ثَقْب
ṯaqbmasculine
In Arabic, the word for hole is ثَقْب (ṯaqb). Wiktionary also lists حُفْرة (ḥufra).
Meaning: a through opening (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ثَقْب | ṯaqb | masculine |
| حُفْرة | ḥufra | feminine |
The term refers to a through opening.
Which one should you use?
The word ثَقْب (ṯaqb) refers to a small, narrow opening or a puncture, such as a hole in a piece of paper or a needle prick. In contrast, حُفْرة (ḥufra) refers to a larger hole, such as a pit in the ground, a crater or a hollow.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the feminine noun حُفْرة is حُفَر.
How do you pronounce it?
ṯaqb
Did you know?
- In some dialects, a variation of حُفْرة is used colloquially to describe a 'trap' or a deceptive situation, rather than a physical hole in the earth.
- The word حُفْرة is used in various Arabic dialects to describe a 'grave', making the word for a simple pit much more somber in certain contexts.
- In certain contexts, the root of ثَقْب can relate to the concept of 'clarity' or 'penetration', much like how light pierces through a small opening.
Examples in context
- العامل قام بحفر فُجْوة كبيرة في الأرض.The worker dug a large hole in the ground.
- تم اكتشاف ثقب كبير في الجدار.A large hole was discovered in the wall.
- انتبه! لا تسقط في الحفرة.Watch out! Don't fall into the hole.
- هناك ثَقْب في قميصي الجديد.hunaka thaqbun fi qamisi al-jadid.There is a hole in my new shirt.
Example conversation
Yousef is showing Maryam a damaged piece of fabric.
- مريم Maryamما هذا الثَّقْب في القماش؟ma hadha ath-thaqba fil-qumash?What is this hole in the fabric?
- يوسف Youssefإنه ثَقْب صغير جداً.innahu thaqbun saghirun jiddan.It is a very small hole.
- مريم Maryamهل يمكنك إصلاحه يا يوسف؟hal yumkinuka islahuhu ya Yousef?Can you fix it, Yousef?
- يوسف Youssefنعم، سأخيط هذا الثَّقْب الآن.na'am, sa-akhitu hadha ath-thaqba al-an.Yes, I will sew this hole now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hole” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
