إعصار
i‘ṣār
The Arabic word for tornado is إعصار (i‘ṣār).
The term إعصار is a general term used for various types of violent rotating storms, including hurricanes, cyclones and tornadoes.
Meaning: violent windstorm (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
i‘ṣār
Did you know?
- Because the word إعصار shares a root with the word for 'pressing' grapes, it is linguistically related to the process of making juice or oil.
- In poetic Arabic literature, the swirling nature of an إعصار is sometimes used as a metaphor for intense, overwhelming emotions or sudden changes in fate.
- In classical Arabic, إعصار can refer specifically to a 'whirlwind' that gathers dust, which is a distinct weather pattern from the massive oceanic hurricanes it now describes.
Examples in context
- أمس، تعرضت المدينة لإعصار.Yesterday, a tornado hit the city.
- شفت زوبعة من نافذتي!I saw a tornado from my window!
- رأيت إعصاراً قوياً في الأخبار.ra'aytu i'sāran qawiyyan fī al-akhbār.I saw a strong tornado on the news.
Example conversation
Ziad and Maryam are discussing the weather report on TV.
- زياد Ziadهناك تحذير من إعصار قريب.hunāka tahdhīrun min i'sārin qarīb.There is a warning about a nearby tornado.
- مريم Maryamيجب أن نذهب إلى القبو الآن.yajibu an nadhhaba ilā al-qabū al-ān.We must go to the basement now.
- زياد Ziadهل أنتِ خائفة يا مريم؟hal anti khā'ifa yā Maryam?Are you afraid, Maryam?
- مريم Maryamنعم، الإعصار يبدو مخيفاً جداً.na'am, al-i'sāru yabdu mukhīfan jiddan.Yes, the tornado looks very scary.
