قَانُون
qānūnmasculine
The Arabic word for law is قَانُون (qānūn). Wiktionary also lists حُقُوق (ḥuqūq).
Meaning: any rule that must or should be obeyed (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| قَانُون | qānūn | masculine |
| حُقُوق | ḥuqūq | plural |
قَانُون refers to any rule that must or should be obeyed.
Which one should you use?
While the source pack lists ḥuqūq as a plural form of law, in standard usage, ḥuqūq is the plural of ḥaqq (right) and is distinct from the plural of law (qawānīn).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Levantine Arabic, the plural form of قانون is Qawānīn. In Gulf Arabic, قوانين is used to refer to laws.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of the masculine noun qānūn is qawānīn.
How do you pronounce it?
qānūn
Did you know?
- In Arabic, قانون is also the name of a traditional zither-like string instrument. The instrument is named after the word for 'law' because of its precise mathematical tuning and frets.
- The word قانون is the ancestor of the English word 'canon'. Both terms derive from the Greek word κανών, meaning a straight rod or a measuring rule.
- While قانون refers to man-made legislation, the term شريعة is used for divine law. In many Arabic-speaking countries, the legal system is described as a blend of both.
Examples in context
- قانون الدولةState law
- قانون العقوباتCriminal law
- قانون الشركاتCompany law
- قانون العملLabor laws
- قانون الأسرةFamily laws
- قوانين المرورTraffic laws
- هَذَا قَانُونٌ جَدِيدٌ.hadha qanun jadid.This is a new law.
- هَلْ هَذَا قَانُونٌ صَحِيحٌ؟hal hadha qanun sahih?Is this a correct law?
Example conversation
Ziad and Layla are discussing a new regulation at a cafe.
- زياد Ziadهَلْ سَمِعْتِ عَنِ الْقَانُونِ الْجَدِيدِ؟hal sami'ti 'an al-qanun al-jadid?Did you hear about the new law?
- ليلى Laylaنَعَمْ، هَذَا الْقَانُونُ صَعْبٌ جِدًّا.na'am, hadha al-qanun sa'b jiddan.Yes, this law is very difficult.
- زياد Ziadلَكِنْ يَجِبُ أَنْ نَتَّبِعَهُ.lakin yajibu an nattabi'ahu.But we must follow it.
- ليلى Laylaأَنْتَ مُحِقٌّ يَا زِيَادُ.anta muhiqq ya Ziad.You are right, Ziad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “law” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
