بُرْكَان
burkānmasculine
The English phrase "volcano" is بُرْكَان (burkān) in Arabic. Wiktionary also lists جَبَلُ النَّار (jabalu n-nār).
Meaning: mountain containing a magma chamber (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بُرْكَان | burkān | masculine |
| جَبَلُ النَّار | jabalu n-nār | masculine |
In Arabic, the word for a mountain containing a magma chamber can be expressed using a standard scientific term or a more descriptive phrase.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase جَبَلُ النَّار is a compound meaning "mountain of fire".
Which one should you use?
بُرْكَان is the standard scientific term used for a volcano, while جَبَلُ النَّار is a more descriptive and literal way to express the same concept.
How do you pronounce it?
burkān
Did you know?
- Because the Arabian Peninsula has significant volcanic fields called 'harrats', the language possesses a specialized term حَرَّة to describe a black basaltic lava plain, which is a more specific geological term than بُرْكَان.
- The descriptive phrase جَبَلُ النَّار can be used metaphorically in Arabic poetry to describe someone with an incredibly intense or explosive temper.
- In some regions, people use the term فُوَّهَة (fuwwāh) to describe a volcanic crater, which literally translates to a 'mouth' or 'opening'.
Examples in context
- هَذَا بُرْكَانٌ خَامِدٌ.hādhā burkān khāmid.This is an extinct volcano.
- هَلْ رَأَيْتَ بُرْكَانًا قَدِيمًا؟hal ra'ayta burkānan qadīman?Did you see an ancient volcano?
- الْبُرْكَانُ كَانَ كَبِيرًا جِدًّا.al-burkānu kāna kabīran jiddan.The volcano was very large.
Example conversation
Layla and Ziad are looking at a geography book.
- ليلى Laylaانْظُر يا زياد، ما هذا الجَبَل؟Unzhur yā Ziyād, mā hādhā al-jabal?Look Ziad, what is this mountain?
- زياد Ziadإِنَّهُ بُرْكَانٌ نَشِطٌ جِدًّا.Innahu burkānun nashitun jiddan.It is a very active volcano.
- ليلى Laylaهل يخرج منه الحِمَمُ الآن؟Hal yakhruju minhu al-himamu al-ān?Is lava coming out of it now?
- زياد Ziadنَعَم، هذا البُرْكَان خَطِيرٌ جِدًّا.Na‘am, hādhā al-burkān khatīrun jiddan.Yes, this volcano is very dangerous.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “volcano” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
