Which one should you use?
While ممتاز means excellent or outstanding, the phrase جيد جداً is the literal translation for very good. The term رائع is used when you want to indicate very good in the sense of beauty, charm or impressiveness.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ممتاز is a formal word that carries a sense of excellence and superiority. Other formal options include جيد جداً for a literal sense of very good, or رائع for something impressive or beautiful. For informal situations among friends and acquaintances, you can use كويس جداً.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egypt, you might use جميل أوي to mean very good or تحفة to indicate something is very good or excellent. In some Arab countries, particularly within Levantine dialects, the colloquial phrase عال العال is used to indicate high-quality or excellent performance.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ممتاز changes to the feminine form ممتازة when you are describing a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
mumtāz
Did you know?
- If you are in Egypt and want to say something is 'very good' in an enthusiastic, colloquial way, you can call it تحفة, which literally translates to 'a masterpiece' or 'an artifact'.
- The word ممتاز is built on a root meaning 'to distinguish' or 'to be separate', so when you call something 'very good', you are literally saying it is 'distinguished' from the rest.
- In Egyptian Arabic, saying something is جميل أوي uses the word 'very' (أوي) at the end of the phrase, rather than before the adjective like in English.
Examples in context
- هذا الطعام ممتاز.hadha al-ta'am mumtaz.This food is excellent.
- لقد كان أداؤك ممتازاً اليوم.laqad kana ada'uka mumtazan al-yawm.Your performance today was excellent.
- العمل الذي قمت به ممتاز.al-'amal alladhi qumta bihi mumtaz.The work you did is excellent.
Example conversation
Sara and Ahmed are discussing a book they both read.
- سارة Saraهل أعجبك الكتاب يا أحمد؟Hal a'jabaka al-kitab ya Ahmed?Did you like the book, Ahmed?
- أحمد Ahmedنعم، الكتاب ممتاز حقاً.Na'am, al-kitab mumtaz haqqan.Yes, the book is really very good.
- سارة Saraأنا أتفق معك تماماً.Ana attafiqu ma'aka tamaman.I completely agree with you.
- أحمد Ahmedيجب أن تقرئيه مرة أخرى.Yajib an taqra'ihi marra ukhra.You should read it again.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ممتاز, CC BY-SA 4.0.
