بَنْدَة
bandafeminine
The Arabic word for panda is بَنْدَة (banda). Wiktionary also lists بانْدا (bāndā).
Meaning: Ailuropoda melanoleuca (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بَنْدَة | banda | feminine |
| بانْدا | bāndā | feminine, masculine |
The term refers to the animal Ailuropoda melanoleuca.
Which one should you use?
The form بَنْدَة is feminine, while the form بانْدا can be used as either masculine or feminine.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Egyptian dialect, the word used for panda is باندا.
How do you pronounce it?
banda
Did you know?
- The word باندا avoids the 'broken plural' system, which is the complex and irregular way most native Arabic animal names are pluralized.
- While the term 'panda' is used globally, an Arabic speaker might describe the animal's appearance as دب أسود وأبيض, meaning 'black and white bear'.
- Because pandas are not native to the Middle East, the Arabic word بَنْدَة is an adaptation of a foreign term rather than a word derived from an ancient Arabic root.
Examples in context
- هَذِهِ بَنْدَةٌ لَطِيفَةٌ جِدًّا.hadhihi bandatun latifatun jiddan.This is a very cute panda.
- رَأَيْتُ بَنْدَةً فِي حَدِيقَةِ الحَيَوَانِ.ra'aytu bandatan fi hadiqat al-hayawan.I saw a panda in the zoo.
Example conversation
Ziad and Nour are looking at a picture book in a cafe.
- زياد Ziadانْظُرِي إِلَى هَذِهِ البَنْدَةِ!unzhuri ila hadhihi al-banda!Look at this panda!
- نور Nourيَا لَهَا مِنْ بَنْدَةٍ جَمِيلَةٍ!ya laha min bandatin jamilatin!What a beautiful panda!
- زياد Ziadهِيَ تَأْكُلُ الخَيْزُرَانَ دَائِمًا.hiya ta'kulu al-khayzuran da'iman.It always eats bamboo.
- نور Nourأَنَا أُرِيدُ رُؤْيَتَهَا فِي الحَقِيقَةِ.ana uridu ru'yataha fi al-haqiqa.I want to see it in person.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “panda” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
