أهرامات
ahrāmāt
The English word pyramids is translated into Arabic as أهرامات (ahrāmāt).
The term refers to large stone monuments with a square base and four triangular sides that meet at a point.
How do you pronounce it?
ahrāmāt
Did you know?
- The Arabic word for pyramid, هرم, is the same word used to describe someone who has reached a state of extreme old age. This linguistic connection links the timelessness of the monuments to the process of aging.
- The word أهرامات is a 'broken plural', meaning the internal structure of the singular word هرم is changed rather than just adding a suffix. This is a distinct feature of Arabic that differs from the additive pluralization used in English.
- If an Arabic speaker refers to 'the pyramids' without specifying a location, they are almost always implying the specific Giza complex. Using the term for other types of pyramids globally can feel imprecise in a cultural context.
