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What Arabic words are difficult to translate into English?

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Question added by Deleted user
Date Posted: 2013/09/17
Eslam El Nayeal
by Eslam El Nayeal , E-marketing and Web administrator , Asmar Jewelry

Dear Aya, there are many words in the arabic language that are difficult to translate. Qur'an is a clear example, where you can find1 word translated into a whole sentence. In arabic there is more than100 words that means "Love" (هوى، ولع، غرام، عشق، وجد....) while most of them are always translated into one word which is (Love).

Arabic language is known as a rich language, so if the other language is poor in its synonymous, you may encounter this difficulty. 

 

I hope I was helpful to you with my answer, wish you all the best,

Eslam

Menerva Melad
by Menerva Melad , Account Executive, Key Accounts , Graphic Home Company

names of countries

Deleted user
by Deleted user

The word for 'Please'.  

English/American/European/African speakers use the word 'Please' very often.

We hear Shuk'ran (thank you) many times during the day, but rarely the arabic word for 'Please'

 

Mohamed Abdel-Gawad
by Mohamed Abdel-Gawad , Bid Manager / Sr. Business Consultant , Zenith Gulf

terms that explain islam-specific conditions, such as: العدة بعد الطلاق and الظهار

اسماء احمد عبد العظيم رزق رزق
by اسماء احمد عبد العظيم رزق رزق , معلم لغه انجليزيه , مدرسة السادات التجريبه للغات

dear aya i think modern English can translate whatever words in other languages

TAHANI Alansary
by TAHANI Alansary , مساعدة سكرتارية تنفيذية , شركة الجزيرة العربية للسفر والسياحة

.some vegetables and fruits

Haitham Mostafa Mohammed Abd Allateef
by Haitham Mostafa Mohammed Abd Allateef , American Education , Smart City International Schools

Every day we have new words

According to the situation and the meaning we can translate

 

Randa Hassan
by Randa Hassan , Freelance Legal Translator , Centerpoint & CityMax Chains (Dar Al-Bandar International Trading Co. Ltd.)

Arabic words that are difficult to translate into English are generally terms that do not have an equivalent in the target culture/language. In such case we resort to "transliteration" which means writing the Arabic word  in English letters; additionally, in order to explain the meaning of the transliterated word, a translator may insert his comment in a footnote for that purpose. 

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