دَفَّة
daffafeminine
The English word rudder is translated into Arabic as دَفَّة (daffa) or سُكَّان.
Meaning: underwater vane used to steer a vessel (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| دَفَّة | daffa | feminine |
| سُكَّان | sukkān | Eastern, also, dialectal, masculine |
A rudder is an underwater vane used to steer a vessel. In Arabic, you can describe this part of a boat (قارب) using either the standard term or specific dialectal terms.
Which one should you use?
دَفَّة is the standard Modern Standard Arabic term for a rudder, whereas سُكَّان is more common in certain Eastern dialects.
Is it said differently in some regions?
سُكَّان is a dialectal form used in Eastern regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word دَفَّة is a feminine noun. Its plural form is دَفَّات. The form سُكَّان is masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
daffa
Did you know?
- The word سُكَّان is actually the plural of the word سَاكِن, which means 'inhabitant' or 'resident'. It is quite surprising that the same word used for a boat's rudder can literally translate to 'inhabitants' in other contexts.
- The root of دَفَّة is linked to the word for a traditional tambourine, known as a دف, because both involve a flat, circular or oval surface.
- The word دَفَّة is also used to refer to the 'handle' or 'edge' of a door, as both objects are pushed or pivoted to change a direction of opening.
Examples in context
- يَجِبُ تَرْكِيبُ دَفَّةٍ جَدِيدَةٍ لِلسَّفِينَةِ.yajibu tarkību daffatin jadīdatin lil-safīnati.A new rudder must be installed for the ship.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rudder” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
