أصابع القدمين
asabi' al-qadamayn
The English phrase "toes" is translated into Arabic as أصابع القدمين (asabi' al-qadamayn).
This phrase refers to the digits at the end of the feet.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of asabi' (fingers or digits) and al-qadamayn (the two feet).
How does it change in a sentence?
While أصابع القدمين refers to the toes of both feet, if you are referring to the toes of only one foot, you use the singular form of foot: أصابع القدم.
How do you pronounce it?
asabi' al-qadamayn
Did you know?
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, the soles of the feet and the toes are considered parts of the body that should not be pointed directly at others, as this can be perceived as a sign of disrespect.
- The word أصابع is the plural of إصبع, which shares a root with the word for 'finger' in several other Semitic languages. Interestingly, the word for 'finger' is also used in Arabic to describe a small amount of something, like a 'pinch'.
- Arabic uses a 'dual' grammatical number for the word القدمين 'the two feet'. Unlike English, which only has singular and plural, Arabic has a specific form to indicate exactly two of something.
Examples in context
- أشعر بألم في أصابع القدمين.ash'uru bi-alam fi asabi' al-qadamayn.I feel pain in my toes.
- هل أصابع القدمين نظيفة؟hal asabi' al-qadamayn nazifa?Are the toes clean?
Example conversation
Ziyad is helping Maryam put on her shoes.
- زياد Ziadهل أصابع القدمين مرتاحة في الحذاء؟hal asabi' al-qadamayn murtiha fi al-hidha'?Are your toes comfortable in the shoes?
- مريم Maryamلا، الحذاء ضيق جداً.la, al-hidha' dayyiq jiddan.No, the shoes are too tight.
- زياد Ziadجربي مقاساً أكبر لأصابع القدمين.jarribi maqasan akbar li-asabi' al-qadamayn.Try a larger size for your toes.
- مريم Maryamسأفعل ذلك الآن يا زياد.sa-af'al dhalik al-an ya Ziyad.I will do that now, Ziyad.
