سِرّ
sirrmasculine
In Arabic, the word for 'secret' is سِرّ (sirr). Wiktionary also lists خَفِيَّة (ḵafiyya).
Meaning: knowledge that is hidden (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| سِرّ | sirr | masculine |
| خَفِيَّة | ḵafiyya | feminine |
The noun سِرّ refers to knowledge that is hidden. If you want to say that something is being done 'in secret' or 'secretly', you use the preposition 'bi-' with this noun to form the phrase بِالسِّرّ.
Which one should you use?
The noun سِرّ refers to the secret itself, whereas the related adjective سِرِّيّ describes something that is being kept hidden or is confidential.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the noun سِرّ is أَسْرَار.
How do you pronounce it?
sirr
Did you know?
- The word سِرّ shares a root with the Arabic word for 'belly button' or 'navel' سُرَّة, suggesting a connection between the deepest part of the body and a hidden secret.
- In many Arabic dialects, if someone tells you سِرّك في بِئر, it literally means 'your secret is in a well'.
- In Sufi mysticism, سِرّ refers not just to a hidden fact, but to the innermost divine spark or the 'secret' core of the human soul.
Examples in context
- سأخبرك بخَفَايَا القصة.I will tell you the secrets of the story.
- أثق بك في هذا السر، يرجى الحفاظ على كتمانه.I trust you with this secret, please maintain its concealment.
- هذا سِرّ بيننا.hādha sirrun baynanā.This is a secret between us.
Example conversation
Ziyad and Sarah are talking quietly in a cafe.
- زياد Ziadهل لديكِ سِرّ جديد؟hal ladayki sirrun jadīd?Do you have a new secret?
- سارة Saraنعم، ولكنه سِرّ كبير.na'am, wa lakin-nahu sirrun kabīr.Yes, but it is a big secret.
- زياد Ziadأرجوكِ، قولي لي السِّرّ!urjūki, qūlī lī al-sirr!Please, tell me the secret!
- سارة Saraلا يمكنني قول ذلك الآن.lā yumkinunī qawlu dhālika al-ān.I cannot say that now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “secret” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
