it?
dajāja
Did you know?
- While دجاج is the generic word for chicken, on a menu it specifically denotes the meat, whereas the feminine دَجَاجَة refers to the living creature.
- Arabic possesses a specialized vocabulary for hens based on their age and whether they are currently laying eggs, concepts that require multiple words in English.
- The word فَرْخَة, mentioned as a common term in Egypt, literally translates to 'small one' or 'chick' in many classical contexts, but has evolved into a standard way to say 'chicken' in daily street language.
Examples in context
- أريد شراء دجاجة للأكل.I want to buy a hen for eating.
- هَذِهِ دَجَاجَةٌ كَبِيرَةٌ.hadhihi dajajatun kabiratun.This is a big hen.
- أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَشْتَرِيَ دَجَاجَةً.uridu an ashtariya dajajatan.I want to buy a hen.
Example conversation
In a local market, Yusuf and Layla are looking at poultry.
- يوسف Youssefهَلْ هَذِهِ دَجَاجَةٌ صِحِّيَّةٌ؟hal hadhihi dajajatun sihiyya?Is this a healthy hen?
- ليلى Laylaنَعَمْ، هِيَ دَجَاجَةٌ جَيِّدَةٌ جِدًّا.na'am, hiya dajajatun jayyidatun jiddan.Yes, it is a very good hen.
- يوسف Youssefهَلْ لَدَيْكِ دَجَاجَةٌ أُخْرَى؟hal ladayki dajajatun ukhra?Do you have another hen?
- ليلى Laylaلَا، لَيْسَ عِنْدِي دَجَاجَةٌ ثَانِيَةٌ.la, laysa 'indi dajajatun thaniya.No, I don't have a second hen.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hen” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
