أسماء
asmāʾ
To say names in Arabic, the plural of name, use أسماء (asmāʾ).
أسماء (asmāʾ) is the plural of the Arabic word for name. It is used for people's names and also for names of things.
How does it change in a sentence?
أسماء is a broken plural, meaning the plural is formed by changing the inside of the word rather than adding an ending.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is asmāʾ. The ā is a long a and the final ʾ marks a short catch in the throat.
When do people say it?
أسماء is also a common girls' name in the Arab world.
Did you know?
- The word أسماء functions as both the plural for 'names' and a feminine given name. When used as a name, it is often associated with 'loftiness' or 'height' because it shares a root with the verb 'to rise'.
- The word for 'name' is deeply linked to the word for 'sign' or 'mark' in Arabic. This reflects a cultural and linguistic history where naming something was seen as marking its identity or essence.
- In Arabic grammar, أسماء is used as a technical term for any 'noun' regardless of whether it refers to a person, place or thing.
Examples in context
- دائما ما أنسى أسماء النّاس.I always forget people's names.أسماء النّاس means "people's names".Tatoeba #7981625 by OsoHombre, translation #4995334 by dantat65
- أنا دائما ما أنسى أسماء النّاس.I'm constantly forgetting people's names.أنا adds the pronoun "I" for emphasis.Tatoeba #7981615 by OsoHombre, translation #6872974 by CK
- لم يذكر أسماءا.He didn't name names.أسماءا is the same word with an extra ending used here as the object of the verb.Tatoeba #12827437 by dididodo, translation #2633516 by Hybrid
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ahmed and Layla are looking at a guest list for a party.
- أحمد Ahmedهل قرأتِ أسماء الضيوف؟Hal qara'ti asmaa' al-duyoof?Did you read the names of the guests?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، الأسماء واضحة هنا.Na'am, al-asma' wadiha huna.Yes, the names are clear here.
- أحمد Ahmedأنا لا أعرف بعض هذه الأسماء.Ana la a'rif ba'd hadhihi al-asma'.I don't know some of these names.
- ليلى Laylaلا تقلق يا أحمد، سيعرفونك.La taqlaq ya Ahmed, saya'rifunak.Don't worry Ahmed, they will know you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
