دقيق
daqīq
The Arabic word for picky is دقيق (daqīq).
دقيق is used when being picky implies a positive or neutral sense of being meticulous or exact. For other contexts, specialized phrases are used: منتقِ الطعام describes someone who is selective with food, while صعب الرضا describes someone who is difficult to please.
What does it mean word for word?
The word دقيق literally means precise, fine or minute.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a selective female eater, منتقِ الطعام can be changed to منتقة الطعام.
How do you pronounce it?
daqīq
Did you know?
- The word دقيق is also the exact same word used for 'flour' in many Arabic-speaking countries.
- Because دقيق means 'precise', it is used in Arabic to describe a 'minute' of time (دقيقة), suggesting that a minute is a 'precise' or 'fine' slice of an hour.
- The word دقيق shares its roots with the Hebrew word dak, which also relates to things that are thin or fine.
Examples in context
- أنا طبعًا صعب الإرضاء في الطعام، لكنني أحب الأكلات الصحيةI am naturally difficult to please when it comes to food, but I love healthy dishes.
- هي متشددة في التفاصيل ودقيقة جدًا في الاختيارShe is meticulous about details and very selective.
Example conversation
Yusuf and Maryam are discussing a new project at work.
- يوسف Youssefهل أنتِ دقيقة في اختيار التصاميم؟hal anti daqīqatun fī ikhtiyāri al-tasāmīm?Are you picky when choosing designs?
- مريم Maryamنعم، أحب أن يكون كل شيء مثالياً.na'am, uhibbu an yakūna kullu shay'in mithāliyan.Yes, I like everything to be perfect.
- يوسف Youssefهذا جيد، فالمشروع يحتاج إلى اهتمام.hādhā jayyid, fal-mashrū'u yahtāju ilā ihtimām.That is good, the project needs attention.
- مريم Maryamسأحرص على مراجعة كل التفاصيل.sa-ahrisu 'alā murāja'ati kulli al-tafāsīl.I will make sure to review all the details.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries دقيق, CC BY-SA 4.0.
