اِقْتِبَاس
iqtibāsmasculine
The English phrase 'quote' is translated into Arabic as اِقْتِبَاس (iqtibās). Wiktionary also lists اِسْتِشْهَاد (istišhād).
Meaning: a statement attributed to someone (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| اِقْتِبَاس | iqtibās | masculine |
| اِسْتِشْهَاد | istišhād | masculine |
In Arabic, several words can represent the concept of a quote depending on whether you mean the words themselves or the act of citing a source.
What does it mean word for word?
The word اِقْتِبَاس is derived from the root meaning 'to draw' or 'to extract,' implying the extraction of words from a source.
Which one should you use?
While اِقْتِبَاس refers to a direct quote of words, اِسْتِشْهَاد is used when the focus is on the act of citing or referencing a source as evidence.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the noun اِقْتِبَاس is اِقْتِبَاسَات.
How do you pronounce it?
iqtibās
Did you know?
- The root of اِقْتِبَاس originally refers to taking a flame from one fire to start another. In a literary sense, quoting is seen as borrowing a 'spark' of light or knowledge from another author.
- The word اِسْتِشْهَاد shares a root with the word for 'martyr' (شَهيد). Both terms relate to the concept of 'witnessing' or providing a testimony to the truth.
- In traditional Arabic rhetoric, an اِقْتِبَاس can be a subtle form of intertextuality where a writer weaves a phrase from the Quran into a secular text without using quotation marks.
Examples in context
- أكدت الدراسة أن هذا المقتبس يعد واحداً من أفضل الحكم العربية.The study confirmed that this quote is one of the best Arab sayings.
- قد قمت بإدراج اقتباس مميز في بحثي.I included a distinctive quote in my research.
- هل لديك أي حكمة مأثورة من الحضارة العربية؟Do you have any famous quotes from Arab civilization?
- هذا اِقْتِبَاسٌ جَمِيلٌ جِدًّا.hadha iqtibasun jamilun jiddan.This is a very beautiful quote.
- هَلْ هَذَا اِقْتِبَاسٌ صَحِيحٌ؟hal hadha iqtibasun sahih?Is this a correct quote?
- كَتَبْتُ اِقْتِبَاسًا فِي دَفْتَرِي.katabtu iqtibasan fi daftarī.I wrote a quote in my notebook.
Example conversation
Layla and Ahmed are discussing a book in a cafe.
- ليلى Laylaأَعْجَبَنِي هَذَا اِقْتِبَاسٌ فِي الكِتَابِ.a'jabani hadha iqtibasun fil kitab.I liked this quote in the book.
- أحمد Ahmedمَنْ قَالَهُ يَا لَيْلَى؟man qalahu ya Layla?Who said it, Layla?
- ليلى Laylaإِنَّهُ اِقْتِبَاسٌ لِأَدِيبٍ كَبِيرٍ.innahu iqtibasun li adibin kabir.It is a quote by a great writer.
- أحمد Ahmedأَنْتِ تُحِبِّينَ القِرَاءَةَ كَثِيرًا.anti tuhibbina al-qira'ata kathiran.You love reading a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “quote” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
