نفايات
nifayat
In Arabic, the word for waste (garbage/by-products) is نفايات (nifayat).
The word نفايات refers to physical useless by-products or garbage.
Meaning: useless by-products, garbage (noun)
Which one should you use?
While نفايات refers to physical garbage, the terms تبديد, ضياع and تضييع are used to express the concept of waste in more formal contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
nifayat
Did you know?
- The verb نَفَى used in نفايات is also the term for 'denying' a statement. This creates a linguistic connection between throwing away a physical object and rejecting a claim as false.
- The word نفايات comes from the root نَفَى, which means 'to expel' or 'to banish'. This frames garbage not just as something useless, but as something that has been intentionally cast out of the community.
- While نفايات is the standard term for waste, in many Arabic dialects, people use the word زبل for household garbage, which refers specifically to animal dung.
Examples in context
- مراقبة التبديد في الموارد المائيةControl of waste in water resources.
- تقليل هدر الطاقةReducing energy waste.
- لا تهدر وقتك في هذه اللعبةDon't waste your time on this game.
- يجب جمع نفايات المصنع بعناية.yajibu jam'u nifāyāti al-masna' bi-'ināya.The factory waste must be collected carefully.
- أين نضع نفايات الورق؟ayna nada'u nifāyāta al-waraq?Where do we put the paper waste?
Example conversation
Youssef and Maryam are standing near a street trash bin.
- يوسف Youssefهل رأيتِ حاوية نفايات الورق؟hal ra'ayti ḥāwiyata nifāyāti al-waraq?Did you see the paper waste bin?
- مريم Maryamنعم، هي هناك بجانب الشجرة.na'am, hiya hunāka bijānibi al-shajara.Yes, it is there next to the tree.
- يوسف Youssefسأضع هذه النفايات فيها الآن.sa'ada'u hādhihi al-nifāyāta fīhā al-ān.I will put this waste in it now.
- مريم Maryamشكراً لك يا يوسف.shukran laka yā Yūsuf.Thank you, Youssef.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries نفايات, CC BY-SA 4.0.
