مُتْعَة
mutʕafeminine
The English word 'pleasure' can be translated into Arabic as مُتْعَة (mutʕa) or لَذَّة.
Meaning: a state of being pleased (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مُتْعَة | mutʕa | feminine |
| لَذَّة | laḏḏa | feminine |
Both terms describe a state of being pleased, but they are used to characterize different types of satisfaction.
Which one should you use?
مُتْعَة (mutʕa) is a general term often used to refer to enjoyment, amusement or a pleasurable activity. In contrast, لَذَّة (laḏḏa) refers more specifically to sensual or physical pleasure, such as the pleasure derived from taste or touch.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both مُتْعَة and لَذَّة are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
mutʕa
Did you know?
- To express 'my pleasure' when responding to a thank you, Arabs rarely use these nouns. Instead, they often use عَفْوًا, which is more closely related to the concept of 'pardon' or 'forgiveness'.
- Arabic has a distinct word, طَرَب, which describes a specific kind of pleasure or musical ecstasy that involves a total emotional surrender to a melody.
- While لَذَّة refers to physical pleasure, it is frequently used in religious texts to describe the 'sweetness' of faith or spiritual ecstasy, moving the word from the sensual to the divine.
Examples in context
- هذه الرواية مُتْعَة حقيقية.hādhihi al-riwāya mut'atun ḥaqīqiyya.This novel is a real pleasure.
- القراءة في الحديقة مُتْعَة.al-qirā'a fī al-ḥadīqa mut'a.Reading in the garden is a pleasure.
- كانت الرحلة مُتْعَة كبيرة لنا.kānat al-riḥla mut'atan kabīratan lanā.The trip was a great pleasure for us.
Example conversation
Mariam and Omar are talking about a new hobby.
- مريم Maryamهل تجد السباحة مُتْعَة؟hal tajidu al-sibāḥa mut'atan?Do you find swimming a pleasure?
- عمر Omarنعم، السباحة مُتْعَة كبيرة لي.na'am, al-sibāḥa mut'atun kabīratun lī.Yes, swimming is a great pleasure for me.
- مريم Maryamأنا أيضاً أجدها مُتْعَة.anā ayḍan ajiduhā mut'atan.I also find it a pleasure.
- عمر Omarإذًا، هيا بنا إلى المسبح!idhan, hayyā binā ilā al-masbaḥ!Then, let's go to the pool!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pleasure” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
