ساحرة
sāḥira/saː.ħi.ra/
The English word 'witch' is translated into Arabic as ساحرة (sāḥira).
The term refers to a person who uses magic.
Meaning: person who uses magic (noun)
Which one should you use?
The form ساحرة (sāḥira) refers specifically to a female witch, while the masculine form ساحر (sāḥir) refers to a male witch or a 'sorcerer'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, ساحرة is one of the commonly used expressions for 'witch'.
How does it change in a sentence?
ساحرة is the feminine singular form used for a single female witch. The masculine form is ساحر, and the plural form for a group of female witches is ساحرات.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /saː.ħi.ra/. The syllables are sā-ḥi-ra.
Did you know?
- The root of the word, S-H-R, is also related to the word for 'dawn' or the time just before sunrise, linking the idea of magic to the mysterious transitions of light.
- In many Arabic dialects, calling a woman a ساحرة can be a backhanded compliment, implying she is incredibly charming or bewitching in her beauty.
- In some traditional folk beliefs across the Arab world, a ساحرة is feared not just for spells, but for the ability to 'tie' a person's luck or fate through a physical knot.
Examples in context
- هي ساحرة في القصص.hiya saḥira fi al-qiṣaṣ.She is a witch in the stories.
- رأيت ساحرة في الفيلم.ra'aytu saḥira fi al-fīlm.I saw a witch in the movie.
Example conversation
Maryam and Yusuf are discussing a fantasy book.
- مريم Maryamهل تقرأ عن ساحرة؟hal taqra' 'an saḥira?Are you reading about a witch?
- يوسف Youssefنعم، هي ساحرة قوية جداً.na'am, hiya saḥira qawiyya jiddan.Yes, she is a very powerful witch.
- مريم Maryamهل هي ساحرة طيبة؟hal hiya saḥira ṭayyiba?Is she a kind witch?
- يوسف Youssefلا، هي ساحرة شريرة.la, hiya saḥira sharīra.No, she is an evil witch.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ساحرة, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
