كَذَّاب
kaḏḏābmasculine
The English word "liar" is translated into Arabic using several forms, most commonly كَذَّاب (kaḏḏāb). Wiktionary also lists كَذَّابَة (kaḏḏāba) and كَاذِب (kāḏib).
Meaning: one who tells lies (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| كَذَّاب | kaḏḏāb | masculine |
| كَذَّابَة | kaḏḏāba | feminine |
| كَاذِب | kāḏib | masculine |
| كَاذِبَة | kāḏiba | feminine |
| كَذُوب | kaḏūb | masculine |
| كَذُوبَة | kaḏūba | feminine |
The term is used to describe a person who tells lies.
What does it mean word for word?
The form كَذَّاب is built on the intensive pattern (fa‘‘āl), which emphasizes the repetition or character trait of the action.
Which one should you use?
The form كَذَّاب implies a habitual or frequent liar, whereas كَاذِب refers more generally to someone who has told a lie.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a female liar using the most common intensive form, use the feminine كَذَّابَة. The masculine plural form of the intensive liar is كَذَّابُونَ.
How do you pronounce it?
kaḏḏāb
Did you know?
- The morphological pattern of كَذَّاب can also be applied to many other positive traits, such as 'generous' or 'brave', to show that the quality is an essential part of the person's identity.
- In some poetic Arabic contexts, terms related to lying are used metaphorically to describe someone who is being overly romantic or making impossible promises.
- In some Arabic dialects, calling someone a 'liar' can be used playfully among friends to mean they are 'exaggerating' or 'boasting' rather than being malicious.
Examples in context
- لا تصدقه، إنه كاذبDo not believe him, he is a liar
- لا تتعامل معه، إنه فاسق كاذبDon't interact with him, he is a dishonest and immoral person
- لا تتعامل معه، فهو فعلاً منافق وكاذبDon't interact with him, he is truly a hypocrite and liar
- هو كَذَّابٌ بَارِعٌ.huwa kazzābun bāri'.He is a skilled liar.
- لا تُصَدِّقْهُ، إِنَّهُ كَذَّابٌ.lā tuṣaddiqhu, innahu kazzāb.Don't believe him, he is a liar.
- كُلُّ كَذَّابٍ يَنْكَشِفُ يَوْمًا مَا.kullu kazzābin yankashifu yawman mā.Every liar is exposed one day.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “liar” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
