رَبّ
rabbmasculine
In Arabic, the word for 'lord' is رَبّ (rabb). Wiktionary also lists اَلرَّبّ (ar-rabb).
Meaning: God (name)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| رَبّ | rabb | masculine |
| اَلرَّبّ | ar-rabb | masculine |
In a religious context, رَبّ is used as a name for God. Beyond its religious meaning, the term carries the connotation of a provider, nurturer or sustainer. It can also be used to mean 'master of a household'. Note that the Arabic word for the British aristocratic title 'lord' is a separate loanword, لُورْد.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Maghrebi Arabic, the term ربي is used to refer to God and can be translated as 'Lord'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
You can modify the word using suffixes: adding the suffix 'ī' results in رَبِّي (my Lord), and adding the suffix 'ka' results in رَبُّكَ (your Lord, masculine singular).
How do you pronounce it?
rabb
Did you know?
- The word رَبّ shares a linguistic root with words meaning 'to tie' or 'to bind', reflecting the idea of a sustainer who holds things together.
- While رَبّ refers to the Creator, the Arabic language uses a completely different word, إِلٰه, to describe the concept of a 'god' or 'deity'.
- In some regional dialects, رَبّي can be used in a colloquial sense to swear an oath or emphasize that something is true, similar to saying 'I swear to God'.
Examples in context
- الله تعالى هو الربAllah, the Almighty, is the Lord.
- الإله كان رحيماًThe Lord was merciful.
- أَنَا أَعْبُدُ رَبّاً وَاحِداً.anā a'budu rabban wāḥidan.I worship one lord.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lord” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
