بصل
baṣal/ba.sˤal/Egyptian Arabic, collective, masculine
The English word "onion" is translated into Arabic as بصل (baṣal). Wiktionary also lists بَصَل (baṣal) and بصلة (baṣala).
Meaning: bulb (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| بصل | baṣal | /ba.sˤal/ | Egyptian Arabic, collective, masculine |
| بَصَل | baṣal | masculine | |
| بصلة | baṣala | Egyptian Arabic, feminine, singulative | |
| بُصَل | bʊṣəl | Gulf Arabic, masculine |
The word is used to refer to the bulb. Depending on whether you are talking about the substance or a single unit, the form of the word will change.
Which one should you use?
The form بصل is a collective noun, meaning it refers to onions as a group or the substance in general. To refer to one specific unit, you should use the singulative form بصلة.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egypt, the common term for onion is بصلة. In Gulf Arabic dialects, the pronunciation often shifts to بُصَل.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because بصل is a collective noun, you must use the singulative form بصلة when you want to refer to a single onion.
How do you pronounce it?
Pronounced as baṣal (two syllables).
Did you know?
- The word for 'onion' in Arabic is etymologically linked to an Akkadian word meaning 'to peel' or 'to tear apart'.
Examples in context
- أحتاج بصلة واحدة فقط لهذه الوصفة.I only need one onion for this recipe.This sentence is useful for demonstrating how to use the word بصل when referring to a single onion in a recipe.Tatoeba #371937 by saeb, translation #371939 by saeb
- هل لديك بصلة؟Do you have an onion?
- أنا محتاجة بصل للطبخة دي.ana mahtaga basal lel tabkha di.I need onion for this dish.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “onion” translations and entries بصل, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries بصل, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
