مَدْرَسَة إِسْلَامِيَّة
madrasa ʔislāmiyyafeminine
The English phrase 'madrasa' (school for Islamic theology) is translated into Arabic as مَدْرَسَة إِسْلَامِيَّة (madrasa ʔislāmiyya). If unsure, use مَدْرَسَة إِسْلَامِيَّة. Wiktionary also lists مَدْرَسَة (madrasa).
Meaning: school for Islamic theology (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مَدْرَسَة إِسْلَامِيَّة | madrasa ʔislāmiyya | feminine |
| مَدْرَسَة | madrasa | feminine |
In Arabic, the term مَدْرَسَة is the general word for any school or educational institution, whether it is secular or religious. While English speakers often use 'madrasa' specifically to refer to an Islamic school, in Arabic, مَدْرَسَة covers all types of schooling.
What does it mean word for word?
The noun مَدْرَسَة is derived from the Arabic root d-r-s (to study) and literally means a place of study or a school.
Which one should you use?
مَدْرَسَة is the general term for any school, whereas مَدْرَسَة إِسْلَامِيَّة specifically refers to an Islamic school.
How do you pronounce it?
madrasa ʔislāmiyya
Did you know?
- The word مَدْرَسَة comes from a root meaning 'to study' that also means 'to rub out' or 'erase'. This reflects an ancient practice of rubbing out written exercises on tablets to reuse them.
- Historically, the first formal مَدْرَسَة institutions in the Islamic world were developed to standardize legal education rather than just teaching the Quran.
- The term مَدْرَسَة is also used metaphorically to describe a 'school of thought' or a specific stylistic approach in art and philosophy.
Examples in context
- هِيَ تَدْرُسُ فِي مَدْرَسَة إِسْلَامِيَّة.hiya tadrusu fī madrasa islāmiyya.She studies at an Islamic school.
- هَذِهِ مَدْرَسَة إِسْلَامِيَّة كَبِيرَة.hādhihi madrasa islāmiyya kabīra.This is a large Islamic school.
Example conversation
Ahmed and Layla are discussing their education.
- أحمد Ahmedأين تدرسين يا ليلى؟Ayna tadrusina ya Layla?Where are you studying, Layla?
- ليلى Laylaأنا أدرس في مَدْرَسَة إِسْلَامِيَّة.Ana adrusu fi madrasa islamiyya.I study at an Islamic school.
- أحمد Ahmedهل هي مدرسة جيدة؟Hal hiya madrasa jayyida?Is it a good school?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، هي مدرسة رائعة جداً.Na'am, hiya madrasa ra'i'a jiddan.Yes, it is a very wonderful school.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “madrasa” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
