Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| عَمَلِيَّة جِرَاحِيَّة | ʕamaliyya jirāḥiyya | feminine |
| جِرَاحَة | jirāḥa | feminine |
The term is used to describe medical procedures involving major incisions. You may choose between these forms depending on whether you are referring to a specific operation or the medical field itself.
What does it mean word for word?
The compound noun عَمَلِيَّة جِرَاحِيَّة breaks down into عَمَلِيَّة, meaning 'operation' and the adjective جِرَاحِيَّة, meaning 'surgical'.
Which one should you use?
عَمَلِيَّة جِرَاحِيَّة refers to a specific surgical procedure or a single operation. In contrast, جِرَاحَة refers to the broader medical field or the practice of surgery.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, surgery is commonly referred to as العملية الجراحية. In Levantine Arabic, it is generally referred to as عملية جراحية.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase عَمَلِيَّة جِرَاحِيَّة is feminine, so any adjectives modifying it must also be in the feminine form.
How do you pronounce it?
ʕamaliyya jirāḥiyya
Did you know?
- In many Arabic-speaking hospitals, patients and families may use the word دَخَلَ (to enter) to describe undergoing surgery, as in saying 'he entered the operation'.
- The root of جِرَاحَة is related to the word for 'wound', جُرْح. In Arabic, the act of surgery is conceptually linked to the act of wounding or cutting the skin.
- The word عَمَلِيَّة can also mean an 'operation' in the sense of a military mission or a tactical maneuver. You might hear it used to describe a 'surgical strike' in a political or combat context.
Examples in context
- الجراحة العامة هي مجال تخصصي.General surgery is my specialized field.
- يحتاج المريض إلى عَمَلِيَّة جِرَاحِيَّة عاجلة.yaḥtāju al-marīḍ ilā 'amaliyya jirāḥiyya 'ājila.The patient needs an urgent surgery.
- قرر الطبيب إجراء عَمَلِيَّة جِرَاحِيَّة غداً.qarrara al-ṭabīb ijrā' 'amaliyya jirāḥiyya ghadan.The doctor decided to perform a surgery tomorrow.
Example conversation
Omar and Sara are talking about a relative's health.
- عمر Omarسارة، هل سمعتِ عن جدّي؟Sara, hal sami'ti an jaddi?Sara, have you heard about my grandfather?
- سارة Saraلا، ماذا حدث له يا عمر؟La, madha hadatha lahu ya Omar?No, what happened to him, Omar?
- عمر Omarسيجري عَمَلِيَّة جِرَاحِيَّة في القلب.Sayujri amaliya jirahiyya fi al-qalb.He will undergo heart surgery.
- سارة Saraأتمنى له الشفاء العاجل.Atamanna lahu al-shifa al-ajil.I wish him a speedy recovery.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “surgery” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
