مَلَابِس دَاخِلِيَّة
malābis dāḵiliyyamasculine, plural
The English word 'underwear' is translated into Arabic as مَلَابِس دَاخِلِيَّة (malābis dāḵiliyya). If unsure, use مَلَابِس دَاخِلِيَّة. Wiktionary also lists لِبَاس دَاخِلِيّ (libās dāḵiliyy).
Meaning: clothes worn next to the skin (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مَلَابِس دَاخِلِيَّة | malābis dāḵiliyya | masculine, plural |
| لِبَاس دَاخِلِيّ | libās dāḵiliyy | masculine |
The term مَلَابِس دَاخِلِيَّة refers to the general category of clothes worn next to the skin.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase مَلَابِس دَاخِلِيَّة is composed of malābis (clothes) and dāḵiliyya (inner/internal).
Which one should you use?
The plural form مَلَابِس دَاخِلِيَّة is more commonly used to refer to the general category of underwear than the singular form لِبَاس دَاخِلِيّ.
How does it change in a sentence?
The term مَلَابِس دَاخِلِيَّة is a feminine plural noun phrase used to describe the general category of clothing.
How do you pronounce it?
malābis dāḵiliyya
Did you know?
- The term دَاخِلِيَّة (dāḵiliyya) can also be used in a political sense to describe 'internal affairs' or 'domestic' matters of a country.
- In some Arabic dialects, referring to underwear specifically by name in mixed company can be seen as a social faux pas, leading speakers to use vague gestures or euphemisms instead.
- The root of دَاخِلِيَّة is the same as the word for 'Ministry of Interior' (وِزَارَة الدَّاخِلِيَّة), as both refer to the concept of being 'internal' or 'domestic'.
Examples in context
- هذه مَلَابِس دَاخِلِيَّة جَدِيدَة.hadhihi malabis dakhiliyya jadida.This is new underwear.
- أحتاج إلى شراء مَلَابِس دَاخِلِيَّة.ahtaju ila shira' malabis dakhiliyya.I need to buy underwear.
Example conversation
Youssef and Sarah are shopping at a clothing store.
- سارة Saraيَا يُوسُف، هَلْ نَشْتَرِي مَلَابِس دَاخِلِيَّة؟ya Youssef, hal nashtari malabis dakhiliyya?Youssef, should we buy underwear?
- يوسف Youssefنَعَمْ، هُنَاكَ عَرْضٌ جَيِّدٌ جِدًّا.na'am, hunaka 'ard jayyid jiddan.Yes, there is a very good sale.
- سارة Saraهَلْ تُحِبُّ هَذِهِ الأَلْوَان؟hal tuhibbu hadhihi al-alwan?Do you like these colors?
- يوسف Youssefنَعَمْ، الأَلْوَانُ جَمِيلَةٌ جِدًّا.na'am, al-alwan jamila jiddan.Yes, the colors are very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “underwear” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
