ثلج
talj/θald͡ʒ/Hijazi Arabic, masculine
ثلج (talj) is the Arabic word for snow. Wiktionary also lists ثَلْج (ṯalj) and تلج (talg).
Meaning: partly frozen, crystalline state of water that falls from the atmosphere as precipitation in flakes, falling of such flakes, accumulation of them as a white layer (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ثلج | talj | /θald͡ʒ/ | Hijazi Arabic, masculine |
| ثَلْج | ṯalj | masculine | |
| تلج | talg | Egyptian Arabic, masculine |
The word refers to the crystalline state of water that falls from the atmosphere as flakes, the act of these flakes falling or the accumulation of these flakes as a white layer.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term ثلج is the formal word for snow in Arabic. In the Egyptian dialect, the form تلج is used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
تلج is used in Egyptian Arabic, and ثلج is used in Hijazi Arabic.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb أَثْلَجَ is used to describe the action of snow falling from the atmosphere.
How do you pronounce it?
/θaldʒ/
Did you know?
- The expression أثلج صدري literally means 'he snowed my chest', but it is used idiomatically to mean 'he gladdened my heart' or 'gave me peace of mind'.
- The word ثلج shares an ancient root with the Akkadian word šalgum and the Biblical Hebrew word šɛ́lɛḡ.
- In many Arabic dialects, the word ثلج is used not just for weather, but also as a common noun for 'ice' used in drinks.
Examples in context
- تغير المطر إلى ثلج.The rain changed to snow.This sentence shows how to describe rain changing into the noun ثلج.Tatoeba #1245510 by saeb, translation #26824 by CK
- أتظنها ستُثلج؟Do you think it's going to snow?This sentence uses the noun ثلج to ask about the possibility of snow.Tatoeba #4923376 by Safa_Alfulaij, translation #4919023 by CK
- أصبح المطر ثلجاً.The rain changed into snow.This sentence demonstrates the transition of rain into the noun ثلج.Tatoeba #371354 by saeb, translation #26696 by CK
Example conversation
Omar and Sarah are looking out the window during winter.
- عمر Omarشوفي يا سارة، في ثلج برا!Shufi ya Sarah, fi thalj barra!Look Sarah, there is snow outside!
- سارة Saraواو، الثلج لونه أبيض وجميل جداً.Wow, ath-thalj lonuh abyad wa jameel jiddan.Wow, the snow is white and very beautiful.
- عمر Omarتبغي نطلع نلعب في الثلج؟Tbaghi natla' nal'ab fi ath-thalj?Do you want to go out and play in the snow?
- سارة Saraإيوه، بس لازم ألبس جاكيت ثقيل.Aywah, bas lazim albas jacket thageel.Yes, but I have to wear a heavy jacket.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snow” translations and entries ثلج, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ثلج, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
