سيف
sēf/sajf/Egyptian Arabic, masculine
The Arabic word for sword is سيف (sēf) (sayf). If unsure, use سيف. Wiktionary also lists سَيْف (sayf) and حُسَام (ḥusām).
Meaning: weapon (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| سيف | sēf | /sajf/ /seːf/ |
Egyptian Arabic, masculine |
| سَيْف | sayf | masculine | |
| حُسَام | ḥusām | masculine |
سيف is the general word for a sword. With the article it is السيف, the sword.
Which one should you use?
حُسَام (ḥusām) refers specifically to a sharp, cutting sword and is often used in poetry and formal writing.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word سيف is widely used in the Gulf dialect too. Egyptians say sēf.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural is سيوف. The word is masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
In Modern Standard Arabic it is /sajf/, which rhymes with knife. Egyptians say sēf.
When do people say it?
سيف is also a common given name for boys.
Did you know?
- The Arabic word سيف might share a common ancestor with the Ancient Greek word ξίφος (xíphos), meaning the term for a sword has potentially been traveling through Mediterranean cultures for millennia.
Examples in context
- أحتاج سيفا.I need a sword.سيفا is the object of the verb, a sword.Tatoeba #8811982 by LinaTamazight, translation #8307646 by CK
- بسط ياني سيفه.Yanni lowered his sword.سيفه means his sword.Tatoeba #11609382 by dididodo, translation #8784405 by Amastan
- لا ترفع أمة على أمة سيفا ولا يتعلمون الحرب فيما بعد.Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.This line is from the Bible, with سيفا as the sword that nations will no longer lift.Tatoeba #9933169 by shekitten, translation #9931354 by shekitten
- أثناء الحرب القديمة استخدم الجنود سلاحًا أبيضًا كسيف.During ancient wars, soldiers used a white weapon like a sword.
- قد تجد تمثالًا قديمًا لرجل يحمل السيف.You may come across an ancient statue of a man holding a sword.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sword” translations and entries سيف, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries سيف, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
