نجمة
negma/nad͡ʒ.ma/Egyptian Arabic, feminine
The English word star is translated into Arabic as نجمة (negma). Wiktionary also lists نَجْم (najm) and نَجْمَة (najma).
Meaning: (astronomy) a luminous celestial body made of plasma (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| نجمة | negma | /nad͡ʒ.ma/ | Egyptian Arabic, feminine |
| نَجْم | najm | masculine | |
| نَجْمَة | najma | Hijazi Arabic, feminine |
In an astronomical context, a star refers to a luminous celestial body made of plasma.
Which one should you use?
The term used depends on the context and dialect. The masculine form نَجْم is the standard term used in formal contexts such as astronomy or literature. The feminine forms include نجمة (Egyptian Arabic) and نَجْمَة (Hijazi Arabic). In some dialects, the form najma (نجمة) may be used specifically to refer to a female star.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Egyptian dialect, the common pronunciation and usage for star is نجمة (negma). In Hijazi Arabic, the feminine form is written as نَجْمَة (najma).
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the feminine najma is نجمات.
How do you pronounce it?
نجمة is pronounced /nadʒ.ma/ (negma) and consists of 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- Ancient Arabic astronomy was so advanced that most of the traditional names for stars in the night sky, such as 'Betelgeuse' or 'Aldebaran', are derived from Arabic phrases.
- The Arabic root for نَجْم is also used to describe the concept of 'prominence' or 'standing out', which is why it is the word used for a celebrity.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, the word for star is used in astrological terms to refer to 'fate' or 'destiny'.
Examples in context
- أحب التجمعات في الليل لأنه يمكنني رؤية النجوم بوضوح.I love gatherings at night because I can see the stars clearly.
- شايف نجمة بعيدة في السما؟shayif negma ba'ida fel sama?Do you see a far star in the sky?
- رسمت نجمة كبيرة في الكراسة.rasamt negma kabira fel karrasa.I drew a big star in the notebook.
Example conversation
Ziad and Layla are looking at the night sky.
- زياد Ziadشوفي يا ليلى، في نجمة بتلمع قوي.Shoufi ya Layla, fi negma betelma' awi.Look Layla, there is a star shining brightly.
- ليلى Laylaفعلاً، دي أجمل نجمة شفتها.Fe'lan, di agmal negma shoftaha.Indeed, this is the most beautiful star I've seen.
- زياد Ziadتفتكري هي بعيدة عننا قد إيه؟Teftekari heya ba'ida annena ad eh?How far do you think it is from us?
- ليلى Laylaممكن تكون ملايين السنين ضوئية.Momken tekoun malayin el-senin daw'eya.It could be millions of light years.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “star” translations and entries نجمة, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
