“machine” in Arabic dialects
noun
How do you say machine across the major spoken Arabic dialects? Compare machine (noun) sense by sense across 5 dialects — Egyptian, Levantine, Gulf, Iraqi, Maghrebi — with English meaning, native script, transliteration and usage.
What does “machine” mean?
noun
- Any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
- An efficient person“the boxer was a magnificent fighting machine”
- An intricate organization that accomplishes its goals efficiently“the war machine”
English definitions from Princeton WordNet.
Quick comparison across dialects
| Dialect | Arabic (machine) | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Egyptian Arabic | مَكَنة | makana |
| Levantine Arabic | آلة | ʾāle |
| Gulf Arabic | مَكِينَة | makīna |
| Iraqi Arabic | ماكينة | mākīna |
| Maghrebi Arabic | ماشينة | māshīna |
Full breakdown by dialect
Egyptian Arabic
| Word (Arabic) | Transliteration | English sense / usage |
|---|---|---|
| مَكَنة | makana | a mechanical or electrical device |
| جهاز | gihāz | an apparatus or device |
Levantine Arabic
| Word (Arabic) | Transliteration | English sense / usage |
|---|---|---|
| آلة | ʾāle | a machine, a tool, an instrument |
| ماكينة | mākīna | a machine (colloquial, from Italian 'macchina') |
Gulf Arabic
| Word (Arabic) | Transliteration | English sense / usage |
|---|---|---|
| مَكِينَة | makīna | a mechanical or electrical device |
| آلة | āla | a tool or instrument |
| جِهاز | jihāz | an apparatus or a device |
Iraqi Arabic
| Word (Arabic) | Transliteration | English sense / usage |
|---|---|---|
| ماكينة | mākīna | a mechanical device (common loanword) |
| آلة | āla | machine, tool, instrument |
| جِهاز | jihāz | a device or apparatus |
Maghrebi Arabic
| Word (Arabic) | Transliteration | English sense / usage |
|---|---|---|
| ماشينة | māshīna | a machine (from French 'machine') |
| آلة | āla | a machine, instrument (Arabic origin) |
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