أرملة
'armala
The Arabic word for widow is أرملة ('armala).
The term refers to a woman whose spouse has died.
Meaning: woman whose spouse has died (noun)
Which one should you use?
If you need to refer to a man whose spouse has died (a widower), use the masculine form أرمل.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the concept of multiple widows, use the broken plural form أرامل.
How do you pronounce it?
'armala
Did you know?
- In some folk idioms, the word أرملة is used to describe a thing that has lost its matching pair, such as a single shoe or a lone earring.
- The root of أرملة is linked to words meaning 'isolated' or 'detached', reflecting the linguistic view of widowhood as a separation from a social unit.
- In legal Islamic contexts, the status of أرملة triggers a specific waiting period called عدة, during which the woman cannot remarry.
Examples in context
- أميرة هي أرملة.Amira is a widow.
- هي أرملة شابة.hiya arimala shabba.She is a young widow.
Example conversation
Sara and Omar are discussing a neighbor.
- سارة Saraمن هي الجارة أرملة؟man hiya al-jara armala?Who is the neighbor who is a widow?
- عمر Omarهي السيدة التسكن بيتنا.hiya al-sayyida al-taskunu baytana.She is the lady who lives next to us.
- سارة Saraهل هي أرملة منذ سنوات؟hal hiya armala mundhu sanawat?Has she been a widow for years?
- عمر Omarنعم توفيت بها من سنوات.naعam tawaffat bahu min sanawat.Yes, her husband passed away years ago.
