opposite in Arabic: مقابل (muqābil) – meaning, pronunciation, examples

Other meanings

عَكْس ʿaks — opposite · opposite
مُنَاقِض munāqiḍ — contrary · contrary

How to use it

The word 'opposite' can be translated in several ways depending on the context. 'مقابل' (muqābil) is often used for physical location. 'عكس' (ʿaks) is used for concepts or ideas that are contrary. 'مناقض' (munāqiḍ) means contradictory or contrary.

Example sentences

البيت الْمُقَابِلُ لِبَيْتِنَا جَمِيلٌ.

al-baytu l-muqābilu li-baytinā jamīlun.

The house opposite ours is beautiful.
هَذَا هُوَ الْعَكْسُ تَمَامًا لِمَا قُلْتُهُ.

hādhā huwa l-ʿaksu tamāman li-mā qultuhu.

This is the exact opposite of what I said.
أَفْعَالُهُ كَانَتْ مُنَاقِضَةً لِكَلامِهِ.

afʿāluhu kānat munāqiḍatan li-kalāmihi.

His actions were opposite to his words.

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.

The opposite is true.

بل إن العكس هو الصحيح.

We now need the opposite.

ونحن الآن في احتياج إلى العكس تماما.

But the opposite is true.

بيد أن العكس هو الصحيح.

I can't say the opposite.

لا أستطيع أن أقول العكس.

The opposite is also true.

والعكس أيضاً صحيح.

Education does the opposite.

أما التعليم فإنه يفعل العكس تماما.

Indeed, the opposite is true.

بل إن العكس هو الصحيح.

But the opposite is happening.

ولكن ما يحدث الآن هو العكس تماما.

Sami was the complete opposite.

كان سامي على العكس من ذلك تمامًا.

China has the opposite problem.

وتواجه الصين مشكلة مختلفة.

What's the opposite of terrorism?

وماهو نقيض الإرهاب؟

Unfortunately, the opposite is true.

من المؤسف أن العكس هو الصحيح.

Questions and answers

When do I use 'مقابل' vs 'عكس'?

'مقابل' is typically used for things that are physically across from each other, like buildings or streets. 'عكس' is used for abstract concepts, ideas, or situations that are contrary to each other.

Can 'opposite' be used as a verb?

In English, 'opposite' can sometimes function like a verb (e.g., 'to opposite an idea'). In Arabic, the translations provided are primarily adjectives or nouns, and you would use different verbs to express the idea of opposing something.