English → Arabic
darkness in Arabic
- Pronunciation
- ẓulmah
- Arabizi
zhlmeh- Type
- noun · feminine
- Root
- ظ ل م
Other meanings
- عَتْمَة ʿatmah — gloom · gloom
How to use it
The word 'ẓulmah' (ظلمة) is the most common word for darkness. 'ʿatmah' (عتمة) can also mean darkness, often implying a deeper or more oppressive gloom.
Example sentences
-
خَرَجَ مِنَ الظُّلْمَةِ إِلَى النُّورِ.
kharaja mina ẓ-ẓulmati ilá n-nūri.
He came out of the darkness into the light.
-
كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ ظُلْمَةً شَدِيدَةً.
kānat il-laylatu ẓulmatan shadīdah.
The night was very dark.
-
أَحَاطَتْ بِهِ ظُلْمَةُ الْيَأْسِ.
aḥāṭat bihi ẓulmatu l-yaʾsi.
The darkness of despair surrounded him.
Examples from real texts
Sentences taken from published bilingual texts (subtitles, documents). They show the word in context and are not reviewed one by one.
Darkness at Darfur
الظلام في دارفور
Veiled in darkness,
« ترهقها » تغشاها « قترة » ظلمة وسواد.
Gaza is in darkness.
إن غزة في الظلام.
enveloped by darkness.
« ترهقها » تغشاها « قترة » ظلمة وسواد.
Nor darkness and light,
« ولا الظلمات » الكفر « ولا النور » الإيمان.
Light in Congo’s Darkness?
بصيص من نور في ظلام الكونغو
o 'erspread with darkness --
« ترهقها » تغشاها « قترة » ظلمة وسواد.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn't overcome it.
والنور يضيء في الظلمة والظلمة لم تدركه
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
والنور يضيء في الظلمة والظلمة لم تدركه
Life evolved under conditions of light and darkness, light and then darkness.
تتطوّر الحياة في ظل ظروف الضّوء والظّلام، ضوءٌ ثم يليه الظّلام.
A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.
ارض ظلام مثل دجى ظل الموت وبلا ترتيب واشراقها كالدجى
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
واما من يبغض اخاه فهو في الظلمة وفي الظلمة يسلك ولا يعلم اين يمضي لان الظلمة اعمت عينيه
Questions and answers
What is the difference between 'ẓulmah' and 'ʿatmah'?
'Ẓulmah' is the general term for darkness. 'ʿatmah' can imply a more intense or complete absence of light, like pitch black.
Can 'darkness' be used metaphorically?
Yes, like 'darkness of despair' (ظلمة اليأس - ẓulmat al-yaʾs) or 'darkness of ignorance' (ظلمة الجهل - ẓulmat al-jahl).
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