Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| رَئِيس وُزَرَاء | raʔīs wuzarāʔ | masculine |
| رَئِيسَة وُزَرَاء | raʔīsat wuzarāʔ | feminine |
| رَئِيس حُكُومَة | raʔīs ḥukūma | masculine |
| رَئِيسَة حُكُومَة | raʔīsat ḥukūma | feminine |
| الْوَزِير الأوَّل | al-wazīr al-ʔawwal | masculine |
In Arabic, several terms are used to describe the chief member of the cabinet and the head of the government. These include terms meaning "head of ministers" and "head of government".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase رَئِيس وُزَرَاء literally means "head of ministers", while the phrase رَئِيس حُكُومَة literally means "head of government".
Which one should you use?
While رَئِيس وُزَرَاء (head of ministers) and رَئِيس حُكُومَة (head of government) are often used interchangeably, the former specifically emphasizes the leadership over the cabinet. Additionally, الْوَزِير الأوَّل is another way to say "prime minister", literally translating to "the first minister".
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term الْوَزِير الأوَّل is often used in countries that have been influenced by French terminology.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form of the "head of ministers" is رَئِيس وُزَرَاء and the "head of government" is رَئِيس حُكُومَة. To refer to a female, use the feminine forms رَئِيسَة وُزَرَاء and رَئِيسَة حُكُومَة respectively.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization for رَئِيس وُزَرَاء is raʔīs wuzarāʔ.
Did you know?
- The word وزير (minister) is derived from the root word for 'burden', as a minister is someone who carries the burden of the state's responsibilities.
- In formal diplomatic Arabic, the title رَئِيس وُزَرَاء is almost always preceded by the honorific دولة (state), which is used as a respectful address.
- The word وزير is the same word used in 'The Grand Vizier', a title for the high ranking officials in the Ottoman Empire.
Examples in context
- نحيي السيد رئيس الوزراء على التزامه القوي بتعزيز الاقتصاد الوطني.We salute the Prime Minister for his strong commitment to enhancing the national economy.
Example conversation
Maryam and Omar are discussing news on TV.
- مريم Maryamهَلْ شَاهَدْتِ خِطَابَ رَئِيس وُزَرَاء اليَوْم؟hal shāhadta khiṭāb ra'īs wuzarā' al-yawm?Did you watch the prime minister's speech today?
- عمر Omarلَا، لَمْ أَشَاهِدْهُ بَعْدُ يَا مَرْيَم.lā, lam ushāhidhu ba'du yā Maryam.No, I haven't watched it yet, Maryam.
- مريم Maryamلَقَدْ تَحَدَّثَ عَنْ خِطَّة اِقْتِصَادِيَّة جَدِيدَة.laqad taḥaddatha 'an khiṭṭah iqtiṣādiyyah jadīdah.He spoke about a new economic plan.
- عمر Omarسَأَقْرَأُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فِي الأَخْبَارِ الآن.sa-aqra'u 'an dhālika fī al-akhbār al-ān.I will read about that in the news now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “prime minister” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
