زوجة
zawja
The English phrase "wife of" is translated into Arabic as زوجة (zawja).
The word زوجة is the standard way to refer to a wife in many Arabic dialects and in formal contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Moroccan Arabic, زَوْجَة is used as a formal term for "wife of".
How does it change in a sentence?
زوجة is a feminine noun, which is indicated by the presence of the ta marbuta (ة) at the end of the word.
How do you pronounce it?
zawja
Did you know?
- The term for 'wife' can be used in mathematics or logic. Because the root ز و ج refers to 'pairing', it is the same root used to describe 'even numbers' in Arabic, which are numbers that can be paired without a remainder.
- In some traditional contexts, a husband might refer to his wife as أهل البيت ('people of the house') to avoid mentioning her name or title directly.
- While زوجة is the standard formal term, in many spoken dialects like Egyptian or Levantine, people often use the word مراتي, which comes from a different root meaning 'my woman' or 'my lady'.
Examples in context
- زَوْجَةُ مُحَمَّدٍWife of Muhammad
- رَفِيقَةُ الْعُمْرِ لِأَحْمَدWife of Ahmed (Life partner of Ahmed)
- هي زوجة الطبيب.hiya zawjatu aṭ-ṭabīb.She is the wife of the doctor.
- أين زوجة المدير؟ayna zawjatu al-mudīr?Where is the wife of the manager?
- أنا أبحث عن زوجة أخي.ana abḥathu 'an zawjati akhī.I am looking for the wife of my brother.
Example conversation
Ahmad and Nour are talking at a social gathering.
- أحمد Ahmedهل تعرفين زوجة سامي؟hal ta'rifīna zawjata Sāmī?Do you know the wife of Sami?
- نور Nourنعم، هي صديقتي.na'am, hiya ṣadīqatī.Yes, she is my friend.
- أحمد Ahmedهل هي هنا اليوم؟hal hiya hunā al-yawm?Is she here today?
- نور Nourلا، هي في المنزل.lā, hiya fī al-manzil.No, she is at home.
