الصحراء
aṣ-ṣaḥrā'
The English phrase "sahara" is translated into Arabic as الصحراء (aṣ-ṣaḥrā').
The word is used to refer to a desert, such as the Sahara Desert.
Meaning: desert (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The core of the word is صَحْرَاء, which refers to an open, uncultivated or empty space.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, Sahara is typically called الصحرا.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form الصحراء includes the definite article 'al-' (the), which is fused to the word due to the sun letter 'ṣ'.
How do you pronounce it?
aṣ-ṣaḥrā'
Did you know?
- The term الصحراء can be used metaphorically in Arabic literature to describe a feeling of profound loneliness or a spiritual void, regardless of whether the person is in a physical desert.
- The word الصحراء is derived from a root meaning 'to be clear' or 'to be open'. This emphasizes the visibility and lack of obstacles in the landscape rather than just the presence of sand.
- While English speakers use 'Sahara' as a proper name for one specific desert, an Arabic speaker uses الصحراء as a common noun to describe any desert anywhere in the world.
Examples in context
- الصحراء الغربية بلد مجاورWestern Sahara is a neighboring country.This sentence is useful for mentioning the political status of Western Sahara using الصحراء.Tatoeba #10960434 by Amghar, translation #10960431 by Amghar
- الصحراء الغربية ليست مغربية.Western Sahara is not Moroccan.This sentence is useful for expressing a viewpoint regarding Western Sahara using الصحراء.Tatoeba #11684022 by dididodo, translation #10896752 by Amastan
- الصحراء الكبرى منطقة جافة جدا.The Sahara is an extremely arid desert.This sentence is useful for describing the aridity of the Sahara using الصحراء.Tatoeba #11665518 by dididodo, translation #9690188 by Amastan
- أنا زُرتُ الصَحراء الكُبرَى في رِحلَة سِياحِيَة.I visited the Sahara Desert on a tourist trip.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yousef and Sarah are talking about a trip to Africa.
- يوسف Youssefهل زرتِ الصحراء من قبل؟Hal zurti as-sahara' min qabl?Have you visited the desert before?
- سارة Saraلا، لكنني أريد زيارة الصحراء الكبرى.La, lakinnani ureedu ziyarat as-sahara' al-kubra.No, but I want to visit the Great Sahara.
- يوسف Youssefالجو في الصحراء يكون حاراً جداً.Al-jawwu fi as-sahara' yakunu harran jiddan.The weather in the desert is very hot.
- سارة Saraصحيح، يجب أن نأخذ الكثير من الماء.Sahih, yajibu an na'khudha al-kathira min al-ma'.True, we must take a lot of water.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
