بتول
batul/ba.tuːl/feminine
The English word 'virgin' can be translated into Arabic. The default form is بتول (batul). Wiktionary also lists بِكْر (bikr) and عَذْرَاء (ʕaḏrāʔ).
Meaning: person who has never had sexual intercourse (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| بتول | batul | /ba.tuːl/ | feminine |
| بِكْر | bikr | feminine | |
| عَذْرَاء | ʕaḏrāʔ | feminine |
All provided forms of the word are feminine nouns referring to a person who has never had sexual intercourse.
Which one should you use?
The term بِكْر is the most common way to describe a person who is a virgin, but it can also refer to something being the first of its kind. The word عَذْرَاء is used when providing more formal or literary descriptions of virginity, frequently appearing in poetry. In contrast, بتول specifically refers to a consecrated virgin, describing a woman who has dedicated herself to God.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms provided in this pack are feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization for batul is batul. The IPA is /ba.tuːl/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word بتول is a common female given name in many Arabic-speaking countries.
- The term عَذْرَاء is closely linked to the root for 'excuse' or 'apology', implying a state of being 'without fault'.
- The word بِكْر is used to describe the first-born child in a family, regardless of their sexual history.
Examples in context
- سألتها إن كانت عذراءً.I asked her if she was a virgin.
Example conversation
Yousef and Maryam are discussing a historical figure.
- يوسف Youssefهل كانت هذه الملكة بتول؟hal kanat hadhihi al-malika batul?Was this queen a virgin?
- مريم Maryamنعم، تقول الروايات أنها كانت كذلك.na'am, taqul al-riwayat annaha kanat kadhalik.Yes, the accounts say that she was.
- يوسف Youssefهذا أمر مثير للاهتمام حقاً.hadha amrun muthir lil-ihtimam haqqan.That is truly interesting.
- مريم Maryamبالفعل، التاريخ مليء بالقصص الغريبة.bil-fi'l, al-tarikh mali' bil-qisas al-ghariba.Indeed, history is full of strange stories.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “virgin” translations and entries بتول, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
