شمال
šamāl/ʃi.maːl/Egyptian Arabic, masculine
The English word 'north' is translated into Arabic as شمال (šamāl). Wiktionary also lists شَمَال (šamāl).
Meaning: compass point (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| شمال | šamāl | /ʃi.maːl/ /ʃa.maːl/ |
Egyptian Arabic, masculine |
| شَمَال | šamāl | masculine |
The term refers to the compass point.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form شمال is also used in Egyptian Arabic.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ʃi.maːl/ (šamāl). It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- There is a fascinating connection between the direction 'north' and the act of wrapping up. The root of شمال can mean 'to bundle' or 'to wrap', likely because the cold northern winds require people to bundle themselves in clothing.
- The word for 'south', جنوب, comes from a root meaning 'to change' or 'to lay aside', which refers to people laying aside their heavy clothes in the warm southern weather.
Examples in context
- عليهم ان يبحروا شمالا.They must sail north.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use شمال as an adverb meaning 'north'.Tatoeba #10294247 by Amghar, translation #8290953 by Amastan
- كانت ليلى تعيش شمال القاهرة.Layla lived north of Cairo.This sentence shows the use of شمال to indicate a location north of a city.Tatoeba #6100308 by OsoHombre, translation #6044170 by OsoHombre
- هل مصر في الشرق الأوسط أم في شمال إفريقيا؟Is Egypt in the Middle East or in North Africa?This sentence demonstrates the use of شمال when referring to North Africa.Tatoeba #10701921 by ANANASA, translation #10701920 by ANANASA
- يوجد معبد قديم في المنطقة الشمالية.There is an ancient temple in the northern region.
- المدينة الشمالية التقليدية مليئة بالمعابد القديمة.The traditional northern city is filled with ancient temples.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ziad and Mariam are looking at a map in a car.
- زياد Ziadإحنا ماشيين شمال ولا جنوب؟eḥna māšiyīn šamāl wala ǧanūb?Are we going north or south?
- مريم Maryamإحنا ماشيين ناحية الشمال يا زياد.eḥna māšiyīn naḥyet el-šamāl ya ziad.We are going towards the north, Ziad.
- زياد Ziadتمام، الطريق هناك طويل؟tamām, el-ṭarī' honāk ṭawīl?Okay, is the road there long?
- مريم Maryamلا، مش طويل أوي.la, miš ṭawīl awi.No, it's not very long.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “north” translations and entries شمال, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries شمال, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
