اَلْيَابَانِيَّة
al-yābāniyyafeminine
The English word "japanese" translates to Arabic as اَلْيَابَانِيَّة (al-yābāniyya). If unsure, use اَلْيَابَانِيَّة. Wiktionary also lists يَابَانِيَّة (yābāniyya) and يَابَانِيّ (yābāniyy).
Meaning: Japanese language (name)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| اَلْيَابَانِيَّة | al-yābāniyya | feminine |
| يَابَانِيَّة | yābāniyya | |
| يَابَانِيّ | yābāniyy | masculine |
The term refers to the Japanese language.
Which one should you use?
The form اَلْيَابَانِيَّة specifically refers to the Japanese language. Use يَابَانِيّ when referring to a male or a masculine noun, and use يَابَانِيَّة when referring to a female or a feminine noun.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form اَلْيَابَانِيَّة, which includes the definite article 'al-' and a feminine ending, is used to refer to the Japanese language. The masculine form يَابَانِيّ is used for a male person from Japan or a masculine noun, while the feminine form يَابَانِيَّة is used for a female person from Japan or a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
al-yābāniyya
Did you know?
- In Arabic, all names of languages, including اَلْيَابَانِيَّة, are grammatically feminine, regardless of whether the country they come from is masculine.
- Because 'Japan' is a non-Arabic name, the word يَابَانِيَّة is a derivation made specifically to fit Arabic morphological patterns.
- Arabic speakers use the same word يَابَانِيَّة to describe the language, a Japanese woman and a Japanese object that is grammatically feminine.
Examples in context
- أنا التقيت بشخص ياباني أمسI met a Japanese person yesterday
- اليابانيون معروفون بذوقهم الرفيع في الأغذيةThe Japanese are known for their refined taste in food
- أتعلم اللغة اليابانية منذ سنةI've been learning the Japanese language for a year
- أعجبني هذا الفيلم اليابانيI liked this Japanese movie
- المعلم بيتحدّث يباني مع السياحThe teacher speaks Japanese with the tourists
- أَتَعَلَّمُ اَللُّغَةَ اَلْيَابَانِيَّةَ الآنَ.ata'allamu al-lughata al-yābāniyyata al-ān.I am learning the Japanese language now.
- هَلْ تَتَحَدَّثِينَ اَلْيَابَانِيَّةَ؟hal tataḥaddathīna al-yābāniyya?Do you speak Japanese?
- اَلْيَابَانِيَّةُ لُغَةٌ جَمِيلَةٌ جِدًّا.al-yābāniyyatu lughatun jamīlatun jiddan.Japanese is a very beautiful language.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their language studies in a cafe.
- سارة Saraأَنَا أَدْرُسُ اَلْيَابَانِيَّةَ فِي الْجَامِعَةِ.anā adrusu al-yābāniyya fī al-jāmi'a.I am studying Japanese at the university.
- أحمد Ahmedهَلْ هِيَ صَعْبَةٌ يَا سَارَةُ؟hal hiya ṣa'batu yā Sāratu?Is it difficult, Sarah?
- سارة Saraقَلِيلًا، لَكِنَّهَا مُمْتِعَةٌ.qalīlan, lākinnahā mumti'ah.A little, but it is interesting.
- أحمد Ahmedأَنْتِ مُجْتَهِدَةٌ جِدًّا.anti mujtahidatun jiddan.You are very hardworking.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “japanese” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
