الحالة الاجتماعية
al-ḥāla al-ijtimā‘iyya
The English phrase 'marital status' is translated into Arabic as الحالة الاجتماعية (al-ḥāla al-ijtimā‘iyya).
الحالة الاجتماعية is the standard term used on official government forms, applications and legal documents to denote marital status.
Meaning: term describing relationship (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of al-ḥāla (the state/condition) and al-ijtimā‘iyya (the social), literally meaning 'the social state'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When filling out a form for 'marital status', a single person would typically write أعزب. For 'married', a married person would typically write متزوج. The terms for divorced status are مطلق for a male and مطلقة for a female. The terms for widowed status are أرمل for a male and أرملة for a female.
How do you pronounce it?
al-ḥāla al-ijtimā‘iyya
Did you know?
- In social settings, asking about الحالة الاجتماعية can function as a strategic euphemism to inquire about a person's relationship status without the bluntness of a direct question.
- The word اجتماعية is derived from the root جمع, meaning 'to gather', which conceptually links a person's marital status to their role in gathering a family or community.
- While English uses 'single' as a gender-neutral term, the Arabic term for an unmarried person, أعزب, is traditionally used to denote a man who has never been married. This distinguishes him from someone who may be currently single but has a prior marriage history.
Examples in context
- يجب كتابة الحالة الاجتماعية في الطلب.yajibu kitabatu al-halati al-ijtima'iyyati fi al-talab.The marital status must be written on the application.
- سألني الموظف عن الحالة الاجتماعية.sa'alani al-muwazzifu 'an al-halati al-ijtima'iyya.The employee asked me about my marital status.
Example conversation
Layla is helping Omar fill out an official application form.
- ليلى Laylaعمر، اترك خانة الحالة الاجتماعية فارغة الآن.Omar, utruk khanat al-hala al-ijtima'iyya farigha al-an.Omar, leave the marital status box empty for now.
- عمر Omarلماذا؟ هل هي غير ضرورية؟Limadha? Hal hiya ghayr daruriyya?Why? Is it not necessary?
- ليلى Laylaسأقوم بتعبئتها لكِ لاحقاً.Sa-aqumu bi-ta'bi'atiha laka lahiqan.I will fill it out for you later.
- عمر Omarحسناً، شكراً لكِ يا ليلى.Hasanan, shukran laki ya Layla.Okay, thank you, Layla.
