List of Christian terms in Arabic

The following list consists of concepts that are derived from both Christian and Arab tradition, which are expressed as words and phrases in the Arabic language. These terms are included as transliterations, often accompanied by the original Arabic-alphabet orthography. Although Islam is the dominant religion among Arabs, there are a significant number of Arab Christians in regions that were formerly Christian, such as much of the Byzantine empire's lands in the Middle East, so that there are over twenty million Arab Christians living around the world. (Significant populations in Egypt, Lebanon, Brazil, Mexico, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Sudan, Iraq, USA, Canada, UK and Australia.) Christianity has existed in the Arab world since the 1st century. Arabic is written with the Arabic alphabet, and different individuals and Christian groups may transliterate certain Arabic words into the Latin alphabet in various ways.

A

ÃÂAÃÂmÃÂlu r-Rusul (ÃÂ£ÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂ) : The Acts of the Apostles, the fifth book of the Christian New Testament

al-ÃÂb (ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂ¨ÃÂ) : God the Father

al-ÃÂ¿Ahd al-QadÃÂ«m (ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂÃÂÃÂ) : Old Testament

al-ÃÂ¿Ahd al-JadÃÂ«d (ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¬ÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯) : New Testament

AllÃÂh (ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂ) : literally "God"; is also used as a religious term by Arab Muslims and Arab Jews (Jews who speak Arabic use it mostly within their daily discussions, but not within their religious services, which are said in Hebrew).

Roman Catholics in Malta call God Alla in the Maltese language. The word Allah is also used by Christians in predominantly Islamic countries and countries where both faiths exist side by side regularly such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Lebanon, Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, etc.

AiqÃÂ«na (ÃÂ£ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ©) : Icon

As-salamu alaykum (ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ) : is a greeting in Arabic that means "Peace be upon you". The salam is a religious salutation among Muslims and is also used by Arab Christians in place of Shalom in the Hebrew language.

B

BÃÂbÃÂ (ÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ§) : Pope

BÃÂbÃÂ Nuwayl (ÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ§ ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ) : Santa Claus (from French "Papa NoÃÂ«l")

Bismi l-ÃÂbi wa l-Ibni wa r-RÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸Â¥i l-Qudus (ÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂ¨ÃÂ ÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂÃÂ ÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂ, also spelled ÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂ¨ÃÂ ÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂÃÂ ÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂ): "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" (See also: Trinitarian formula, Basmala). Sometimes followed by ÃÂ£ÃÂÃÂ¥ÃÂÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ al-IlÃÂhi l-WÃÂÃ¡Â¸Â¥id "The One God", to emphasize monotheism.

BrÃÂ«tistÃÂntÃÂ« (ÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ) : Protestant (a more foreign-imitating pronunciation is PrÃÂtistÃÂntÃÂ«)

I

Ã¢ÂÂÃÂªdu JamÃÂ«Ã¢ÂÂil-QiddÃÂ«sÃÂ«n (ÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂ ÃÂ¬ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂ) : All Saints' Day

Ã¢ÂÂÃÂªdu l-Ã¢ÂÂAnÃ¡Â¹Â£arah (ÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂµÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂ©) : Pentecost

Ã¢ÂÂÃÂªd al-BurbÃÂra (ÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂ¯ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂ±ÃÂ¨ÃÂ§ÃÂ±ÃÂ©) : Literally "the Feast of Barbara". It is the equivalent of Halloween for the Middle Eastern Christians (who generally do not celebrate said holiday), although it is held on 4 December.

Ã¢ÂÂÃÂªdu l-FiÃ¡Â¹Â£Ã¡Â¸Â¥ (ÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂµÃÂÃÂ) or Ã¢ÂÂÃÂªdu l-QiyÃÂmah (ÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂ©): literally "the Feast of Pesach/Passover" or "Feast of the Resurrection" - Easter

Ã¢ÂÂÃÂªdu l-Jasad (ÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂ ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ¬ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂ¯) : The Catholic feast of Corpus Christi

Ã¢ÂÂÃÂªdu l-MÃÂ«lÃÂd (ÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ¯) : literally "Feast of the Nativity" - Christmas

