Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| كَمْبْيُوتِر مَحْمُول | kambyūtir maḥmūl | masculine |
| حَاسُوب مَحْمُول | ḥāsūb maḥmūl | masculine |
| لَابْتُوب | laptup, labtob | masculine |
In Arabic, the term for 'laptop' describes a portable computing device. You can use a formal term like حَاسُوب مَحْمُول or the transliterated English word لَابْتُوب depending on the setting.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrases كَمْبْيُوتِر مَحْمُول and حَاسُوب مَحْمُول, the adjective مَحْمُول (maḥmūl) means 'portable' or 'carried'. This functions similarly to the 'port' in the English word 'portable' to describe the device.
Which one should you use?
The terms حَاسُوب مَحْمُول and كَمْبْيُوتِر مَحْمُول are formal ways to say 'portable computer'. In contrast, لَابْتُوب is a direct transliteration of the English word 'laptop' and is used for everyday speech.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The transliterated form لَابْتُوب is very common in everyday spoken Arabic across many different dialects.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to multiple devices, such as 'portable computers', the noun undergoes changes to match the plural. For example, the phrase becomes كَمْبْيُوتِرَات مَحْمُولَة (kambyūtirāt maḥmūla), where the noun is pluralized and the adjective changes to the feminine form to agree with the non-human plural.
How do you pronounce it?
kambyūtir maḥmūl
Did you know?
- While لَابْتُوب is used globally, some North African countries influenced by French may use the term أُورْدِينَاتُور مَحْمُول (ordinateur portable) instead of the English-based versions.
- The formal word حَاسُوب is derived from the root حَسَبَ, which means 'to calculate' or 'to count'. This links the modern computer to the ancient Arabic tradition of mathematics and astronomy.
- Because the Arabic alphabet lacks a 'p' sound, the English word 'laptop' is transformed into لَابْتُوب, replacing the 'p' with a 'b'.
Examples in context
- عندي لابتوب HP رائع!I have an amazing HP laptop!
- هذا كَمْبْيُوتِر مَحْمُول جَدِيد.hadha kambutir mahmoul jadid.This is a new laptop.
- أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى كَمْبْيُوتِر مَحْمُول لِلْعَمَلِ.ahtaju ila kambutir mahmoul lil-'amal.I need a laptop for work.
Example conversation
Maryam and Omar are studying in a library.
- مريم Maryamهَلْ مَعَكَ كَمْبْيُوتِر مَحْمُول يَا عُمَر؟Hal maʿaka kambyūtir maḥmūl yā ʿUmar?Do you have a laptop, Omar?
- عمر Omarنَعَمْ، هُوَ فِي حَقِيبَتِي.Naʿam, huwa fī ḥaqībatī.Yes, it is in my bag.
- مريم Maryamهَلْ يُمْكِنُنِي اسْتِخْدَامُهُ لِلَحْظَة؟Hal yumkinunī istikhdāmuhu li-laḥẓah?Can I use it for a moment?
- عمر Omarتَفَضَّلِي يَا مَرْيَم، خُذِيهِ.Tafaḍḍalī yā Maryam, khudhīhi.Go ahead, Maryam, take it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “laptop” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
