مَجْلَى
majlāfeminine
The English word 'sink' (meaning a basin) can be translated into Arabic as مَجْلَى (majlā). Wiktionary also lists مَغْسَلَة (maḡsala) and حَوْض (ḥawḍ).
Meaning: basin (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مَجْلَى | majlā | feminine |
| مَغْسَلَة | maḡsala | feminine |
| حَوْض | ḥawḍ | masculine |
In Arabic, the word used for 'sink' depends on the specific type of basin you are describing, such as whether it is in a kitchen or a bathroom.
Which one should you use?
The term مَجْلَى specifically refers to a kitchen sink used for washing dishes. The word مَغْسَلَة is typically used for a bathroom sink or washbasin. The word حَوْض is a more general term for a basin, tub or tank and it can refer to a sink depending on the context.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun مَغْسَلَة is feminine, while حَوْض is a masculine noun. The word مَجْلَى is also a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
majlā
Did you know?
- The word مَجْلَى comes from the root meaning 'to reveal' or 'to make clear'. This reflects the action of washing away grime to reveal the clean surface of the dishes.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, حَوْض is the specific term for the basin or font used during ritual ablutions before prayer.
- The word مَغْسَلَة can refer both to a simple bathroom sink and to a commercial laundromat.
Examples in context
- الْمَجْلَى نَظِيفٌ جِدًّا.al-majla nazif jiddan.The sink is very clean.
- هَلْ هُنَاكَ مَاءٌ فِي الْمَجْلَى؟hal hunaka ma'un fi al-majla?Is there water in the sink?
- ضَعِ الْأَطْبَاقَ فِي الْمَجْلَى.da' al-atbaq fi al-majla.Put the dishes in the sink.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sink” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
