إِرْهَابِيّ
ʔirhābiyymasculine
The English word 'terrorist' is translated into Arabic as إِرْهَابِيّ (ʔirhābiyy). Wiktionary also lists إِرْهَابِيَّة (ʔirhābiyya).
Meaning: person who uses terror as a weapon in a political struggle (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| إِرْهَابِيّ | ʔirhābiyy | masculine |
| إِرْهَابِيَّة | ʔirhābiyya | feminine |
The term refers to a person who uses terror as a weapon in a political struggle. It can also function as an adjective meaning 'of or relating to terrorism'. Other related terms include جهادي, which refers to individuals who associate with militant jihadist movements and engage in acts of violence.
Which one should you use?
The masculine form is إِرْهَابِيّ, while the feminine form is إِرْهَابِيَّة. To emphasize the criminal nature of a person, the phrase مجرم إرهابي can be used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, the term داعشي is used specifically to refer to a member or supporter of ISIS.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
ʔirhābiyy
Did you know?
- The root of إِرْهَابِيّ is the verb رهب, which can mean both 'to terrify' and 'to stand in awe' or 'revere'. This creates a linguistic duality between causing fear and feeling a deep, spiritual dread.
- While English uses 'terrorist' as a legal and political label, Arabic speakers often use the word إرهاب to describe the act of 'intimidating' someone in a domestic or personal context, not just in politics.
- The term مُتَطَرِّف (extremist) is often used in Arabic media as a softer, more descriptive alternative to إِرْهَابِيّ when discussing radicalization without making a direct legal accusation of terrorism.
Examples in context
- هذا الشخص إِرْهَابِيّ.Hādhā al-shakhṣ irhābī.This person is a terrorist.
- الخبر يتحدث عن إِرْهَابِيّ خطير.Al-khabar yataḥaddath 'an irhābī khaṭīr.The news talks about a dangerous terrorist.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “terrorist” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
