قَتَلَ
qatala
The English verb "slay" can be translated into Arabic using several forms, most commonly قَتَلَ (qatala). Wiktionary also lists أَزْهَقَ رُوحَهُ (ʔazhaqa rūḥahu) and ذَبَحَ (ḏabaḥa).
Meaning: to kill, murder (verb)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| قَتَلَ | qatala |
| أَزْهَقَ رُوحَهُ | ʔazhaqa rūḥahu |
| ذَبَحَ | ḏabaḥa |
The verb قَتَلَ is a general term for the act of killing or murdering. For a more dramatic or literary effect, you can use the phrase أَزْهَقَ رُوحَهُ, which describes the act of taking someone's life or soul.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase أَزْهَقَ رُوحَهُ literally means "to take away/extinguish his soul".
Which one should you use?
While قَتَلَ is a general term for killing, ذَبَحَ specifically refers to killing by slaughtering or cutting the throat, often used for animals or in a ritualistic context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The present tense form of the default verb قَتَلَ is يَقْتُلُ, meaning "he kills / he is killing".
How do you pronounce it?
qatala
Did you know?
- The verb ذَبَحَ is not only for slaughtering animals but is also used in certain poetic contexts to describe a 'slaying' of the heart through intense longing or love.
- The word قَتِيل (the slain/victim) can be used in Arabic to describe someone who is 'killed' by a bad habit or a devastatingly beautiful sight.
- The word ذَبَحَ is central to the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, where the act of slaughtering an animal commemorates the story of Abraham.
Examples in context
- قَتَلَ اللِّصُّ الرجلَ في الشارع.qatala al-lissu al-rajula fi al-shari'.The thief killed the man in the street.
- هَلْ قَتَلَ الجنديُّ العدوَّ؟hal qatala al-jundiyyu al-'aduwwa?Did the soldier kill the enemy?
Example conversation
Ahmed and Maryam are watching a news report about a crime.
- أحمد Ahmedهل قَتَلَ الشَّخصُ غَيْرَهُ؟hal qatala al-shakhsu ghayrahu?Did the person kill someone else?
- مريم Maryamنَعَم، قَتَلَ الرجلَ في الحادثِ.na'am, qatala al-rajula fi al-hadith.Yes, he killed the man in the accident.
- أحمد Ahmedهذا أمرٌ مُرْعِبٌ جِدّاً.hadha amrun mur'ibun jiddan.This is a very terrifying matter.
- مريم Maryamكُلُّ شَيْءٍ كَانَ مُفاجِئاً.kullu shay'in kana mufaji'an.Everything was sudden.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slay” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
