Arabic vocabulary
مُرٌّbitter in Arabic
مُرٌّ is how you say “bitter” in Arabic. Hear it pronounced and see it used in a real example sentence from classical texts below.
Root م ر ر (m-r-r)adjectivePronounced murr
Meaning of bitter in Arabic
- bitter (taste), the opposite of sweet — Basic sense; the root's causative verbs (make bitter) are built directly on this adjective.
- harsh, grievous (of a misfortune or period of time) — Figurative extension noted in the lexicon alongside مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ, 'a calamity came upon him.'
مُرّ is the plain adjective for a bitter taste, standing opposite 'sweet.' It shares its root with the causative verbs مرّرهُ and امرّهُ, both meaning 'to make bitter,' showing the direct link between the quality and the act of causing it.
Words from the same root
- مَرَّto pass, pass by, go on, proceed
- مرّرهُto make (something) bitter, intensively
- مارّهُto pass along together with someone
- امرّهُto make pass; also, to make bitter; also, to twist (a rope or thread) tightly
- مِرَّةٌbile, gall
Common questions
- How do you say "bitter" in Arabic?
- مُرّ (murr).
- What root does مُرّ come from?
- The triliteral (geminate) root م-ر-ر, whose base verb مَرَّ (marra) means 'to pass, go by' — the same root that gives مِرَّة (bile, gall) and the causative verbs 'to make bitter.'
Definitions synthesised from Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon (E. W. Lane, 1863–1893).
Example sentences
وإن غرست شَجَرَة الجهل والهوى كان الثمر مرًّا
If the tree of ignorance and desire is planted, the fruit will be bitter.
مُرًّا — bitter. murr means 'bitter'; the '-an' ending — the predicate after 'kana' ('will be bitter').
From: Knowledge, Reverence, Obedience →
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