زِئْبَق
ziʔbaqmasculine
The English word mercury translates to Arabic as زِئْبَق (ziʔbaq). Wiktionary also lists زَاؤُوق (zāʔūq).
Meaning: silvery-coloured, metallic chemical element with the atomic number 80 (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| زِئْبَق | ziʔbaq | masculine |
| زَاؤُوق | zāʔūq | masculine |
The word refers to the silvery-coloured, metallic chemical element with the atomic number 80. In informal contexts, one might refer to it as الفضة السائلة, which means liquid silver.
Which one should you use?
The term used for the chemical element is distinct from عُطَارِد, which is the name for the planet Mercury. Additionally, مِيرْكُورِي is used specifically when referring to the Roman god Mercury.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms زِئْبَق and زَاؤُوق are both masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
ziʔbaq
Did you know?
- In traditional Arabic alchemy, زِئْبَق was considered the 'soul' of all metals and the primary substance from which other metals could be created.
- In some Arabic dialects, زِئْبَق is used metaphorically to describe a person who is slippery, cunning or impossible to pin down in an argument.
- The word for the planet, عُطَارِد, is etymologically linked to the Arabic root for 'playing' or 'darting about', mimicking the planet's rapid movement across the sky.
Examples in context
- هذا السائل هو زِئْبَق.Hādhā as-sā'il huwa zi'baq.This liquid is mercury.
Example conversation
In a science laboratory.
- ليلى Laylaيا أحمد، ماذا يوجد في هذه الأنبوبة؟Yā Ahmad, mādhā yūjadu fī hādhihi al-unbūba?Ahmed, what is in this tube?
- أحمد Ahmedإنها تحتوي على زِئْبَق.Innahā taḥtawī 'alā zi'baq.It contains mercury.
- ليلى Laylaهل هو خطير؟Hal huwa khaṭīr?Is it dangerous?
- أحمد Ahmedنعم، يجب أن نكون حذرين.Na'am, yajib an nakūna ḥadhirīn.Yes, we must be careful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mercury” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
