طفل
ṭifl/tˤifl/
The Arabic word for kid is طفل (ṭifl).
طفل is used to refer to a child.
Meaning: child (colloq.) (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form طفل can be used to refer to a male child or as a generic term for a child. To specify a female child, use the feminine form طفلة. The plural form of طفل is أطفال.
How do you pronounce it?
ṭifl
Did you know?
- If you want to call a kid 'cute' or 'sweet' in a common way, you might use the word كتكوت, which actually translates to 'chick' as in a baby bird.
- Arabic has a specific term مراهق for a 'teenager', which comes from a root meaning 'to approach' or 'to reach the edge', signifying the transition from being a طفل to an adult.
- While طفل is the standard word for 'child', in many Arabic dialects, people use the word ولد which literally means 'boy' to refer to any kid, regardless of gender.
Examples in context
- لم يعد توم طفلا بعد الآن.Tom isn't a kid anymore.This sentence uses طفل to show someone is no longer a kid.Tatoeba #5025681 by Safa_Alfulaij, translation #5024088 by CK
- كان زيري يمشي يدا في يد مع طفل آخر.Ziri was walking hand in hand with another kid.This sentence uses طفل to describe someone walking with another kid.Tatoeba #11962199 by dididodo, translation #11251487 by Amastan
- لديها طفل واحد.She has one kid.This sentence uses طفل to indicate someone has one kid.Tatoeba #11643866 by dididodo, translation #2856274 by Amastan
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mariam and Ahmed are at a park.
- مريم Maryamانظر إلى هذا الطفل الصغير!Unzur ila hadha al-tifl al-saghir!Look at this little kid!
- أحمد Ahmedإنه يلعب بالكرة ببراعة.Innahu yal'ab bil-kura bi-bara'a.He is playing with the ball skillfully.
- مريم Maryamهل هذا الطفل ابن عمك؟Hal hadha al-tifl ibn 'ammika?Is this kid your cousin?
- أحمد Ahmedنعم، إنه طفل لطيف جداً.Na'am, innahu tifl latif jiddan.Yes, he is a very cute kid.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry طفل, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
