Arabic vocabulary
خَفَاءٌobscurity in Arabic
خَفَاءٌ is how you say “obscurity” in Arabic. Hear it pronounced and see it used in a real example sentence from classical texts below.
Root خ ف ي (kh-f-y)noun (verbal noun / maṣdar)Pronounced khafā'
Meaning of obscurity in Arabic
- obscurity, concealment — the state of being hidden, unperceived, or not apparent; the maṣdar of the verb خَفِىَ, 'to be hidden/unapparent'
- a secret; a hidden matter — as in the idiom بَرِحَ الخَفَاءُ, 'the khafā' departed', said when a secret or concealed affair becomes manifest
خَفِىَ, the verb behind this noun, is a classic case of an Arabic word with two contrary senses: it can mean 'to be hidden/unapparent' or, in the reverse sense some grammarians recognize, 'to become apparent'. خَفَاءٌ itself is used for the state of being obscure or concealed, and appears in the set phrase بَرِحَ الخَفَاءُ, said when something once secret has come to light.
Words from the same root
- خَفِىَto be hidden, unperceived, or unapparent (form I verb)
- أَخْفَىto conceal, hide (also used, per some readings, in the contrary sense 'to reveal')
- اِخْتَفَىto hide oneself, become concealed
- خِفَآءٌa covering; that which conceals a thing
- خُفْيَةٌsecretly, covertly, privately
- خَافٍhidden, unapparent (active participle)
Common questions
- How do you say "obscurity" in Arabic?
- خَفَاءٌ (khafā').
- What does the idiom بَرِحَ الخَفَاءُ mean?
- Literally 'the khafā' departed' — it means a hidden matter or secret has become manifest, i.e. the obscurity has lifted.
Definitions synthesised from Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon (E. W. Lane, 1863–1893).
Example sentences
قلّة التَّوْفِيق وَفَسَاد الرَّأْي وخفاء الْحق وَفَسَاد الْقلب
Lack of success, distortion of opinion, obscurity of truth, and corruption of the heart.
وَخَفَاءُ — and obscurity. wa- = 'and'; khafa' means 'hiddenness', leading into the next 'of…' word.
From: Returning to God →
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