لغة
loḡa/lu.ɣa/Egyptian Arabic, feminine
The Arabic word for language is لغة (loḡa). Wiktionary also lists لُغَة (luḡa) and لِسَان (lisān).
Meaning: body of words used as a form of communication (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| لغة | loḡa | /lu.ɣa/ | Egyptian Arabic, feminine |
| لُغَة | luḡa | feminine | |
| لِسَان | lisān | feminine, masculine |
The term refers to a body of words used as a form of communication.
Which one should you use?
While لُغَة is the standard term for a linguistic system, لِسَان is a more classical or literary term. In a literal sense, لِسَان means 'tongue' and is used to refer to a language or a people's speech.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the word for language is لغة (loḡa) in formal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the feminine noun لُغَة is لُغَات.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of لغة is /lu.ɣa/. It has two syllables.
Did you know?
- The term لغة is etymologically linked to the Hebrew word for 'throat' or 'pharynx', suggesting a deep historical connection between the two languages' roots.
- Arabic has a specialized term for 'diglossia', the situation where a society uses two distinct versions of the same لغة for different social functions.
- In certain classical contexts, saying you speak a certain لِسَان is not just about the language itself, but implies you belong to that specific people or tribe.
Examples in context
- أريد تعلم لغة جديدة.I want to learn a new language.This sentence shows how to express the desire to learn a new لغة.Tatoeba #7743171 by MisterBrown, translation #2207416 by Hybrid
- العبرية هي لغة صعبة.Hebrew is a difficult language.This sentence uses لغة to describe the difficulty of Hebrew.Tatoeba #7832892 by MisterBrown, translation #2739238 by Eldad
- لماذا تدرس لغة أجنبية؟What do you study a foreign language for?This sentence uses لغة when asking about the study of a foreign language.Tatoeba #1597731 by Amastan, translation #69808 by orcrist
- أنا أحب اللغة العربيةI love the Arabic language
- 52 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Youssef and Layla are talking about their studies at university.
- يوسف Youssefيا ليلى، إنتي بتدرسي لغة إيه؟Ya Layla, enti betedrasi logha eh?Layla, what language are you studying?
- ليلى Laylaأنا بدرس لغة إسبانية.Ana badres logha espanya.I am studying the Spanish language.
- يوسف Youssefدي لغة جميلة جداً.Di logha gamila giddan.That is a very beautiful language.
- ليلى Laylaفعلاً، بس هي صعبة شوية.Fe'lan, bas heyya sa'ba shwayya.Indeed, but it is a bit difficult.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “language” translations and entries لغة, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries لغة, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
