بئر
bi'r
In Arabic, the word for well is بئر (bi'r).
The word بئر refers specifically to a physical well. When you want to express the concept of being 'well' or 'good' in terms of health or state, you would use different terms such as بِخَيْر or حَسَنًا.
Meaning: in good health (adj)
Which one should you use?
While بئر refers to the physical structure of a well, other related forms express different meanings of 'well'. For example, بِخَيْر and جَيِّدًا can be used to mean 'well' in terms of competence or health and can also mean 'completely' or 'fully'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
bi'r
Did you know?
- While بئر describes a water well, the word for being 'well' in health, بِخَيْر, shares a root with the word for 'goodness' and 'charity'. This links the concept of personal wellbeing to a broader sense of moral virtue.
- In classical Arabic literature, the بئر is frequently used as a symbol of deep isolation or a place of trial, most notably in the Quranic story of Joseph.
- The word بئر is inherited from the Proto-Semitic root *biʔr-, making it a linguistic relative to similar words for 'well' found in ancient languages like Hebrew and Aramaic.
Examples in context
- بئر زيري يجف في فصل الصيف.Ziri's well runs dry in the summer.This sentence shows how to use بئر to describe a well that runs dry.Tatoeba #11666250 by dididodo, translation #11481176 by Amastan
- هناك بئر.There's a well there.This sentence uses بئر to indicate the presence of a well.Tatoeba #13904796 by rul, translation #12200336 by Miktsoanit
- بخير، شكرًاWell, thank you.
- أنا أدرس بجد، وأشعر بأني في حالة جيدة جداً الآنI study diligently, and I feel very well now.
Example conversation
Ziad and Maryam meet after a long time.
- زياد Ziadكيف حالك يا مريم؟Kayfa haluki ya Maryam?How are you, Maryam?
- مريم Maryamأنا بئر جداً، وأنت؟Ana bi'r jiddan, wa anta?I am very well, and you?
- زياد Ziadأنا بخير أيضاً، الحمد لله.Ana bi-khayr ay-dan, al-hamdu lillah.I am fine too, thank God.
- مريم Maryamيسعدني أنك بئر يا زياد.Yus'iduni annaka bi'r ya Ziyad.I am glad that you are well, Ziyad.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries بئر, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
