مطر
maṭara/matˤr/
The English word "rain" is translated to Arabic as مطر (maṭara).
The term مطر refers to an instance of particles falling (noun). The noun مطر (rain) can be converted into a verb by using the root m-ṭ-r, such as amṭara (to rain) or tumṭir (it rains).
Meaning: an instance of particles falling (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word مطر is a masculine noun, so any adjectives describing it must also be in the masculine form. The verb form تُمطر is used to express the weather phenomenon of raining in the third-person feminine singular, which is the standard way to refer to the weather in Arabic.
How do you pronounce it?
maṭara (/matˤr/)
Did you know?
- While مطر is the standard word for rain, many people use the word غيث (ghayth) specifically to describe rain that brings relief and life to a dry land.
- In some traditional Arabic contexts, the falling of rain during a specific event is seen as an omen of good luck or a sign of acceptance.
- The word مطر shares the same ancient root as the word for 'rain' in Biblical Hebrew, making them linguistic cousins.
Examples in context
- لنعُد قبل أن تُمطر.Let's go back before it begins to rain.This sentence shows how to use the verb form of مطر to talk about it beginning to rain.Tatoeba #1597818 by Amastan, translation #26897 by al_ex_an_der
- أمطرت مطراً خفيفاً البارحة.There was a light rain yesterday.This sentence uses the noun form of مطر to describe a light rain that occurred yesterday.Tatoeba #508624 by saeb, translation #244433 by CK
- أغلب الظن أنها ستُمطر قريبًا.It'll probably start to rain soon.This sentence uses the verb form of مطر to predict that it will rain soon.Tatoeba #11897606 by Safa_Alfulaij, translation #10726606 by sundown
- أمس هطل مطر غزير على المدينة.Yesterday, heavy rain fell on the city.
Example conversation
Nour and Ziad are looking out the window together.
- نور Nourانظر يا زياد، هناك مطر في الخارج.Unzur ya Ziyad, hunaka matar fil-kharij.Look Ziad, there is rain outside.
- زياد Ziadنعم، يبدو أنه مطر غزير جداً.Na'am, yabdu annahu matar ghazir jiddan.Yes, it looks like very heavy rain.
- نور Nourهل سيبقى هذا المطر طوال اليوم؟Hal sayabqa hadha al-matar tawal al-yawm?Will this rain stay all day?
- زياد Ziadلا أعتقد ذلك، سيتوقف المطر قريباً.La a'taqid dhalik, sayatawaqqaf al-matar qariban.I don't think so, the rain will stop soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry مطر, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries مطر, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
