سِكِّين
sikkīnfeminine, masculine
The English word "knife" is translated into Arabic as سِكِّين (sikkīn). Wiktionary also lists مُدْيَة (mudya) and سكينة (sikkīna).
Meaning: utensil or tool designed for cutting (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| سِكِّين | sikkīn | feminine, masculine | |
| مُدْيَة | mudya | feminine | |
| سكينة | sikkīna | /sa.kiː.na/ /sik.kiː.na/ |
Egyptian Arabic, feminine |
| سچين | siččīn | Gulf Arabic, masculine | |
| موس | mūs | Moroccan Arabic |
The word refers to a utensil or tool designed for cutting.
Which one should you use?
In Standard Arabic, the word موس refers specifically to a razor or a scalpel, whereas in Moroccan Arabic it is used for a knife. The form سِكِّين is masculine, while مُدْيَة is feminine.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, you may use سَكّين or the feminine form سكينة. In Gulf Arabic, the word is often pronounced as سچين. In Moroccan Arabic, the word موس is used. While موس means knife in Morocco, remember that in Standard Arabic it denotes a razor or scalpel.
How does it change in a sentence?
The standard form سِكِّين is a masculine noun. The form مُدْيَة is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
sikkīn
Did you know?
- The word سكينة is a homonym that can mean 'knife' or 'divine tranquility'. The latter meaning refers to a spiritual peace that descends upon believers in the Quran.
- The religious meaning of سكينة referring to a divine presence is a semantic loan from the Hebrew word shəḵīná.
- While سِكِّين is the standard term, the word مُدْيَة is often used in classical Arabic literature and poetic descriptions of weaponry.
Examples in context
- في الطهي، استخدم سكينًا حادًا لتقطيع الخضروات.In cooking, use a sharp knife to cut the vegetables.
- أجيبلي السكين أرجوك. ما عندي ولا سكين في المطبخ!Fetch me the knife, please. There isn't even a knife in the kitchen!
- أحتاج إلى سِكِّين لتقطيع الخبز.Ahtaju ila sikkin li-taqti' al-khubz.I need a knife to cut the bread.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “knife” translations and entries سكينة, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries سكينة, CC BY-SA 4.0.
