Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| عَرَضَ | ʕaraḍa |
| قَدَّمَ | qaddama |
| ظَهَرَ | ẓahara |
| أَرَى | ʔarā |
The various forms of 'show' in Arabic depend on whether you are displaying an object, showing something to a person or describing something appearing. Use عَرْض to refer to a noun like a show, a display or a presentation, such as a theatrical performance or a fashion show. Relatedly, بَرْنَامَج is used to mean a broadcast program. For the act of presenting or revealing, the term إِظْهَار is used.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the specific action being performed. Use أَرَى when you are performing the action of showing something to a person. In contrast, use عَرَضَ when the goal is displaying or presenting an object or an idea. If the sense of 'show' implies a formal presentation, such as a speech, a gift or a performance, use قَدَّمَ. Finally, use ظَهَرَ when something shows itself or appears, rather than when you are actively showing it to someone else.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The present tense form of عَرَضَ is يَعْرِضُ (he shows/he displays). The form أَرَى is specifically the past tense meaning 'he showed (someone)'.
How do you pronounce it?
ʕaraḍa
Did you know?
- In Arabic, the word عَرَض can mean 'an accident' or 'a symptom' in a medical context. This relates to the idea of something 'showing up' or appearing unexpectedly.
- The word عَرْض (show/display) shares the same root as the Arabic word for 'width' or 'breadth', عَرْض.
- In many Arabic dialects, the formal أَرَى (to show someone) is often replaced by the more colloquial ورّى, which is a common way to say 'to show' in daily conversation.
Examples in context
- المعرض سيُظهِر تراث البلد الثقافي الغنيThe exhibition will showcase the country's rich cultural heritage.
- هيا نذهب لمشاهدة عرض في المسرح الليلةLet's go watch a show at the theater tonight!
- عَرَضَ التَّاجِرُ البِضَاعَةَ فِي السُّوقِ.araḍa at-tājiru al-biḍāʿata fī as-sūq.The merchant displayed the goods in the market.
- عَرَضَ المُصَمِّمُ الأَفْكَارَ الجَدِيدَةَ.araḍa al-muṣammimu al-afkāra al-jadīdah.The designer displayed the new ideas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “show” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
