ربة منزل
rabbat manzil
The English phrase "house wife" is translated into Arabic as ربة منزل (rabbat manzil).
ربة منزل refers to a married woman whose main occupation is managing the home and caring for the family.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of ربة (mistress, lady or owner) and منزل (house or home).
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a man who manages the home (a house husband), change the feminine ربة to the masculine رب to form رب منزل.
How do you pronounce it?
rabbat manzil
Did you know?
- The word ربة can also be used to describe a deity, as seen in the word رب (Lord) used in religious contexts to denote ownership and sovereignty.
- While ربة منزل is the standard term, some modern Arabic speakers use ست بيت (st bayt), where ست is a loanword from the Turkish word for 'lady'.
- The word منزل is derived from the verb 'to descend' or 'to land', implying that a home is a place where one 'lands' or settles down after a journey.
Examples in context
- هي ربة منزل نشيطة.hiya rabbat manzilin nashitat.She is an active housewife.
- أمي هي ربة منزل ممتازة.ummi hiya rabbat manzilin mumtaza.My mother is an excellent housewife.
- هل تريدين أن تصبحي ربة منزل؟hal turidina an tusbihi rabbat manzilin?Do you want to become a housewife?
Example conversation
Omar is asking Maryam about her daily routine.
- عمر Omarماذا تعملين يا مريم؟Madha ta'malina ya Maryam?What do you do for a living, Maryam?
- مريم Maryamأنا ربة منزل حالياً.Ana rabbat manzil haliyan.I am a housewife currently.
- عمر Omarهذا عمل شاق جداً.Hadha 'amal shaq jiddan.That is a very hard job.
- مريم Maryamنعم، لكنني أحب عائلتي.Na'am, lakinani uhibbu 'a'ilati.Yes, but I love my family.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries منزل, CC BY-SA 4.0.
