فقير
faqīr
The Arabic word for poor is فقير (faqīr).
The term فقير is used as an adjective to describe someone with few or no possessions or money.
Meaning: with few or no possessions or money (adj)
Which one should you use?
While فقير is the standard term for poor, the related form فُقَرَاء is used specifically when referring to the poor as a collective group or the poor class of a society.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When describing a feminine noun, the adjective takes the feminine form فقيرة. To refer to the poor as a collective group, use the plural form فُقَرَاء.
How do you pronounce it?
faqīr
Did you know?
- The term فقير is the root for the word 'fakir', which entered English to describe a religious ascetic who lives on alms.
- In many Sufi traditions, a person might call themselves a فقير to signal spiritual humility rather than actual financial poverty.
- Arabic distinguishes between فقير, meaning poor, and مسكين, which translates to 'pitiful' or 'wretched', though both are often translated as 'poor' in English.
Examples in context
- يسكن توم في حي فقير.Tom lives in a poor neighborhood.This sentence shows how to use فقير to describe a neighborhood.Tatoeba #4474568 by Safa_Alfulaij, translation #4463260 by AlanF_US
- تبغضه لأنه فقير فحسب.She despises him only because he is poor.This sentence shows how to use فقير to describe a person's status.Tatoeba #686252 by Samer, translation #284141 by CM
- لا تحتقر إنساناً لأنه فقير.Don't despise a man because he is poor.This sentence shows how to use فقير in an imperative sentence regarding a person's status.Tatoeba #478552 by saeb, translation #318505 by CM
- إنه فقير ويحتاج الدعم في هذه الأوقات الصعبة.He is poor and in need of support during these difficult times.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maryam and Omar are discussing a charity project.
- مريم Maryamهل تريد مساعدة طفل فقير؟Hal tureedu musaa'adata tiflin faqeer?Do you want to help a poor child?
- عمر Omarنعم، أريد التبرع بملابسي القديمة.Na'am, ureedu at-tabarru' bi-malabisi al-qadeemah.Yes, I want to donate my old clothes.
- مريم Maryamهذا عمل نبيل يا عمر.Hadha 'amalun nabeelun ya Omar.This is a noble act, Omar.
- عمر Omarيجب أن نساعد كل شخص فقير.Yajibu an nusaa'ida kulla shakhsin faqeer.We must help every poor person.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
