نَتِن
natin
The English word "stinky" can be translated into Arabic as نَتِن (natin) or مُنْتِن.
Meaning: having a strong, unpleasant smell (adj)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| نَتِن | natin |
| مُنْتِن | muntin |
Both forms are adjectives used to describe something that has a strong, unpleasant smell.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean stinky, مُنْتِن is a derived form (an active participle) that often sounds slightly more formal or describes a continuous state more than the root-based نَتِن.
How does it change in a sentence?
To agree with a feminine noun, the adjective takes the feminine suffix -a (ة) to become نَتِنَة.
How do you pronounce it?
natin
Did you know?
- Because the word نَتِن relates to rot, it is frequently used in Arabic medical terminology to describe gangrene or necrotic tissue.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, describing a person's smell as 'stinky' is often a much more severe social insult than in English, as it can imply a lack of basic hygiene or even a lack of moral character.
- While نَتِن describes a foul smell, Arabic speakers often use the word زِفَر specifically for the 'stink' of raw fish or raw meat.
Examples in context
- هذا الجورب نَتِن جداً.Hadha al-jawrab natin jiddan.This sock is very stinky.
- السمك في هذا السوق نَتِن.Al-samak fi hadha al-suq natin.The fish in this market is stinky.
Example conversation
Sarah and Omar are cleaning the kitchen after cooking.
- سارة Saraيا عمر، هذا الصندوق نَتِن!Ya Omar, hadha al-sanduq natin!Omar, this box is stinky!
- عمر Omarأنا آسف، سأرميه الآن.Ana asif, sa-armihi al-an.I am sorry, I will throw it away now.
- سارة Saraمن فضلك، نظف المطبخ.Min fadlik, nadhif al-matbakh.Please, clean the kitchen.
- عمر Omarحاضر، سأفعل ذلك فوراً.Hadir, sa-af'alu dhalika fawran.Okay, I will do that immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stinky” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