Ã¢ÂÂÃÂªdu Ã¡Â¹Â£-Ã¡Â¹Â¢uÃ¢ÂÂÃÂ«d (Ã¢ÂÂÃÂªdu Ã¡Â¹Â¢uÃ¢ÂÂÃÂ«dil-MasÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸Â¥) (ÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂµÃÂÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯) : Feast of the Ascension

Sabtu l-AmwÃÂt (ÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ£ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂª) : literally "Sabbath of the Dead" - All Soul's Day

InjÃÂ«l (ÃÂ¥ÃÂÃÂ¬ÃÂÃÂ) : One of the four gospels (from Greek ÃÂÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂ³ÃÂ³ÃÂµÃÂ»ÃÂ¹ÃÂ± "Good News"); Muslims use it in the original sense as the message of Jesus, either only orally transmitted or recorded in a hypothetical scripture, like the Torah and the Quran, containing God's revelations to Jesus. According to them, the gospels partially contain the revealed words or are corrupted copies of the hypothetical original.

IntiqÃÂl al-ÃÂ¿AÃ¡Â¸ÂrÃÂ (ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂ°ÃÂ±ÃÂ§ÃÂ¡) : Assumption of Mary (literally: "Assumption of the Virgin")

K

KanÃÂ«sa (ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂ©) : , similar to the Hebrew Knesset literally "Assembly". See AlcaÃÂ±iz for a Spanish cognate through Mozarabic.

KÃÂrdinÃÂl (ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ±ÃÂ¯ÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ) : Cardinal

KathÃÂ«lÃÂ«kÃÂ« (ÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ«ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ) : Catholic

KÃÂtidrÃÂ'iyyah (ÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ¦ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ©) : Cathedral

al-KitÃÂb al-Muqaddas (ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ¨ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂÃÂÃÂ³) : Bible (literally "the Holy Scripture")

M

Maryamu l-Ã¢ÂÂAdhra' (ÃÂÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂ°ÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ¡): Virgin Mary

al-MasÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸Â¥ (ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂ): Christ or Messiah

al-MasÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸Â¥iyyah (ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ©): Christianity

MasÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸Â¥ÃÂ« (ÃÂÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ): Christian (literally "Messianic")

al-Mazmur (ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ²ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ±): Psalms

MubaÃÂ¡ÃÂ¡ir (ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ´ÃÂÃÂÃÂ±): Christian missionary (positive sense, literally means "carrier of good news")

MunaÃ¡Â¹Â£Ã¡Â¹Â£ir (ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂµÃÂÃÂÃÂ± ): Christian missionary (neutral sense, literally "Christianizer")

N

an-NaÃ¡Â¹Â£ÃÂ«ra (ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂµÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂ©) : Nazareth

NaÃ¡Â¹Â£rÃÂnÃÂ« (ÃÂÃÂÃÂµÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ): A traditional Islamic term for Christians (literally "Nazarene"). Arab Christians prefer MasÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸Â¥ÃÂ« (ÃÂÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ).

NÃÂÃ¡Â¹Â£irÃÂ« (ÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂµÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂÃÂ) : Person from Nazareth (also a follower of Gamal Abdel Nasser)

O

Orthodhoksiyya (ÃÂ£ÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂ«ÃÂÃÂÃÂ°ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ©): Orthodox Christianity

OrthodhoksÃÂ« (ÃÂ£ÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂ«ÃÂÃÂÃÂ°ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂ): Orthodox Christian

Q

Qibti, Qubti (ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ·ÃÂÃÂÃÂ) : Coptic

QiddÃÂ«s, Muqaddas (ÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂÃÂ³ - ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂ³ ) : Saint, holy, sacred

QuddÃÂs (ÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂ§ÃÂ³) : Mass

al-QuddÃÂs al-ÃÂilÃÂhÃÂ« : the Divine Liturgy, the term used predominantly among Orthodox and most Eastern Catholic Christians for the Eucharistic liturgy, corresponding to the Holy Mass of Christians practicing Western or Latin Christian Rites.

