دواء
dawaa
The English word medicine is translated into Arabic as دواء (dawaa).
دواء refers to a substance used for healing and can be used to describe both liquid forms, such as syrups and solid forms, such as pills.
Meaning: substance which promotes healing (noun)
Which one should you use?
While دواء refers to the substance itself, the related word علاج can mean 'treatment' or 'cure' and is often used interchangeably with 'medicine' in clinical contexts. Additionally, At-tibb is a formal term that refers to both medicine as a substance and the practice of medicine.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of دواء is أدوية.
How do you pronounce it?
dawaa
Did you know?
- Historically, the Arabic term for the practice of medicine, الطب, was so influential that it gave the English language the word 'alchemy' via the Arabic الكيمياء, blending early medicine and chemistry.
- The root of دواء is linked to the concept of 'disease' itself, sharing a linguistic connection with the word دَوًى which refers to an illness or affliction.
- In some traditional contexts, a 'natural remedy' is referred to as تداوي, which shifts the focus from the substance itself to the active process of self-healing.
Examples in context
- علي ياني أن يتناول دواءهYanni has to take his medicine.This sentence shows how to use دواء when someone must take their medicine.Tatoeba #10259572 by Amghar, translation #9992532 by Amastan
- ذهب سامي لإحضار دواء جدّه.Sami went to get his grandfather's medicine.This sentence uses دواء to describe going to get medicine for someone else.Tatoeba #7967314 by OsoHombre, translation #7150861 by OsoHombre
- أعطني دواءا أو ما شابه ذلك.Give me some medicine or something.This sentence uses دواء when asking for medicine or something similar.Tatoeba #11976253 by dididodo, translation #11487051 by Amastan
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sara is asking Ziad about his health.
- سارة Saraهل تناولت الدواء يا زياد؟Hal tanawalta ad-dawa' ya Ziyad?Did you take the medicine, Ziad?
- زياد Ziadنعم، تناولت دواء السعال الآن.Na'am, tanawaltu dawa' as-su'al al-an.Yes, I took the cough medicine now.
- سارة Saraهل هذا الدواء فعال؟Hal hadha ad-dawa' fa'aal?Is this medicine effective?
- زياد Ziadأعتقد أنه سيساعدني كثيراً.A'taqidu annahu sayusa'iduni kathiran.I think it will help me a lot.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries دواء, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
