سوق
sūq
The Arabic word for market is سوق (sūq).
سوق (often transliterated as Souq) refers to a gathering for trading and is widely used across Arabic-speaking regions to describe a traditional market.
Meaning: gathering for trading (noun)
Which one should you use?
While سوق refers to a traditional market, you might use مركز تجاري (Markaz Tajari) when specifically referring to a modern shopping center.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of سوق is أسواق.
How do you pronounce it?
sūq
Did you know?
- The word سوق is related to the Akkadian word 'siāqum', which means 'to become narrow'. This suggests the linguistic origin of the word refers to the narrow streets or alleys where markets were historically held.
- In historical Islamic cities, the سوق was often located outside the central mosque, as some early scholars believed the noise of trading should not disturb prayer.
- In some dialects, سوق is used metaphorically to describe a chaotic situation or a place where people are arguing loudly, like saying a room 'sounds like a market'.
Examples in context
- هذا سوق عتيق للبعير.This is an ancient camel market.This sentence uses سوق to describe an ancient camel market.Tatoeba #12173211 by dididodo, translation #8597518 by Amastan
- هناك سوق كبيرة للقهوة.There is a big market for coffee.This sentence uses سوق to describe a large market for coffee.Tatoeba #372804 by saeb, translation #62261 by CM
- كان إيفان في سوق محلّي,Ivan was at a local market.This sentence uses سوق to describe a local market.Tatoeba #11849321 by Amastan, translation #11832853 by Amastan
- سوق الخضارVegetable market
- سوق الأسماكFish market
- أين السوق؟Where is the market?
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Omar and Maryam are deciding where to buy fresh vegetables.
- عمر Omarهل نذهب إلى السوق اليوم؟Hal nadhhab ila al-suq al-yawm?Shall we go to the market today?
- مريم Maryamنعم، أريد زيارة سوق الخضار.Na'am, uridu ziyarat suq al-khudar.Yes, I want to visit the vegetable market.
- عمر Omarأي سوق تفضلين يا مريم؟Ay suq tufaddilin ya Maryam?Which market do you prefer, Maryam?
- مريم Maryamأفضل السوق الشعبي هناك.Ufaddil al-suq al-sha'bi hunak.I prefer the popular market there.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries سوق, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
