Arabic vocabulary
أدبmanners in Arabic
أدب is how you say “manners” in Arabic. Hear it pronounced and see it used in real example sentences from classical texts below.
Root ا د ب (ʾ-d-b)nounPronounced adab
Meaning of manners in Arabic
- good manners, refinement, discipline of the mind — the core sense: training in praiseworthy qualities of character
- proper conduct or etiquette within a pursuit — e.g. the discipline observed between a student and a teacher
- polite literature, philology — a later, post-classical extension to the literary and language sciences
Words from the same root
- أَدَّبَto teach someone good manners, discipline
- تَأَدَّبَto become well-mannered, well-educated
- مُؤَدَّبٌwell-disciplined, well-mannered
- أَدِيبٌa person marked by good manners, refinement
- مَأْدُبَةٌa banquet, a feast
Common questions
- How do you say "manners" in Arabic?
- أدب (adab).
- Why does adab, meaning 'manners', come from a root about inviting?
- Lane notes the root's basic sense is 'to invite' (to a banquet); adab was extended to good conduct because it 'invites' a person toward praiseworthy qualities and away from bad ones.
Definitions synthesised from Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon (E. W. Lane, 1863–1893).
Example sentences
النَّفْسُ مَجْبُولَةٌ عَلَى سُوءِ الأَدَبِ
The self is inherently inclined towards poor manners.
الأَدَبِ — manners. 'al-' = 'the'; 'adab' = 'manners, good conduct'; the 'of' word, giving 'poor manners'.
From: Taming the Lower Self →وَالْعَبْدُ مَأْمُورٌ بِمُلازَمَةِ الأَدَبِ
And the servant is commanded to adhere to proper manners.
الأَدَبِ — proper manners. 'al-' = 'the'; 'adab' = 'good manners'; the 'of' word, so 'of manners'.
From: Taming the Lower Self →
Related words
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