Arabic vocabulary
عِزّhonor in Arabic
عِزّ is how you say “honor” in Arabic. Hear it pronounced and see it used in real example sentences from classical texts below.
Root ع ز ز (ʿ-z-z)noun (verbal noun / maṣdar)Pronounced ʿizz
Meaning of honor in Arabic
- might, power, strength — The primary sense of ʿizz as the verbal noun of ʿazza, 'he was/became mighty, potent, powerful, or strong.'
- honor, glory, high rank, nobility — From ʿazza also meaning to become elevated in rank or condition — noble, honorable, glorious, illustrious.
- invincibility; being unconquerable, unyielding — Lane glosses ʿizz here as resisting or withstanding — being indomitable, not to be overcome.
ʿIzz denotes might or power that shows itself as high standing, honor, or the state of being unconquerable — the opposite of lowliness. It appears in the common phrase ʿazza wa jalla ('to Whom belong might and majesty'), used after mentioning God.
Words from the same root
- عَزَّto be/become mighty, powerful, strong; also to rise in rank, become noble or glorious
- عِزَّةٌmight, power (a related verbal noun); also disdain, or being unconquerable
- تعزّزto make oneself mighty, to strengthen oneself
- عازّهُto vie or contend with someone to overcome them (in argument)
- عَزِيزٌmighty, powerful; also dear, highly esteemed, or rare/scarce
- عَزُوزٌa she-camel or ewe narrow in the orifices of the teats, hard to milk
- عَزٌّovercoming, conquering (verbal noun of 'he overcame him')
Common questions
- How do you say "honor" in Arabic?
- عِزّ (ʿizz) — it denotes might, power, and high standing, the state opposite to lowliness.
- What does the Arabic root ʿ-z-z mean?
- It carries the core sense 'to be mighty, powerful, strong,' extending to being high in rank, honored, rare/hard to find, and unconquerable.
Definitions synthesised from Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon (E. W. Lane, 1863–1893).
Example sentences
فصل إيّاك والمعاصي فإنها أزالت عزّ اسجدوا، وأخرجت إقطاع اسكن يا آدم
Beware of sins, for they removed the honor of 'bow down,' and expelled the estate of 'dwell, O Adam.'
عِزَّ — honor. izz means 'honor, might'; the object of 'removed' (object form), heading an 'of…' phrase with the quoted command.
From: Adam's Descent →كفى بك عزّا أَنَّك لَهُ عبد،
Sufficient for you as honor that you are His servant,
عِزًّا — as honor. izz means 'honor, might'; the '-an' ending — 'as honor' (what suffices for you).
From: Seeds and Streams of Deeds →وَإِذا تجلى بِصِفَات الْعِزّ والكبرياء
Related words
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