أَنْف
ʔanfmasculine
The English word "nose" is translated into Arabic as أَنْف (ʔanf). Wiktionary also lists خَشَم (ḵašam) and مناخير (manaḵīr).
Meaning: protuberance on the face (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| أَنْف | ʔanf | masculine |
| خَشَم | ḵašam | masculine |
| مناخير | manaḵīr | Egyptian Arabic, feminine |
| خشم | ḵešim | Gulf Arabic, masculine |
| بوز | būz | Gulf Arabic, masculine |
| منخار | minḵār | North Levantine Arabic, masculine |
| أنْف | ʔanf | South Levantine Arabic, masculine |
The term refers to the protuberance on the face.
Which one should you use?
أَنْف is the standard, formal term used in Modern Standard Arabic. The other forms provided are dialect-specific variations. In some Gulf contexts, بوز may be used for a nose, but it more commonly refers to an animal's snout or muzzle.
Is it said differently in some regions?
مناخير is the common way to say nose in Egyptian Arabic. In the Gulf region, خشم is frequently used. منخار is a common term in North Levantine Arabic. بوز is used in some Gulf contexts, though it often refers to a snout. أنْف is also used in South Levantine Arabic.
How does it change in a sentence?
أَنْف and خشم are masculine nouns. مناخير is a feminine noun used in Egyptian Arabic.
How do you pronounce it?
ʔanf
Did you know?
- In many Gulf countries, touching the خشم to another person's nose is a traditional greeting and sign of respect, particularly between men.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, a person's 'nose' is a metaphor for their pride and dignity. To say someone 'has a high nose' implies they are arrogant or possess a great sense of honor.
- While أَنْف is the formal term, using the word بوز (booz) to describe a human's nose in a conversation would likely be seen as a direct insult, as it specifically refers to a snout.
Examples in context
- شعره طويل وأنفه صغير.He has long hair and a small nose.
- هل يمكن أن تأكل الطعام بأنفك؟Can you eat with your nose?
- احمرت خدوده وبرزت دمعة من أنفه.His cheeks turned red, and a tear came out of his nose.
- أَنْفُهُ طَوِيلٌ جِدًّا.anfu-hu tawīlun jiddan.His nose is very long.
- لَدَيْهَا أَنْفٌ صَغِيرٌ.laday-hā anf-un ṣaghīrun.She has a small nose.
- أَشَمُّ رَائِحَةً بِأَنْفِي.ashummu rā'ihatan bi-anfī.I smell something with my nose.
Example conversation
Mariam and Ziad are looking at a portrait in a museum.
- مريم Maryamهَلْ تَرَى أَنْفَ الرَّجُلِ فِي الصُّورَةِ؟hal tarā anfa ar-rajuli fī aṣ-ṣūrati?Do you see the man's nose in the picture?
- زياد Ziadنَعَمْ، أَنْفُهُ كَبِيرٌ جِدًّا.na'am, anfu-hu kabīrun jiddan.Yes, his nose is very big.
- مريم Maryamإِنَّهُ مَلْحُوظٌ جِدًّا.innahu malḥūẓun jiddan.It is very noticeable.
- زياد Ziadأَنْتِ مُحِقَّةٌ يَا مَرْيَمُ.anti muḥiqqatun yā Maryamu.You are right, Mariam.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nose” translations and entries بوز, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
