عُرْس
ʕursmasculine
The English word "wedding" can be translated into Arabic as عُرْس (ʕurs) or زِفَاف.
Meaning: marriage ceremony (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| عُرْس | ʕurs | masculine |
| زِفَاف | zifāf | masculine |
Both terms refer to a marriage ceremony, but they carry different connotations. While عُرْس focuses on the festive event, زِفَاف is more closely associated with the procession or the ceremony itself. If you wish to specifically refer to a "wedding party" or "wedding reception," you should use the compound phrase حَفْلَة زِفَاف.
Which one should you use?
The term عُرْس (ʕurs) is typically used to describe the wedding celebration or the festive event. In contrast, زِفَاف (zifāf) is a formal term that can specifically refer to the wedding procession or the formal act of the ceremony.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both عُرْس and زِفَاف are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
ʕurs
Did you know?
- The term زِفَاف comes from a root meaning 'to lead' or 'to conduct', reflecting the historical importance of the bride being escorted to her new home.
- There is a cultural distinction where the عُرْس may have separate celebrations for men and women, meaning the same wedding can be two entirely different parties.
- In many Arab traditions, the concept of 'Zaffa' (زَفَّة), a rhythmic musical procession, is the heart of the زِفَاف, involving drummers and specific chants to announce the couple.
Examples in context
- نَحْنُ نُحَضِّرُ لِعُرْسٍ كَبِيرٍ.nahnu nuhaddiru li-'ursin kabīrin.We are preparing for a big wedding.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wedding” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
