عَدْل
ʕadl
Justice in Arabic is عَدْل (ʕadl), with عَدَالَة (ʕadāla) as a second common word. If unsure, use عَدْل.
Meaning: fairness, especially with regard to punishment (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| عَدْل | ʕadl | |
| عَدَالَة | ʕadāla | feminine |
Common phrases are العَدل يَنْتَصِر, justice prevails and العَدل هُوَ الأساس, justice is the foundation.
Which one should you use?
عَدْل refers to justice as an abstract concept or quality. عَدَالَة is more common for justice as a system, a legal process or an institution, as in المحامي يسعى للعدالة, the lawyer seeks justice.
How does it change in a sentence?
عَدْل is masculine and عَدَالَة is feminine. With the article the first becomes العدل.
Did you know?
- Depending on the specific vowel sounds used during pronunciation, the same root can actually shift from meaning 'justice' to meaning 'deviation' or 'turning away'.
- The word عَدْل can function as a specific title for a person. A witness whose character is so beyond reproach that their testimony is automatically accepted is described as a عَدْل.
- The concept of عَدْل is often contrasted with إِحْسَان (iḥsān), which means 'excellence' or 'kindness'. While عَدْل is the strict application of law, إِحْسَان represents the act of showing mercy beyond what the law requires.
Examples in context
- يجب أن نسعى دائمًا لتحقيق العدل في المجتمع.We should always strive for justice in society.
- العدل مطلوب في كل جوانب الحياة اليومية.Justice is needed in all aspects of daily life.
- العَدْل هو الأساس للمجتمع العادل.Justice is the foundation of a just society.
- لا يمكن تحقيق عَدْل بدون قوانين.lā yumkin taḥqīq 'adl bidūn qawānīn.Justice cannot be achieved without laws.
Example conversation
Ahmed and Sarah are discussing a court decision at home.
- أحمد Ahmedهل تعتقدين أن الحكم كان فيه عَدْل؟hal ta'taqidīna anna al-ḥukm kāna fīhi 'adl?Do you think the ruling was just?
- سارة Saraلا، لم يكن هناك أي عَدْل في قرارها.lā, lam yakun hunāka ayyu 'adl fī qarārihā.No, there was no justice in her decision.
- أحمد Ahmedهذا محزن جدًا يا سارة.hādhā muḥzin jiddan yā Sāra.That is very sad, Sarah.
- سارة Saraنعم، يجب أن يطبق القانون بوضوح.na'am, yajib an yuṭabbaq al-qānūn bi-wuḍūḥ.Yes, the law must be applied clearly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “justice” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
