قُوَّة
quwwafeminine
The usual Arabic word for power is قُوَّة (quwwa), meaning strength, force or the power of a state. If unsure, use قُوَّة. Wiktionary also lists قُدْرَة (qudra).
Meaning: ability to affect or influence (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| قُوَّة | quwwa | feminine |
| قُدْرَة | qudra | feminine |
قُوَّة is used for physical strength and force, and for the power of an entity such as a military or a state.
Which one should you use?
قُدْرَة (qudra) means ability or capacity, the internal power to do a specific task. For power as authority or dominion, Sultan is used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both قُوَّة and قُدْرَة are feminine. The plural of quwwa is quwa and the plural of qudra is qudrat.
How do you pronounce it?
It is said quwwa, with a q sound made far back in the throat and a doubled w.
Did you know?
- The word for authority or dominion, سلطان (Sultan), is used to describe 'power' as a legal or sovereign right rather than physical force.
- The root of قُدْرَة (qudra) is shared with the word for 'destiny' or 'fate' in certain philosophical contexts, implying that power is often viewed as a predetermined capacity.
- In Arabic, the word قُوَّة (quwwa) is the root for the word قوي (qawi), which describes someone who is strong, but it also appears in technical terms for electric power and voltage.
Examples in context
- لَدَيْهِ قُوَّةُ التَّأْثِيرِ عَلَى النَّاسِ.ladayhi quwwatu al-ta'thiri 'ala al-nas.He has the power to influence people.
- قُوَّةُ الكَلِمَةِ لَا تُقَاوَمُ.quwwatu al-kalimati la tuqawam.The power of the word is irresistible.
Example conversation
Maryam and Ahmad are discussing a political leader's influence.
- مريم Maryamهَلْ لَدَيْهِ قُوَّةٌ حَقِيقِيَّةٌ؟hal ladayhi quwwatun haqiqiyya?Does he have real power?
- أحمد Ahmedنَعَمْ، لَدَيْهِ قُوَّةُ التَّأْثِيرِ فِي المَدِينَةِ.na'am, ladayhi quwwatu al-ta'thiri fil madina.Yes, he has the power of influence in the city.
- مريم Maryamهَذَا مُثِيرٌ لِلْعَجَبِ.hadha muthirun lil-'ajab.That is amazing.
- أحمد Ahmedإِنَّهُ رَجُلٌ ذُو قُوَّةٍ.innahu rajulun dhu quwwa.He is a man of power.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “power” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
