سِمْسِم
simsimmasculine
The English word "sesame" is سِمْسِم (simsim) in Arabic. Wiktionary also lists جُلْجُلان (juljulān).
Meaning: seed (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| سِمْسِم | simsim | masculine |
| جُلْجُلان | juljulān | masculine |
The term السمسم refers specifically to sesame. You may also encounter سمسم or the more descriptive حب السمسم to describe the seed.
Which one should you use?
سِمْسِم is the most common and widely used term for sesame across the Arabic-speaking world. In contrast, جُلْجُلان is a more formal or classical term.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both سِمْسِم and جُلْجُلان are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
simsim
Did you know?
- The phrase 'Open Sesame' used in the story of Ali Baba comes from سِمْسِم, although the seed has no magical properties in Arabic folklore.
- While 'simsim' is the standard term, a person might use the word سمسمية to refer to a traditional musical instrument or a specific type of folk song in certain regions.
- The word سِمْسِم uses a linguistic pattern called reduplication, where repeating a sound often implies that the object is very small.
Examples in context
- ما طعم حب السمسم في هذا الطبق؟What's the taste of sesame in this dish?
- يضيف نكهة رائعة من السمسم.It adds a wonderful sesame flavor.
- هل هذا الخبز عليه سِمْسِم؟hal hadha al-khubzu 'alayhi simsim?Does this bread have sesame on it?
Example conversation
Leila and Ahmed are baking cookies together.
- ليلى Laylaأحمد، هل لدينا سِمْسِم في المطبخ؟Ahmed, hal ladayna simsim fi al-matbakh?Ahmed, do we have sesame in the kitchen?
- أحمد Ahmedنعم، يوجد في الخزانة العلوية.Na'am, yujad fi al-khizana al-ulwiyya.Yes, there is some in the top cupboard.
- ليلى Laylaسأضعه فوق الكعك الآن.Sa-ada'uhu fawqa al-ka'k al-an.I will put it on top of the cakes now.
- أحمد Ahmedتبدو رائعة مع سِمْسِم.Tabdu ra'i'a ma' simsim.They look great with sesame.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sesame” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
