مثلث
muthallath
The English word "triangle" is مثلث (muthallath) in Arabic.
مثلث is a noun used to refer to the polygon with three sides.
Meaning: polygon (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is derived from the root th-l-th (meaning three) and is a passive participle, literally meaning "something made of three".
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the noun is مثلثات.
How do you pronounce it?
muthallath
Did you know?
- In Arabic, the term مثلث can be used in music to describe the percussion instrument known as the triangle.
- Arabic uses the same root for مثلث to form the word for 'trilogy' ثلاثية, which is common in modern Arabic literature and film reviews.
- While English uses a Greek prefix 'tri-' to build 'triangle', Arabic uses a triliteral root system to build the same concept from a core meaning of 'three'.
Examples in context
- عندما تقسم المثلث إلى نصفين، فإنك تحصل على مثلثين متطابقين.When you divide the triangle in half, you get two congruent triangles.
Example conversation
Mariam and Ziad are studying geometry together.
- مريم Maryamيا زياد، ما هذا الشكل؟Ya Ziad, ma hadha al-shakl?Ziad, what is this shape?
- زياد Ziadهذا مثلث يا مريم.Hadha muthallath ya Mariam.This is a triangle, Mariam.
- مريم Maryamهل هو مثلث متساوي الأضلاع؟Hal huwa muthallath mutasawi al-adla'?Is it an equilateral triangle?
- زياد Ziadنعم، هو كذلك.Na'am, huwa kadhalik.Yes, it is.
