نيء
nay'
The English word "raw" (in the sense of uncooked) is translated into Arabic as نيء (nay').
Meaning: uncooked (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form is نيئة.
How do you pronounce it?
nay'
Did you know?
- While نيء is the standard term for uncooked food, Arabic often uses the word خام to describe 'raw' materials like rubber or silk.
- In some Arabic dialects, words derived from the root of نيء can be used metaphorically to describe someone who is 'inexperienced' or 'green'.
- The word نيء shares a deep linguistic root with the Ge'ez word ኒእ, which is used in ancient Ethiopian texts to describe the same uncooked state.
Examples in context
- هذا اللحم نيء.hadha al-lahm ni'This meat is raw.
- هل البيض نيء؟hal al-bayd ni'?Is the egg raw?
Example conversation
Ziad and Maryam are cooking in the kitchen.
- زياد Ziadهل هذا الدجاج نيء؟hal hadha al-dajaj ni'?Is this chicken raw?
- مريم Maryamنعم، يحتاج إلى المزيد من الطبخ.na'am, yahtaj ila al-mazid min al-tabkh.Yes, it needs more cooking.
- زياد Ziadسأضعه في الفرن الآن.sa-ada'uhu fi al-furn al-an.I will put it in the oven now.
- مريم Maryamحسناً، يا زياد.hasanan, ya Ziad.Okay, Ziad.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries نيء, CC BY-SA 4.0.
