Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| رَائِحَة | rāʔiḥa | feminine |
| رِيحة | rīḥa | feminine |
| ريحة | rīḥa | Egyptian Arabic, feminine |
This noun refers to the sensation of smell. In formal contexts, you can use the phrase رائحة طيبة to mean a good smell or a pleasant scent and رائحة كريهة to mean a bad smell or a foul odor. If you want to use a verb to describe the act of smelling with the nose, you can use شَمَّ, اِشْتَمَّ or شم. To describe something that has a particular smell, you can use the verb شَمَّمَ.
Which one should you use?
The form رَائِحَة is the standard, formal way to say 'smell' used in Modern Standard Arabic. In contrast, ريحة is the common, colloquial way to say 'smell' in many spoken dialects.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The spelling ريحة is the standard way to write the word in Egyptian Arabic script.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun رَائِحَة is feminine, so any adjectives describing it must also be in the feminine form.
How do you pronounce it?
rāʔiḥa
Did you know?
- The root of the verb شَمَّ is shared with words describing a 'high nose' or 'pride', suggesting a linguistic link between the act of smelling and an air of superiority.
- In many Arabic dialects, the word ريحة is used as a euphemism for 'reputation' or 'trace', as if a person's character lingers in the air.
- The word رَائِحَة comes from the root meaning 'wind' or 'breath', linking the sensation of smelling to the movement of air.
Examples in context
- أشم رائحة زهور جميلة.I smell the fragrance of beautiful flowers.
- هل ممكن أن تشم العطر؟Can you smell the perfume?
- يا لها من ريحة لذيذة!What a delightful smell!
- أنا بشم القهوة من هنا!I can smell the coffee from here!
- رَائِحَةُ القَهْوَةِ جَمِيلَةٌ جِدًّا.rā'ihat al-qahwati jamīlatun jiddan.The smell of coffee is very beautiful.
- هَلْ تَشُمِّينَ رَائِحَةَ هَذَا الزَّهْرِ؟hal tashummīna rā'ihata hādhā al-zahri?Do you smell the scent of this flower?
- رَائِحَةُ الطَّعَامِ لَذِيذَةٌ.rā'ihat al-ta'āmi ladhīdhah.The smell of the food is delicious.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are walking in a garden.
- عمر Omarرَائِحَةُ الوُرُودِ هُنَا رَائِعَةٌ.rā'ihat al-wurūdi hunā rā'i'ah.The smell of the roses here is wonderful.
- ليلى Laylaنَعَمْ، رَائِحَتُهَا قَوِيَّةٌ.na'am, rā'ihatuhā qawiyyah.Yes, its smell is strong.
- عمر Omarهَلْ تُحِبِّينَ رَائِحَةَ اليَاسَمِينِ أَيْضًا؟hal tuhibbīna rā'ihat al-yāsamīni ay'dan?Do you like the smell of jasmine too?
- ليلى Laylaأُحِبُّ رَائِحَتَهَا كَثِيرًا.uhibbu rā'ihatahā kathīran.I love its smell a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “smell” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
