عَالَم
ʕālammasculine
The English word "world" is translated into Arabic as عَالَم (ʕālam). Wiktionary also lists دُنْيَا (dunyā).
Meaning: inhabited planet (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| عَالَم | ʕālam | masculine |
| دُنْيَا | dunyā |
عَالَم is the standard term used when discussing the physical world, the universe or a specific field of study, such as the world of science.
Which one should you use?
While عَالَم refers to the world in a general or scientific sense, دُنْيَا specifically refers to the material, earthly or temporal world as opposed to the afterlife.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the word "world" can be expressed as الدنيا.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of عَالَم is عَوَالِم. The word دُنْيَا is a feminine noun that is often used in a singular sense to represent the entire earthly realm, but its plural form is دُنَى.
How do you pronounce it?
ʕālam
Did you know?
- In Egyptian Arabic, الدنيا is often used to describe the weather, such as saying 'the world is raining' to mean it is raining outside.
- The word دُنْيَا is derived from the root meaning 'near' or 'closest', reflecting the belief that the earthly world is the nearest reality compared to the distant afterlife.
- The word عَالَم shares a root with the concept of 'sign' or 'evidence', suggesting that the world itself is a sign of a greater creator.
Examples in context
- أحب أن أستكشف الدنياI love to explore the world
- هَذَا الْعَالَمُ كَبِيرٌ جِدًّا.hādhā al-'ālamu kabīrun jiddan.This world is very big.
- يُوجَدُ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْعَجَائِبِ فِي الْعَالَمِ.yūjadu kathīrun mina al-'ajā'ibi fī al-'ālam.There are many wonders in the world.
- نَحْنُ نَعِيشُ فِي عَالَمٍ مُتَغَيِّرٍ.naḥnu na'īshu fī 'ālamin mutaghayyirin.We live in a changing world.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “world” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
