ديب
dībeveryday, Egyptian
In Egyptian Arabic "wolf" is ديب (dīb). The Standard Arabic word is ذئب (dhiʾb).
Meaning: wolf (noun)
Ways to say it
| Egyptian | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ديب | dīb | everyday, Egyptian |
| ذئب | dhiʾb | Standard Arabic, formal |
You hear الديب (ed-dīb) in stories, sayings and when people talk about animals. Wolves are not common in everyday Egyptian life.
Which one should you use?
In the Levant and the Gulf people say ذيب (dhīb) for the same animal, so ديب (dīb) is a good sign of the Egyptian form.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Standard Arabic the plural is ذئاب (dhiʾāb).
Did you know?
- In Levantine and Gulf Arabic the same animal is called ذيب (dhīb), which is the form many Arabic songs use.
Examples in context
- الديب بيعوي بالليل.ed-dīb biyʿawwi bil-leil.The wolf howls at night.
- شفت فيلم عن الديب.shuft film ʿan ed-dīb.I watched a film about the wolf.
- الذئاب بتعيش في مجموعات.edh-dhiʾāb biteʿīsh fi magmūʿāt.Wolves live in packs.
Example conversation
Teacher Mrs. Laila talks about animals with a pupil, Zein, in a school in Cairo.
- Zeinيا مس، الديب بيعيش فين؟yā mis, ed-dīb biyʿīsh fēn?Miss, where does the wolf live?
- Lailaفي الغابات والجبال.fi l-ghābāt wi l-gibāl.In forests and mountains.
- Zeinوبياكل إيه؟wi biyākul ēh?And what does it eat?
