حَزِين
ḥazīn
The English word "sad" can be translated into Arabic as حَزِين (ḥazīn). Wiktionary also lists زعلان (zaʕlān) and مُتْضَايِق (mutḍāyig).
Meaning: feeling sorrow (adj)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| حَزِين | ḥazīn | |
| زعلان | zaʕlān | Hijazi Arabic, masculine |
| مُتْضَايِق | mutḍāyig | Hijazi Arabic |
The word حَزِين is used to describe the feeling of sorrow.
Which one should you use?
While حَزِين refers to deep sorrow, the Hijazi-Arabic term زعلان is more commonly used to mean being upset, annoyed or offended with someone. Additionally, the Hijazi term مُتْضَايِق is used for a feeling of being bothered, annoyed or psychologically distressed, rather than the profound grief implied by حَزِين.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
حَزِين is the standard, formal term used in Modern Standard Arabic for the emotion of sadness.
Is it said differently in some regions?
زعلان and مُتْضَايِق are forms used in Hijazi-Arabic.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Hijazi-Arabic, the feminine form of the term زعلان is زعلانة.
How do you pronounce it?
ḥazīn
Did you know?
- In some cultures, if someone says they are زعلان, the standard social response is not to offer sympathy but to 'رضّي' them, which means to perform an act of reconciliation or bribery to make them happy again.
- The root of the word حَزِين is shared with words relating to 'cutting' or 'sharpness', implying that deep sorrow is like a wound or a sharp incision in the heart.
- The term مُتْضَايِق (mutḍāyiq) literally translates to being 'in a tight or narrow place', suggesting that sadness feels like a physical constriction of space.
Examples in context
- هذا الخبر محزن حقًا.This news is truly sad.
- أنا حزين جدًا بسبب الخسارة.I am very sad because of the loss.
- أنا مكسور القلب بسبب فراق أحد أفراد عائلتي.I am heartbroken due to the separation from a family member.
- أنا حَزِين اليوم.ana ḥazīn al-yawm.I am sad today.
- لماذا أنتَ حَزِين؟limādhā anta ḥazīn?Why are you sad?
- كان الفلم حَزِين جداً.kāna al-film ḥazīn jiddan.The movie was very sad.
Example conversation
Ziad asks Maryam why she looks upset at the cafe.
- زياد Ziadيا مريم، لماذا أنتِ حَزِينَة؟yā Maryam, limādhā anti ḥazīna?Maryam, why are you sad?
- مريم Maryamأنا حَزِينَة بسبب أخبار العمل.ana ḥazīna bisabāb akhbār al-'amal.I am sad because of the work news.
- زياد Ziadلا تَكُونِي حَزِينَة، كل شيء سيكون بخير.lā takūnī ḥazīna, kull shay' sayakūn bi-khayr.Don't be sad, everything will be fine.
- مريم Maryamشكراً لك يا زياد.shukran laka yā Ziyād.Thank you, Ziad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sad” translations and entries زعلان, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
