July 20, 2025Directions (اتجاهات)
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Nouns that describe spatial or geographical directions الاتجاهات (al-ittiǧāhāt) such as north, south, east, west, right, and left.
They are not true adverbs, but they are often used in adverbial expressions with prepositions like:
- إِلَى (to / towards)
- مِنْ (from)
- فِي (in)
- نَحْوَ (towards)
Main Directions (الاتجاهات الرئيسية)
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| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning | Example |
|---|
| شَمَال | shamāl | north | ذَهَبَ إِلى الشَّمَالِ – He went to the north. |
| جَنُوب | janūb | south | سَافَرَ إِلى الجَنُوبِ – He travelled to the south. |
| شَرْق | sharq | east | الشَّمْسُ تَطْلُعُ مِنَ الشَّرْقِ – The sun rises from the east. |
| غَرْب | gharb | west | تَغْرُبُ فِي الغَرْبِ – It sets in the west. |
%% Mermaid flowchart diagram — compass
flowchart TB
style CENTER fill:#fff,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
N[شَمَال<br/>North] -->|↑| CENTER((●))
S[جَنُوب<br/>South] -->|↓| CENTER
W[غَرْب<br/>West] -->|←| CENTER
E[شَرْق<br/>East] -->|→| CENTER
CENTER --> R[يَمِين<br/>Right]
CENTER --> L[يَسَار<br/>Left]
classDef dir fill:#f2f8ff,stroke:#2b6cb0;
class N,S,W,E,R,L dir;
↔️ Horizontal Directions (الاتجاهات الجانبية)
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| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning | Example |
|---|
| يَمِين | yamīn | right | الجَانِبُ اليَمِين – The right side |
| يَسَار / شِمَال | yasār / shimāl | left | الجَانِبُ اليَسَار – The left side |
💡 Note: Both يَسَار and شِمَال mean “left,” though يَسَار is more common in Modern Standard Arabic.
June 28, 2025 Proverbs and Idioms
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الأَمْثَال وَالتَّعَابِير العَرَبِيَّة
Arabic uses many short expressions that carry deep meanings.
Some are general proverbs, while others are Islamic expressions commonly used in daily speech.
Part 1: General Arabic Proverbs & Idioms
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These are cultural expressions used in everyday conversation.
- الصَّبْرُ مِفْتَاحُ الفَرَج
Patience is the key to relief.
Used when encouraging someone to stay patient during difficulty.
- مَنْ جَدَّ وَجَد
Whoever strives, succeeds.
Used to motivate effort and hard work.
- كُلُّ تَأْخِيرٍ فِيهِ خَيْر
Every delay has good in it.
Said when something doesn’t happen as expected.
- اليَوْمَ لَكَ وَغَدًا عَلَيْكَ
Today it’s for you, tomorrow against you.
Life changes; don’t be arrogant or hopeless.
- عَلَى قَدِّ لِحَافِكَ مَدَّ رِجْلَيْكَ
Stretch your legs according to your blanket.
Live within your means.
- لِكُلِّ مُجْتَهِدٍ نَصِيب
Everyone who strives gets a share.
Effort is always rewarded in some way.
- دَقَّة بِدَقَّة
Tit for tat / action for action.
Used when actions are repaid in kind.
- لَا نَاقَةَ لِي فِيهَا وَلَا جَمَل
I have neither a camel nor a she-camel in it.
Meaning: It has nothing to do with me.
- ضَرْبُ عُصْفُورَيْنِ بِحَجَرٍ وَاحِد
To kill two birds with one stone.
Achieving two goals with one action.
- الطُّيُورُ عَلَى أَشْكَالِهَا تَقَع
Birds of a feather flock together.
People with similar traits stick together.
- القِرْدُ بِعَيْنِ أُمِّهِ غَزَال
A monkey is a gazelle in his mother’s eyes.
Parents see their children as perfect.
- أَنَا فِي وَادٍ وَأَنْتَ فِي وَادٍ
I am in a valley and you are in a valley.
We are not on the same wavelength.
Part 2: Islamic Expressions & Proverbs
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These are phrases rooted in Islamic belief and commonly used by Muslims.