رقبة
raʔaba/ra.qa.ba/Egyptian Arabic, feminine
In Arabic, the word for neck is رقبة (raʔaba). Wiktionary also lists رَقَبَة (raqaba) and عُنُق (ʕunuq).
Meaning: part of body connecting the head and the trunk (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| رقبة | raʔaba | /ra.qa.ba/ | Egyptian Arabic, feminine |
| رَقَبَة | raqaba | feminine | |
| عُنُق | ʕunuq | masculine | |
| عنق | ʕunq | /ʕu.nuq/ /ʕunq/ |
Moroccan Arabic, masculine |
The term refers to the part of the body that connects the head to the trunk.
Which one should you use?
The masculine form عُنُق is typically used in formal, literary or scientific contexts, such as in anatomy or literature.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Gulf Arabic, the term رَقَبَة is widely accepted for both formal and informal situations. In Moroccan Arabic, the masculine form عنق is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word رَقَبَة is a feminine noun, meaning any adjectives or verbs describing it must agree in feminine gender.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ra.qa.ba/. It has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- In traditional Arabic legal history, the word رقبة was used to refer to a slave. This is because the neck is where a collar or chain is placed.
- In certain Arabic contexts, the word رقبة is used metaphorically to mean 'the person's life' or 'the person themselves', especially when discussing responsibility or the stakes of a situation.
- Arabic has a specific term for the 'nape' or the back of the neck, قفا, which is distinct from رقبة and is often used in idioms about being surprised or defeated.
Examples in context
- عنق الزرافة فيه سبعة فقرات.A giraffe's neck has seven vertebrae.This sentence uses عنق to describe a biological fact about a giraffe.Tatoeba #11682707 by dididodo, translation #8546689 by Amastan
- لفّ سامي حبلا حول عنق ليلى و خنقها حتّى الموت.Sami put a cord around Layla's neck and strangled her to death.This sentence uses عنق to describe a violent action.Tatoeba #6712840 by OsoHombre, translation #6710104 by OsoHombre
- كسر عنقه زيري.Ziri broke his neck.This sentence uses عنق to describe a physical injury.Tatoeba #11644658 by dididodo, translation #10223158 by Amastan
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ziad and Nour are talking about a physical injury.
- زياد Ziadرقبتي بتوجعني قوي النهاردة.raqabti betewga'ni awi el-naharda.My neck hurts a lot today.
- نور Nourسلامتك يا زياد، نمت غلط؟salamtak ya Ziad, nemt ghalat?Feel better, Ziad. Did you sleep in a bad position?
- زياد Ziadأيوه، حاسس بتشنج في رقبة من ورا.aywa, hasis be-tashannug fi raqaba men wara.Yes, I feel a cramp in the back of my neck.
- نور Nourجرب تعمل كمادات دافية لرقبتك.garab te'mel kamadat dafya le-raqabtak.Try using warm compresses on your neck.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “neck” translations and entries رقبة, عنق, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
