قَبِيح
qabīḥ
The English word 'ugly' can be translated into Arabic as قَبِيح (qabīḥ) or بَشِع.
Meaning: displeasing to the eye, not aesthetically pleasing (adj)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| قَبِيح | qabīḥ |
| بَشِع | bašiʕ |
Both terms describe something that is displeasing to the eye or not aesthetically pleasing. However, قَبِيح is versatile and can be used to describe physical appearance as well as morally 'ugly' or shameful actions and behaviors.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean 'ugly', بَشِع is more intense and carries a stronger connotation of being hideous, repulsive or extremely ugly compared to قَبِيح.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the adjective with a feminine noun, you must change the form to قَبِيحَة.
How do you pronounce it?
qabīḥ
Did you know?
- In Arabic jurisprudence, the term قَبِيح is used as a technical term in 'Ilm al-Kalam' to describe actions that are inherently 'ugly' or evil, regardless of whether a religious law forbids them.
- While بَشِع describes something hideous, its root is shared with words related to 'spreading' or 'broadening', suggesting a repulsive quality that is overwhelmingly apparent.
- If you describe a joke as قَبِيح, you are not saying it is visually ugly, but that it is 'crude' or 'vulgar'.
Examples in context
- قالَ: أَعتَقِدُ أَنَّ اْلكَمَالَ قَبِيحٌ. فِي مَكَانٍ مَا فِي اْلأَشْياءِ الَّتِي يَجْعَلُونَ اْلأَشْخَاصُ أُريدُ أَنْ أَرَى نُدُوباً وَاْلفَشَلَ وَاْلفَوضَى وَاْلتَّحرِيفَ."I think perfection is ugly", he said. "Somewhere in the things that humans make, I want to see scars, failure, disorder, distortion."This sentence demonstrates the use of قَبِيح to express a philosophical opinion about perfection.Tatoeba #4208390 by eeyinn, translation #4208378 by eeyinn
- المبنى مشوه الجمالThe building is aesthetically unpleasing.
- هَذا المَنْظَرُ قَبِيحٌ جِدًّا.hadha al-manzar qabih jiddan.This view is very ugly.
- لَوْنُ هَذِهِ المَلابِسِ قَبِيحٌ.lawn hadhihi al-malabis qabih.The color of these clothes is ugly.
Example conversation
Maryam and Ziad are looking at a piece of modern art.
- مريم Maryamمَا رَأْيُكَ فِي هَذَا التِّمْثَالِ يَا زِيادُ؟Ma ra'yuka fi hadha at-timthal ya Ziyad?What do you think of this statue, Ziad?
- زياد Ziadأَظُنُّ أَنَّهُ قَبِيحٌ وَغَرِيبٌ.Adhunnu annahu qabih wa gharib.I think it is ugly and strange.
- مريم Maryamأَنَا أَتَّفِقُ مَعَكَ تَمَامًا.Ana attafiqu ma'aka tamaman.I completely agree with you.
- زياد Ziadلِنَنْتَقِلْ إِلَى القَاعَةِ التَّالِيَةِ.Linantaqil ila al-qa'ati at-taliya.Let's move to the next hall.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ugly” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
