حِذَاء
ḥiḏāʔmasculine
The English word "shoe" is translated into Arabic as حِذَاء (ḥiḏāʔ). Wiktionary also lists نَعْل (naʕl) and جَزْمَة (jazma).
Meaning: protective covering for the foot (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| حِذَاء | ḥiḏāʔ | masculine |
| نَعْل | naʕl | masculine |
| جَزْمَة | jazma | feminine |
This term refers to a protective covering for the foot.
Which one should you use?
حِذَاء is the standard term for a shoe, whereas نَعْل specifically refers to a sandal, slipper or a more open type of footwear. While حِذَاء is used in formal contexts, جَزْمَة is a common colloquial term for a shoe.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of the formal term حِذَاء is أَحْذِيَة. For the colloquial term جَزْمَة, the plural is جَزَمَات. Additionally, جوتَيْن is the dual form of the colloquial term for shoe.
How do you pronounce it?
ḥiḏāʔ
Did you know?
- Pointing the sole of the حِذَاء toward another person is considered offensive in many Arabic cultures because the shoe is the lowest and dirtiest part of the body.
- In many Arabic dialects, the word جَزْمَة has evolved beyond meaning a 'shoe' to being used as a common insult for a person of low character.
- Arabic grammar has a dedicated 'dual' form for shoes, such as جوتَيْن, which specifically means 'two shoes' rather than using a general plural.
Examples in context
- الحِذَاء إكسسوار ضروري لحماية الأقدامShoe is an essential accessory for protecting the feet
- أرجو أن تقدم لي النَّعْلَيْن الجديدَيْنِPlease give me the new pair of shoes
- هذا حِذَاءٌ جَدِيدٌ.hādhā hidhā'un jadīd.This is a new shoe.
- أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى حِذَاءٍ مُرِيحٍ.aḥtāju ilā hidhā'in murīḥ.I need a comfortable shoe.
Example conversation
Youssef and Sarah are looking for something in the hallway.
- يوسف Youssefيَا سَارَةُ، أَيْنَ حِذَاءُ يوسُف؟yā Sāratu, ayna hidhā'u Yūsuf?Sarah, where is Youssef's shoe?
- سارة Saraهُنَاكَ حِذَاءٌ وَاحِدٌ فَقَطْ.hunāka hidhā'un wāḥidun faqaṭ.There is only one shoe here.
- يوسف Youssefهَلْ هَذَا حِذَاءُ يوسُف؟hal hādhā hidhā'u Yūsuf?Is this Youssef's shoe?
- سارة Saraنَعَمْ، هَذَا هُوَ.na'am, hādhā huwa.Yes, it is.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shoe” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
