زبالة
zibala
The English word "rubbish" can be translated into Arabic as زبالة (zibala).
The term refers to items of low quality.
Meaning: items of low quality (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the term الزبالة is used to refer to rubbish.
How do you pronounce it?
zibala
Did you know?
- If you are looking for a 'rubbish bin' in an Arabic speaking country, you might actually see signs for a سلة مهملات, which literally translates to 'neglected basket'.
- The word زبالة is derived from the same root as the word for 'sweeping' or 'cleaning', which describes the action of removing dirt.
- In many Arabic dialects, the person who collects the rubbish is called a زبال, which is the human personification of the word for the waste itself.
Examples in context
- يرجى وضع القمامة في الحاوية المخصصة.Please put the rubbish in the designated bin.
- لا تصدق كلامه، إنه مليء بالهبل.Don't believe what he says, it's full of rubbish.
- هذه الألعاب زبالة.hathihi al-al'ab zibala.These toys are rubbish.
- لا تشترِ هذه الكتب، إنها زبالة.la tashtari hathihi al-kutub, innaha zibala.Don't buy these books, they are rubbish.
- هذا الفيلم عبارة عن زبالة.hadha al-film 'ibara 'an zibala.This movie is absolute rubbish.
Example conversation
Mariam and Ahmed are looking at a cheap product in a store.
- مريم Maryamانظر إلى هذا الكرسي يا أحمد.Unzur ila hadha al-kursi ya Ahmed.Look at this chair, Ahmed.
- أحمد Ahmedإنه زبالة، لا تشتريه.Innahu zibala, la tashtarih.It is rubbish, don't buy it.
- مريم Maryamلكن سعره رخيص جداً.Lakin si'rahu rakhis jiddan.But its price is very cheap.
- أحمد Ahmedالرخيص دائماً يكون زبالة.Al-rakhis da'iman yakun zibala.Cheap things are always rubbish.
