وشم
washm
The English word tattoo is وشم (washm) in Arabic.
The noun وشم refers to an image made in the skin using ink and a needle.
Meaning: an image made in the skin with ink and a needle (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural 'tattoos', use وشوم. Regarding verbs, وَشَمَ is the basic form used for the act of tattooing, while the causative form وَشَّمَ specifically means to apply a tattoo to someone or something.
How do you pronounce it?
washm
Did you know?
- Ancient Amazigh people in North Africa utilized وشم as a silent language, where different symbols communicated marital status or social rank.
- Traditional Bedouin women once used وشم on their chins and foreheads as tribal markers and protective charms to ward off the 'evil eye'.
- In classical Arabic, the root of وشم also describes the act of marking or branding animals to show ownership, showing that the word's origin is rooted in identification.
Examples in context
- كان لديه وشم على صدره.He had a tattoo on his chest.This sentence shows how to describe the location of a وشم on a body part.Tatoeba #11626709 by dididodo, translation #8280604 by Amastan
- لدى توم وشم في ذراعه الأيمن.Tom has a tattoo on his right arm.Tatoeba #7757251 by MisterBrown, translation #7750248 by CK
- أخبرني عن وشمه.He told me about his tattoo.This sentence is useful for describing a personal connection to a وشم.Tatoeba #11975170 by dididodo, translation #8390803 by Amastan
Example conversation
Leila and Ziad are talking about a new piece of art on Ziad's arm.
- ليلى Laylaهل هذا وشم جديد يا زياد؟Hal hadha washm jadid ya Ziad?Is this a new tattoo, Ziad?
- زياد Ziadنعم، فعلته في الأسبوع الماضي.Na'am, fa'altuhu fi al-usbu' al-madi.Yes, I got it last week.
- ليلى Laylaيبدو هذا الوشم رائعاً جداً.Yabdu hadha al-washm ra'i'an jiddan.This tattoo looks very wonderful.
- زياد Ziadشكراً لكِ يا ليلى.Shukran laki ya Leila.Thank you, Leila.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
