لَمَعَ
lamaʕa
The English verb shine can be translated into Arabic as لَمَعَ (lamaʕa) or وَمَضَ.
Meaning: to emit light (verb)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| لَمَعَ | lamaʕa |
| وَمَضَ | wamaḍa |
Both words are used to describe the act of emitting light.
Which one should you use?
لَمَعَ (lamaʕa) is used for a continuous or steady shine, such as a polished surface or a bright star, whereas وَمَضَ (wamaḍa) describes a flash or a flickering light. وَمَضَ (wamaḍa) is used for intermittent or sudden light, such as a lightning flash or a blinking light.
How does it change in a sentence?
The present tense form of لَمَعَ (lamaʕa) is يَلْمَعُ (yalmaʕu), which means he shines.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is lamaʕa.
Did you know?
- The concept of 'shining' in Arabic is often tied to the word نُور (nur), which describes a divine or guiding light, whereas ضَوْء (daw') refers to physical light like a lamp.
- In Arabic poetry, the word وَمَضَ (wamaḍa) is often used metaphorically to describe the sudden, fleeting spark of an idea or an insight in the mind.
- The word وَمْضَة (wamḍa), a noun derived from وَمَضَ, is the standard technical term used in modern Arabic for a 'flash' of a camera or a computer 'cursor' blinking on a screen.
Examples in context
- قمر الليل يتألق في السماء.The moon shines in the sky.
- الشمس تشرق وتبهر العالم بأشعتها الساطعة.The sun rises and dazzles the world with its shining rays.
- لَمَعَ النجم في السماء.lama'a al-najmu fi al-sama'.The star shone in the sky.
- لَمَعَ السيف تحت الضوء.lama'a al-sayfu tahta al-daw'.The sword shone under the light.
- لَمَعَ الذهب في الصندوق.lama'a al-dhahabu fi al-sanduq.The gold shone in the box.
Example conversation
Layla and Ziad are looking at a diamond ring.
- ليلى Laylaانظر يا زياد، هذا الخاتم جميل جداً.unzur ya ziyad, hadha al-khatamu jamilun jiddan.Look Ziad, this ring is very beautiful.
- زياد Ziadنعم، لقد لَمَعَ بقوة عندما حركته.na'am, laqad lama'a biquwwa 'indama harraktahu.Yes, it shone brightly when you moved it.
- ليلى Laylaهل تعتقد أنه ألماس حقيقي؟hal ta'taqidu annahu almasun haqiqi?Do you think it is a real diamond?
- زياد Ziadأعتقد ذلك، لأن بريقه مذهل.a'taqidu dhalika, li'anna bariqahu mudhhil.I think so, because its brilliance is amazing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shine” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
