قشة
qashshah
The Arabic word for straw is قشة (qashshah).
This term refers to a dried stalk of cereal grain, whether it is being used for animal bedding or as a tube for drinking.
How do you pronounce it?
qashshah
Did you know?
- In some Arabic dialects, the word for straw is used metaphorically to describe something 'thin' or 'weak' in character, much like the physical properties of the stalk.
- While قشة is the standard word, in some Levantine dialects, people may use شفاطة (shaffata), which comes from the root meaning 'to suck'.
- Using قشة to mean a drinking straw is a relatively modern adaptation of a word that originally only described agricultural waste.
Examples in context
- أحتاج إلى قشة لشرب العصير.aḥtāju ilā qashatin lishurbi al-ʿaṣīr.I need a straw to drink the juice.
- هناك قشة في كوب الشاي.hunāka qashatun fī kūbi al-shāy.There is a straw in the tea cup.
Example conversation
Yousef and Maryam are at a cafe.
- يوسف Youssefمريم، هل تحتاجين إلى قشة؟Maryam, hal taḥtājīna ilā qashah?Maryam, do you need a straw?
- مريم Maryamنعم يا يوسف، من فضلك.Naʿam yā Yūsuf, min faḍlik.Yes Yousef, please.
- يوسف Youssefتفضلي، هذه قشة بلاستيكية.Tafaḍḍalī, hādhihi qashah blāstīkiyya.Here you go, this is a plastic straw.
- مريم Maryamشكراً جزيلاً لك.Shukran jazīlan lak.Thank you very much.
