حمار
himar
The English phrase jackass is translated into Arabic as حمار (himar).
Calling someone a 'himar' is a common way to insult their intelligence, much like calling someone a 'donkey' or 'jackass' in English.
Meaning: foolish or stupid person (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word حمار literally means 'donkey'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'a jackass' in a sentence, you can use the indefinite form حمار.
How do you pronounce it?
himar
Did you know?
- Unlike the English 'jackass' which can sometimes be used jokingly between friends, using حمار in many Middle Eastern societies is often perceived as a much sharper and more serious offense.
- In Arabic literature and folk tales, the donkey is often portrayed as a symbol of patience and endurance, contrasting with the modern use of حمار as a slur.
- The root of the word حمار is found in various Semitic languages, meaning the word shares an ancient linguistic ancestor with the Hebrew word 'chamor'.
Examples in context
- إن كلامي كالمرآة فإذا قرأهُ حمارٌ فلا تتوقع أن يرى وجه ملاك.My words are like a mirror, if a jackass read them, then don't expect he'd see an angel's face.Tatoeba #1795656 by Grim_fandango, translation #1795657 by Grim_fandango
- لقد تعامل معه وكأنه حمار.Laqad ta'amala ma'ahu wa ka'annahu hamar.He treated him like a jackass.
Example conversation
Sarah and Youssef are discussing a coworker's bad decision.
- سارة Saraهل رأيت ماذا فعل يوسف في العمل؟hal ra'ayti madha fa'ala youssef fi al-amal?Did you see what Youssef did at work?
- يوسف Youssefنعم، إنه يتصرف كأنه حمار!na'am, innahu yatasarraf ka'annahu himar!Yes, he is acting like a jackass!
- سارة Saraلا أصدق أنه ارتكب هذا الخطأ.la usaddiq annahu artakaba hadha al-khata.I can't believe he made this mistake.
- يوسف Youssefلأنه لا يفكر قبل أن يتحدث.li'annahu la yufakkir qabla an yatahaddath.Because he doesn't think before he speaks.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries حمار, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
