How to Say "Pencil" in Arabic

قَلَم رَصَاص

qalam raṣāṣmasculine

The English word 'pencil' is قَلَم رَصَاص (qalam raṣāṣ) in Arabic. Wiktionary also lists قَلَم (qalam).

Meaning: graphite writing-instrument (noun)

Ways to say it

“pencil” in Arabic
Arabic	Romanization (Wiktionary)	Note
قَلَم رَصَاص	qalam raṣāṣ	masculine
قَلَم	qalam	masculine

قَلَم رَصَاص refers specifically to a graphite writing instrument.

The phrase is composed of qalam, meaning pen or tool and raṣāṣ, meaning lead or graphite.

While قَلَم can refer broadly to any writing instrument such as a pen, قَلَم رَصَاص specifically specifies a pencil.

The plural of قَلَم رَصَاص is أَقْلَام رَصَاص.

qalam raṣāṣ

The word رَصَاص used in قَلَم رَصَاص also means 'bullets' or 'lead shot' in Arabic. This is because both graphite and ammunition were historically associated with the metal lead.
The word قَلَم was originally used to describe a reed that had been cut or split to be used for writing. It shares a root with the Arabic verb meaning 'to prune' or 'to clip'.
In Arabic calligraphy, the قَلَم is not just a tool but a symbol of divine knowledge and authority. This is reflected in the first surah of the Quran, which begins with the phrase 'by the pen'.

أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى قَلَم رَصَاصٍ الآنَ.
aḥtāju ilā qalam raṣāṣ al-ān.
I need a pencil now.
هَلْ عِنْدَكِ قَلَم رَصَاصٍ إِضَافِيّ؟
hal ‘indaki qalam raṣāṣ iḍāfī?
Do you have an extra pencil?
هَذَا قَلَم رَصَاصٍ جَيِّدٌ جِدًّا.
hādhā qalam raṣāṣ jayyid jiddan.
This is a very good pencil.

Ziyad and Sarah are studying in a library.

زياد Ziad

سارة، هَلْ لَدَيْكِ قَلَم رَصَاص؟
Sarah, hal ladayki qalam rasas?
Sarah, do you have a pencil?
سارة Sara

نَعَمْ، تَفَضَّلْ يَا زياد.
Na'am, tafaddal ya Ziyad.
Yes, here you go, Ziyad.
زياد Ziad

شُكْرًا جَزِيلاً لَكِ.
Shukran jazilan laki.
Thank you very much.
سارة Sara

عَفْوًا، لَا شُكْرَ عَلَى وَاجِب.
Afwan, la shukra ala wajib.
You're welcome, no thanks for a favor.

Sources

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