نعناع
neʕnāʕ/naʕ.naːʕ/Egyptian Arabic, masculine
The English word "mint" is translated into Arabic as نعناع (neʕnāʕ). Wiktionary also lists نَعْنَاع (naʕnāʕ) and نِعْنَاع (niʕnāʕ).
Meaning: plant (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| نعناع | neʕnāʕ | /naʕ.naːʕ/ /niʕ.naːʕ/ (Hijazi) |
Egyptian Arabic, masculine |
| نَعْنَاع | naʕnāʕ | ||
| نِعْنَاع | niʕnāʕ | Hijazi Arabic, masculine | |
| ليقامة | līqāma | Moroccan Arabic |
نعناع refers to the mint plant.
Which one should you use?
The standard form is نَعْنَاع, while the Egyptian-Arabic version is نعناع and the Hijazi-Arabic version is نِعْنَاع. In Moroccan-Arabic, the word ليقامة is used instead.
Is it said differently in some regions?
نعناع is the form used in Egyptian-Arabic, while نِعْنَاع is used in Hijazi-Arabic. In Morocco, speakers use ليقامة.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is neʕnāʕ. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word نعناع traces its roots back to the ancient Hurrian language, making it a linguistic fossil that predates many modern Middle Eastern languages.
- In many Arabic-speaking countries, mint is not just a garnish but the primary ingredient in tea, often stuffed into the glass in large bunches rather than steeped in a pot.
- While 'mint' in English is often a flavor, in many Arabic-speaking cultures, نعناع is a social ritual, especially when served as 'mint tea' to welcome guests.
Examples in context
- عندَكم شاي بالنَّعْنَاع؟Do you have mint tea?
- ممكن تجيب معاك نعناع من السوق؟mumkin tgeeb maʻak naʻnaʻ men el-sooʻ?Can you bring some mint from the market?
Example conversation
Nour and Youssef are in the kitchen preparing tea.
- نور Nourيا يوسف، في نعناع في التلاجة؟ya Youssef, fee naʻnaʻ fel-tallaga?Youssef, is there any mint in the fridge?
- يوسف Youssefلأ، مفيش نعناع خالص.la', mafeesh naʻnaʻ khalis.No, there is no mint at all.
- نور Nourطيب، ممكن تنزل تجيبه؟ṭeeb, mumkin tinzil tgeebo?Okay, can you go down and get it?
- يوسف Youssefماشي، هجيب النعناع وأنا راجع.mashi, hageeb el-naʻnaʻ wa ana ragaʻ.Alright, I'll bring the mint when I return.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mint” translations and entries نعناع, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries نعناع, CC BY-SA 4.0.
