نمر
nimr/na.mir/Egyptian Arabic, masculine
The English word tiger is translated into Arabic as نمر (nimr) or بَبْر. Wiktionary also lists نِمْر (nimr).
Meaning: The mammal Panthera tigris (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| نمر | nimr | /na.mir/ | Egyptian Arabic, masculine |
| نِمْر | nimr | masculine | |
| بَبْر | babr | masculine |
Both terms refer to the mammal Panthera tigris.
Which one should you use?
The word نمر is the standard term used in Modern Standard Arabic. بَبْر is an alternative term that is considered more classical or formal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Egyptian Arabic dialect, the word نمر is used to refer to a tiger.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both provided forms are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /na.mir/. It has two syllables: nimr.
Did you know?
- In common spoken Arabic, نمر is frequently used to refer to a leopard, rather than a tiger.
- In certain Arabic contexts, the term نمر can be used as a compliment to describe a person who is exceptionally brave or agile.
- Because tigers are not native to the Arab world, the word نمر was historically applied to the native Arabian leopard.
Examples in context
- كان سامي نمرا في السّرير.Was he a tiger in bed?This sentence is useful for seeing the form نمر used in a question.Tatoeba #7250935 by OsoHombre, translation #6324388 by OsoHombre
- أنا شفت نمر في حديقة الحيوان.ana shoft nimr fi hadi'et el hayawan.I saw a tiger in the zoo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tiger” translations and entries نمر, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
