برق
barq
The English word "lightning" is translated into Arabic as برق (barq).
برق refers specifically to the visible flash or discharge of light in the sky during a storm.
Meaning: discharge (noun)
Which one should you use?
While برق is the term for the light of lightning, you should use رعد to refer to the sound of thunder. If you want to specifically refer to a single bolt of lightning, the word صاعقة is used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun برق is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
barq
Did you know?
- While برق is the light, the word for thunder, رعد, is often used as a masculine given name in various Arabic-speaking countries.
- In classical Arabic poetry, the sight of برق on the horizon often serves as a nostalgic trigger for the poet to remember a lost love or a distant homeland.
- The root of برق is used to derive the word for 'mail' or 'telegram' in Arabic, known as بريد in some contexts or linked to the speed of برقيات.
Examples in context
- رأيتُ برقاً في السماء.ra'aytu barqan fi al-sama'.I saw lightning in the sky.
- كان هناك برق قبل الرعد.kana hunaka barq qabla al-ra'd.There was lightning before the thunder.
Example conversation
Sara and Ziad are watching a storm from the window.
- سارة Saraانظر يا زياد، هناك برق كثير!Unzur ya Ziyad, hunaka barqun kathir!Look Ziad, there is a lot of lightning!
- زياد Ziadنعم، العاصفة تبدو قوية جداً.Na'am, al-asifa tabdu qawiyatan jiddan.Yes, the storm looks very strong.
- سارة Saraهل تعتقد أنها ستمطر الآن؟Hal ta'taqidu annaha satumtiru al-aan?Do you think it will rain now?
- زياد Ziadبالتأكيد، البرق يخبرنا بذلك.Bil-ta'kid, al-barqu yukhbiruna bidhalik.Certainly, the lightning is telling us so.
