روح
rūḥ/ruːħ/
The English word 'spirit' is translated into Arabic as روح (rūḥ).
The term روح refers to the soul or a life-giving spirit. You can also use the related adjective روحاني to describe something as being 'spiritual'.
Meaning: soul (noun)
Which one should you use?
While روح refers to the divine or life-giving spirit, the word نفس (nafs) is used to refer to the human psyche, ego or the self.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of روح is أرواح (arwāḥ).
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is rūḥ.
Did you know?
- The word روح is used as a verb in common dialects to mean 'to go'.
- The root of روح is shared with the Hebrew word רוּחַ, reflecting an ancient Semitic link between breath and spirit.
- Calling someone يا روحي literally means 'O my spirit', but it is used as a term of endearment similar to 'my darling' or 'my soul'.
Examples in context
- إن وجود الإبداع يجعل العمل مليئًا بالروح.The presence of creativity imbues the work with spirit.
- أنت عزيز على قلبي وروحي.You are dear to my heart and my spirit.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry روح, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