R

ar-RÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸Â¥u l-Qudus (ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂ): The Holy Spirit

RuqÃÂd as-Sayyida al-ÃÂ¿AÃ¡Â¸ÂrÃÂÃÂ¾ (ÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ¯ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂ© ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂ°ÃÂ±ÃÂ§ÃÂ¡): the Dormition of the Mother of God

RusÃÂ«l (ÃÂ±ÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂ), pl. Rusul (ÃÂ±ÃÂ³ÃÂ) : Apostle

S

Ã¡Â¹Â¢alÃÂ«b (ÃÂµÃÂÃÂÃÂ¨): Cross

ÃÂ ahÃÂ«d (ÃÂ´ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯) : Martyr (The same term is used in Islamic terminology for the "martyrs of Islam", but the meaning is different) literal meaning of the word shahid is "witness" i.e. witness of god/believer in God.

SimÃ¢ÂÂÃÂnu l-GhayÃÂ«r (ÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂºÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ±): Simon the Zealot

SimÃ¢ÂÂÃÂnu Butrus (ÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ¨ÃÂ·ÃÂ±ÃÂ³): Simon Peter

T

TabÃÂ¡ÃÂ«r () : literally "the Spreading of Good News" - Christian missionary work

TalÃÂmÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸Â al-MasÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸Â¥ () : The Twelve Apostles (literally "Disciples of the Messiah")

TanÃ¡Â¹Â£ÃÂ«r or TaÃ¢ÂÂmÃÂ«d ( or ) : literally "making someone NaÃ¡Â¹Â£rÃÂnÃÂ« i.e. Christian, or baptizing him/her" - To confer the Christian Sacrament(or Mystery) of Baptism ÃÂ³ÃÂ± ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ¯ ÃÂ£ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂÃÂ© Sirr al-Ã¢ÂÂimÃÂd or al-maÃ¢ÂÂmÃÂ«diyyah.

Tajassud () : Incarnation (of Jesus Christ)

ath-ThÃÂlÃÂ«th () : The Holy Trinity

Tawbah (): Repentance

U

ÃÂªrasalÃÂ«m (ÃÂ£ÃÂÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ) : Arabic transliteration from Hebrew of Jerusalem (as opposed to the Islamic Arabic term al-Quds ÃÂ£ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¯ÃÂÃÂ³). Also the official Arabic name for Jerusalem used by the Israeli government.

ÃÂªsquf (ÃÂ£ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ) : Bishop (pl. ÃÂ£ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ©), Archbishop (ÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂ¦ÃÂÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂ£ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ©)

W

WÃÂlidatu l-ÃÂilÃÂhi () : the Theotokos, lit. 'the Birthgiver of God,' the epithet with which Orthodox and most Eastern Catholic Christians use to refer to Mary, the Mother of God.

Y

YasÃÂ«Ã¢ÂÂ (ÃÂÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂ) : Christian Arabic version of the name of Jesus (as opposed to the Islamic Arabic term Isa ÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂ)

YasÃÂ«Ã¢ÂÂu l-MasÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸Â¥ (ÃÂÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂ) : Jesus Christ (literally "Jesus the Messiah")

al-JumÃ¢ÂÂatu l-Ã¡Â¸Â¤azÃÂ«na (ÃÂ£ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¬ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂ©ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ²ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ©): Good Friday Popular usage (literally "Sad Friday")

al-JumÃ¢ÂÂatu l-Ã¢ÂÂAÃ¡ÂºÂÃÂ«ma (ÃÂ£ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¬ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂ©ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂ¸ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ©): Good Friday Official usage (literally "Great Friday")

YahÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸ÂÃÂ al-IsÃ¡Â¸Â«aryÃÂ«Ã¡Â¹ÂÃÂ« (ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ°ÃÂ§ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ¥ÃÂ³ÃÂ®ÃÂ±ÃÂÃÂÃÂ·ÃÂ) : Judas Iscariot

YuÃ¡Â¸Â¥anna (ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ§): Christian Arabic version of the name of John (as opposed to the Islamic Arabic term YaÃ¡Â¸Â¥ya ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ)

Z

ZabÃÂ«r (ÃÂ²ÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂÃÂ±) : The Psalms, in Islam referred to as Zabur, a holy book revealed by God to David. The Christian term is MazÃÂmÃÂ«r ÃÂÃÂ²ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂ±; singular mazmÃÂ«r ÃÂÃÂ²ÃÂÃÂÃÂ±.

External links

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