عَامِل
ʕāmilmasculine
The English phrase "worker" can be translated into Arabic using several forms. The default form is عَامِل (ʕāmil). Wiktionary also lists عَامِلَة (ʕāmila) and شَغِّيل (šaḡḡīl).
Meaning: person who performs labor (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| عَامِل | ʕāmil | masculine |
| عَامِلَة | ʕāmila | feminine |
| شَغِّيل | šaḡḡīl | masculine |
| شَغِّيلَة | šaḡḡīla | feminine |
The term is used to describe a person who performs labor.
What does it mean word for word?
The word عَامِل is an active participle derived from the root 'ʿ-m-l', which relates to doing or acting.
Which one should you use?
The term عَامِل is the standard, formal way to say worker. In contrast, شَغِّيل is more colloquial.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal contexts, you can use عَامِل or العامل. Another formal alternative is المشتغل, which means "employee" or "employed person." For informal or colloquial situations, you may use شَغِّيل or the colloquial term شغّال.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine plural of the standard word for worker is عَامِلَات.
How do you pronounce it?
ʕāmil
Did you know?
- While عَامِل means 'worker', the same word used in a different grammatical context can mean a 'factor' in mathematics or a 'catalyst' in chemistry.
- In some Arabic dialects, the root of شَغِّيل is used in the phrase شغّلني, which can mean 'he distracted me' or 'he occupied my mind' rather than 'he employed me'.
- In some Levantine dialects, the word شَغِّيل can sometimes be used ironically or affectionately to describe someone who is very industrious or a 'busybody'.
Examples in context
- يُعطى العمال حقوقهم وحماية من التمييز.Workers are given their rights and protected against discrimination.
- يوجد اليوم المشتغلون في القطاع العام والخاص.Today, there are workers in both the public and private sectors.
- لقد قابلت عاملين يعملون في المزرعة.I met workers who are working on the farm.
- بتعرف واحد شغّال في محل السيارات؟Do you know someone who works in the car shop?
- هُوَ عَامِلٌ مُجْتَهِدٌ جِدًّا.huwa 'āmilun mujtahidun jiddan.He is a very hardworking worker.
- بَحَثْنَا عَنْ عَامِلٍ لِإِصْلَاحِ الْمَصْبَحِ.baḥathnā 'an 'āmilin li-iṣlāḥi al-miṣbaḥ.We looked for a worker to fix the lamp.
- هَذَا الْعَامِلُ يَعْمَلُ فِي الْمَصْنَعِ.hādhā al-'āmilu ya'malu fī al-maṣna'.This worker works in the factory.
Example conversation
Nour and Youssef are discussing a construction project at their house.
- نور Nourهَلْ جَاءَ الْعَامِلُ الْيَوْمَ؟hal jā'a al-'āmilu al-yawm?Did the worker come today?
- يوسف Youssefنَعَمْ، هُوَ عَامِلٌ مَاهِرٌ وَجَاءَ مُبَكِّرًا.na'am, huwa 'āmilun māhirun wa jā'a mubakkiran.Yes, he is a skilled worker and arrived early.
- نور Nourهَلْ أَنْهَى عَمَلَهُ؟hal anhā 'amalahu?Did he finish his work?
- يوسف Youssefلَا، لَكِنَّهُ يَعْمَلُ بِسُرْعَةٍ.lā, lākinnahu ya'malu bi-sur'ah.No, but he is working quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “worker” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
