خنزير
ḵanzīr/xin.ziːr/Egyptian Arabic, masculine
The English word pig is translated into Arabic as خنزير (ḵanzīr). Wiktionary also lists خِنْزِير (ḵinzīr) and حَلُوف (ḥalūf).
Meaning: mammal of family Suidae (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| خنزير | ḵanzīr | /xin.ziːr/ /χənˈziːr/ (Kuwait) |
Egyptian Arabic, masculine |
| خِنْزِير | ḵinzīr | masculine | |
| حَلُوف | ḥalūf | masculine | |
| حلوف | ḥalūf | /ħal.luːf/ | Egyptian Arabic, masculine |
| خَنْزير | ḵanzīr | Hijazi Arabic, masculine |
The term refers to the mammal of the family Suidae.
Which one should you use?
The form خِنْزِير is the standard term used in Modern Standard Arabic. The form حَلُوف is a more classical or literary term often used to refer to a wild boar or a large pig.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the form خنزير (pronounced ḵanzīr) is used, where the vowel in the first syllable shifts to an 'a' sound.
How does it change in a sentence?
All provided forms are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
ḵanzīr (/xin.ziːr/)
Did you know?
- Because the animal is considered 'najis' (ritually impure) in Islamic law, the word خنزير is often used as a powerful insult to describe a person's character.
- The standard word خنزير is not originally Arabic, but a very ancient borrowing from Aramaic and Akkadian used in the Near East.
- In various Arabic idioms, the word خنزير is used to describe someone who is stubbornly headstrong or intractable.
Examples in context
- زيري لديه خنزير.Ziri has a pig.This sentence shows how to use خنزير to indicate possession.Tatoeba #11616088 by dididodo, translation #10208135 by Amastan
- إنهُ ليس خنزير, إنهُ قرد.It's not a pig, it's a monkey.This sentence uses خنزير to make a comparison or identification.Tatoeba #1890840 by Asma, translation #59088 by Eldad
- الخنزير حيوان من الحيوانات المستأنسة في بعض الثقافات.The pig is a domesticated animal in some cultures.
- يوم أمس شاهدت خنزيرة كبيرة في حديقة الحيوانات.Yesterday, I saw a large pig at the zoo.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a documentary in a cafe.
- سارة Saraشفت خنزير في الفيلم؟shoft khanzeer fel film?Did you see a pig in the movie?
- يوسف Youssefأيوه، كان خنزير وردي.aywa, kan khanzeer wardi.Yes, it was a pink pig.
- سارة Saraيوسف، هو ذكي جداً.Youssef, hwa zaki geddan.Youssef, it is very smart.
- يوسف Youssefفعلاً، هو حيوان عجيب.fe'lan, hwa hayawan ageeb.True, it is a strange animal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pig” translations and entries خنزير, حلوف, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries حلوف, خنزير, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
