Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| صلاة | ṣalā | /sˤa.laːh/ /sˤə.ɫaːt/ (Gulf Arabic) |
Hijazi Arabic, feminine |
| صَلَاة | ṣalāh | feminine | |
| دُعَاء | duʕāʔ | masculine | |
| صلا | ṣála | Egyptian Arabic, feminine | |
| دُعا | duʕa | Hijazi Arabic, masculine |
In Arabic, the term for prayer depends on the type of communication being practiced. صلاة (ṣalāh) refers specifically to the formal, ritualized Islamic prayers that follow a specific structure, involving set movements and recitations, such as the five obligatory daily prayers. In contrast, دُعَاء (duʕāʔ) covers a broader range of meanings, such as personal supplication, request or invocation, which does not require a specific ritual structure.
Which one should you use?
صلاة (ṣalāh) is used to describe formal ritual prayer, while دُعَاء (duʕāʔ) is used for personal supplication or asking God for something.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the feminine form صلا (ṣála) is used. In Hijazi Arabic, you may find the feminine صلاة (ṣalā) and the masculine دُعا (duʕa).
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun صلاة is feminine, whereas دُعَاء is masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation for صلاة is /sˤa.laːh/.
Did you know?
- The word صلاة (ṣalāh) is not originally an Arabic word but a loan from the Aramaic word ܨܠܘܬ (ṣəlōṯ).
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, the phrase دعواتك (daʕawātik), meaning 'your prayers', is used as a common way to say 'wish me luck' or 'keep me in your thoughts' before a difficult task.
- You can use دُعَاء (duʕāʔ) in a completely secular way to describe a formal legal petition or a request sent to a government authority.
Examples in context
- صلّى سامي صلاة العصر خلف فاضل.Sami performed the afternoon prayer behind Fadil.This sentence shows how to use the form صلا to describe performing the afternoon prayer.Tatoeba #7317022 by OsoHombre, translation #7309795 by OsoHombre
- صلّى سامي صلاة الظّهر مع فاضل.Sami performed the noon prayer with Fadil.This sentence shows how to use the form صلا to describe performing the noon prayer.Tatoeba #7317023 by OsoHombre, translation #7309790 by OsoHombre
- صلّى النّاس صلاة الغائب لسامي.A funeral prayer in absentia was held for Sami.This sentence shows how to use the form صلا to describe a funeral prayer in absentia.Tatoeba #8007261 by OsoHombre, translation #7986511 by soliloquist
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ahmed and Maryam are talking about their daily routine.
- أحمد Ahmedخلصتي صلاة الفجر يا مريم؟Khallasti salat al-fajr ya Maryam?Did you finish the dawn prayer, Maryam?
- مريم Maryamإيوه، صليت صلاة الفجر من بدري.Aywa, sallait salat al-fajr min badri.Yes, I performed the dawn prayer early.
- أحمد Ahmedما شاء الله، الله يتقبل صلاتك.Ma sha' Allah, Allah yitaqabbal salatik.God willing, may God accept your prayer.
- مريم Maryamآمين، وياك يا أحمد.Amin, wa yak ya Ahmed.Amen, and you too, Ahmed.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “prayer” translations and entries صلاة, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries صلاة, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
