How to Say "Octopus" in Arabic

أُخْطُبُوط

ʔuḵṭubūṭmasculine

The English word octopus is translated into Arabic as أُخْطُبُوط (ʔuḵṭubūṭ). Wiktionary also lists أَخْطَبُوط (ʔaḵṭabūṭ) and قَرْنِيط (qarnīṭ).

Meaning: mollusc (noun)

Ways to say it

The word refers to the mollusc known as an octopus.

أُخْطُبُوط is the standard term, while قَرْنِيط is a colloquial alternative. The form أَخْطَبُوط is also a variation of the word.

قَرْنِيط is particularly common in North Africa and the Levant.

All provided forms are masculine nouns.

ʔuḵṭubūṭ

The word أُخْطُبُوط is a direct loanword from the Ancient Greek 'oktōpous', which literally means 'eight feet'.
The term أُخْطُبُوط is sometimes used metaphorically in Arabic political commentary to describe a complex, multi-armed, or sprawling organization or conspiracy.
When describing an octopus in a scientific context in Arabic, one might use the term رأسيات الأرجل which translates to 'cephalopods' or 'foot-headed' creatures.

يقدم المطعم أطباقًا شهية من الأخطبوط.
The restaurant serves delicious dishes with octopus.
رَأَيْتُ أُخْطُبُوطاً كَبِيراً فِي الْبَحْرِ.
ra'aytu ukhtubutan kabiran fi al-bahr.
I saw a big octopus in the sea.

Omar and Maryam are visiting an aquarium.

مريم Maryam

انظر يا عمر! هذا أُخْطُبُوط كبير.
unzhur ya Omar! hadha ukhtubut kabir.
Look Omar! This is a big octopus.
عمر Omar

يا إلهي، لديه أذرع كثيرة.
ya ilahi, ladayhi adru' kathira.
Oh my god, it has many arms.
مريم Maryam

يقولون إن الأُخْطُبُوط يغير لونه.
yaquluna inna al-ukhtubut yughayyir lawnahu.
They say the octopus changes its color.
عمر Omar

هذا مذهل حقاً يا مريم.
hadha mudhhil haqqan ya Maryam.
That is truly amazing, Maryam.

Sources

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