زَعْتَر
zaʕtarmasculine
Thyme in Arabic is زَعْتَر (zaʕtar). Wiktionary also lists صَعْتَر (ṣaʕtar) and حَاشَا (ḥāšā).
Meaning: plant of the genus Thymus (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| زَعْتَر | zaʕtar | masculine |
| صَعْتَر | ṣaʕtar | masculine |
| حَاشَا | ḥāšā | feminine |
The term refers to the plant of the genus Thymus.
Which one should you use?
The forms زَعْتَر and صَعْتَر are both masculine nouns used to refer to the plant. The form حَاشَا is a feminine noun.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Tunisia, the word zahtar is used to refer to thyme.
How does it change in a sentence?
زَعْتَر and صَعْتَر are masculine nouns, while حَاشَا is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
zaʕtar
Did you know?
- In the Levant, زَعْتَر refers not only to the plant but to a popular spice blend of dried thyme, toasted sesame seeds, sumac and salt.
- In traditional Levantine hospitality, offering زَعْتَر and olive oil for breakfast is considered a fundamental gesture of welcoming, symbolizing a bond between the guest and the generosity of the land.
- Za'atar is so culturally significant in Palestine and Syria that it is often referred to as the 'herb of the land' and is used in traditional folk medicine to treat respiratory issues.
Example sentences for Arabic are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Yousef and Maryam are preparing breakfast together.
- يوسف Youssefمريم، هل لديكِ زَعْتَر في الخزانة؟Maryam, hal ladayki za'tar fil-khizana?Maryam, do you have thyme in the cupboard?
- مريم Maryamنعم، يوجد برطمان صغير هنا.Na'am, yujad burtuman saghir huna.Yes, there is a small jar here.
- يوسف Youssefرائع، سأضعه مع زيت الزيتون.Ra'i', sa-ada'uhu ma' zayt al-zaytun.Great, I will put it with the olive oil.
- مريم Maryamهذا الفطور سيكون لذيذاً يا يوسف.Hadha al-futur sayakun ladhidhan ya Yousef.This breakfast will be delicious, Yousef.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thyme” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
