Arabic vocabulary
عُجْبconceit in Arabic
عُجْب is how you say “conceit” in Arabic. Hear it pronounced and see it used in a real example sentence from classical texts below.
Root ع ج ب (ʿ-j-b)noun (verbal noun / maṣdar)Pronounced ʿujb
Meaning of conceit in Arabic
- self-conceit, vanity, self-admiration — being excessively pleased with, or impressed by, one's own self or qualities — the substantive corresponding to إِعْجَاب and to أُعْجِبَ بِنَفْسِهِ 'he admired himself, was self-conceited, or vain'
- haughtiness, self-exaltation, pride — the bearing that follows from ʿujb — 'he exalted and magnified himself; was haughty and proud'
Where ʿajab is wonder directed at something outside oneself, ʿujb narrows that same root sense inward: being 'impressed by' one's own self. Lane's ties it to the phrase أُعْجِبَ بِنَفْسِهِ ('he admired, exalted, and was haughty and proud of, himself'), which is why ʿujb denotes self-conceit or vanity rather than neutral wonder.
Words from the same root
- عَجِبَto wonder at something, deem it strange or extraordinary (form I)
- أَعْجَبَto please, delight, or excite admiration in someone (form IV)
- أُعْجِبَ بِـto be struck with admiration by, to be pleased with (passive of form IV)
- مُعْجَبٌself-conceited, vain, pleased with oneself
- مُعْجِبٌpleasing, impressive, admirable
- تَعَجَّبَto wonder at, marvel at (form V)
- عَجَبٌwonder, astonishment (the general verbal noun of ʿajiba)
Common questions
- How do you say "conceit" in Arabic?
- ʿUjb (عُجْب).
- What's the difference between ʿujb (عُجْب) and ʿajab (عَجَب)?
- Both come from the root ʿ-j-b 'to wonder,' but ʿajab is wonder or astonishment at something outside oneself, while ʿujb is that same admiration turned inward — being pleased or impressed with one's own self, i.e. self-conceit or vanity.
Definitions synthesised from Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon (E. W. Lane, 1863–1893).
Example sentences
فقد استخرج منك داء العجب، وألبست خلعة العبودية
For it extracted the disease of conceit from you, and clothed you in the garment of servitude.
العُجْبِ — of conceit. al- = 'the'; ujb means 'self-admiration, conceit' — the 'of…' word: 'of conceit'.
From: Adam's Descent →
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