عَبَدَ
ʕabada
The English verb 'worship' can be translated into Arabic, with the default form being عَبَدَ (ʕabada). Wiktionary also lists سَجَدَ (sajada).
Meaning: honor and adore, especially as a deity (verb)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| عَبَدَ | ʕabada |
| سَجَدَ | sajada |
The verb عَبَدَ is used to describe the act of honoring and adoring a deity. If you wish to refer to the noun for the devotion accorded to a deity or a sacred object, use عِبَادَة.
Which one should you use?
While عَبَدَ refers to the general act of worship or servitude to a deity, سَجَدَ specifically describes the physical action of prostrating oneself, which involves bowing down with the forehead to the ground during worship.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form عَبَدَ is the third-person masculine singular past tense, meaning 'he worshiped'. The present tense form of this verb is يَعْبُدُ (he worships). From this verb, you can also derive the noun عَابِد, which means 'a worshiper'.
How do you pronounce it?
ʕabada
Did you know?
- The word عَبْد (servant) is not just a descriptor of status but is a core component of many popular names, such as عبد الله which translates to 'servant of God'.
- In poetic Arabic literature, the word عَابِد (worshiper) can describe a person who is completely captivated or 'enslaved' by romantic love.
- The root of the verb عَبَدَ is linked to the ancient concept of 'cultivating' or 'working the land'.
Examples in context
- أحب أداء العبادة بتفانٍ وتمعن.I love to perform worship with dedication and contemplation.
Example conversation
Omar and Layla are discussing an ancient civilization in a history book.
- عمر Omarانظري يا ليلى، ماذا عَبَدَ هؤلاءِ الناسُ؟Unzuri ya Layla, madha abada ha'ula'i an-nas?Look Layla, what did these people worship?
- ليلى Laylaيبدو أنهم عَبَدوا الطبيعةَ.Yabdu annahum abadu at-tabi'ata.It seems that they worshipped nature.
- عمر Omarهذا أمرٌ مثيرٌ للاهتمامِ حقاً.Hadha amrun muthirun lil-ihtimam haqquan.That is truly interesting.
- ليلى Laylaنعم، التاريخُ مليءٌ بالقصصِ الغريبةِ.Na'am, at-tarikhu mali'un bil-qisasi al-ghariba.Yes, history is full of strange stories.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “worship” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
