مَكْتَب
maktabmasculine
The English word 'office' is translated into Arabic as مَكْتَب (maktab). Wiktionary also lists قَلَم (qalam).
Meaning: room(s) or building used for non-manual work (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مَكْتَب | maktab | masculine |
| قَلَم | qalam | masculine |
The term مَكْتَب is the most common and generic way to refer to an office in Arabic.
What does it mean word for word?
The word مَكْتَب can refer to both the physical desk and the office itself.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of مَكْتَب is مَكاتِب.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is maktab.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use قَلَم to mean 'office', as this word actually means 'pen'.
Did you know?
- In several Levant dialects, people might use the word دَائِرَة (da'irah), which literally means 'circle', to refer to a government office.
- The word مَكْتَب shares the same three-letter root as the word for 'writing' كِتَابَة and 'book' كِتَاب. This means an 'office' is literally a 'place for writing'.
- The plural مَكاتِب follows a 'broken plural' pattern, where the internal structure of the word changes rather than just adding a suffix at the end.
Examples in context
- نعم، يمكنك أن تجد المكتب الرئيسي في الطابق العاشر.Yes, you can find the main office on the tenth floor.
- سوف تجدنا في المقر الجديد بداية من الأسبوع القادم.You will find us at the new office starting next week.
- سوف ألتقي بك في الشركة غدًا.I will meet you at the office tomorrow.
- الْمَكْتَب بَعِيدٌ عَنِ الْبَيْتِ.al-maktab ba'id 'an al-bayt.The office is far from the house.
- هَلْ هَذَا مَكْتَبُكَ؟hal hadha maktabuka?Is this your office?
- الْمَكْتَبُ جَدِيدٌ وَنَظِيفٌ.al-maktab jadid wa nadif.The office is new and clean.
Example conversation
Nour and Ziad are talking about where Ziad works.
- نور Nourأَيْنَ مَكْتَبُكَ يَا زِيَادُ؟ayna maktabuka ya Ziad?Where is your office, Ziad?
- زياد Ziadمَكْتَبِي فِي وَسَطِ الْمَدِينَةِ.maktabi fi wasat al-madina.My office is in the city center.
- نور Nourهَلْ الْمَكْتَبُ كَبِيرٌ؟hal al-maktab kabir?Is the office big?
- زياد Ziadنَعَمْ، هُوَ كَبِيرٌ جِدًّا.na'am, huwa kabir jiddan.Yes, it is very big.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “office” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
