Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ألم | ʔalam | /ʔa.lam/ | Egyptian Arabic, masculine |
| وَجَع | wajaʕ | ||
| أَلَم | ʔalam | masculine |
Both terms refer to bodily suffering or an ache. ألم is a general and common term for pain, often used to describe intense, profound or abstract suffering such as emotional anguish as well as severe physical pain. وجع is typically used to describe physical aches or localized bodily pain.
Which one should you use?
ألم is the more formal term and is frequently used for intense or abstract pain. In contrast, وجع is a common word used in daily conversation to specifically describe physical aches.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Levant region, ألم is used interchangeably with وجع during informal conversations. The form ألم is also used in Egyptian Arabic.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun ألم is masculine and requires masculine adjectives and verbs.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as /ʔa.lam/ (two syllables).
Did you know?
- The word ألم appears in the very first two letters of the Quran, الم, although in that specific context it functions as mysterious letters rather than the word for 'pain'.
- In some Arabic-speaking cultures, when someone expresses great 'pain' or distress, a common sympathetic response is not to offer a cure, but to say 'May your pain be a purification', suggesting the suffering has a spiritual benefit.
- In many Arabic dialects, people describe an ache by saying 'the pain hit me' or 'the pain came to me' rather than saying 'my head hurts'. This treats the sensation as an external entity that visits the person.
Examples in context
- بدأ روبرت يشتكي من ألم في الصدر.Robert began complaining about chest pain.This sentence is useful for describing chest pain using ألم.Tatoeba #11626708 by dididodo, translation #11596703 by Amastan
- كان سامي يعاني من ألم شديد في البطن.Sami had a severe pain in the abdomen.This sentence is useful for describing severe abdominal pain using ألم.Tatoeba #10499658 by Amghar, translation #6445449 by OsoHombre
- كان سامي يتناول الدّواء كي يهدّء ألمه.Sami took medication to alleviate pain.This sentence is useful for describing the alleviation of pain using ألم.Tatoeba #7009517 by OsoHombre, translation #6694544 by OsoHombre
- يُعانِي الشَّخْصُ من ألم في ظَهْرِهِ.The person is suffering from back pain.
- الطفل يعاني من أوجاع الأذن.The child is suffering from ear pain.
- يجب عليك استشارة الطبيب إذا كان لديك آلام عديدة في الجسم.You should consult a doctor if you have multiple pains in your body.
- عندي وجع في رأسي.I have a headache.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Layla is asking Omar about his back after work.
- ليلى Laylaعندك ألم في ضهرك؟andak alam fi dahrak?Do you have a pain in your back?
- عمر Omarأيوه، عندي ألم جامد.aywa, andi alam gamid.Yes, I have a severe pain.
- ليلى Laylaتحب أجيبلك مسكن؟teheb agiblak mosaken?Do you want me to get you a painkiller?
- عمر Omarيا ريت، شكراً يا ليلى.ya reit, shokran ya Layla.I would, thanks Layla.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pain” translations and entries ألم, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
