بَحْر
بَحْر in 30 Sekunden
- Means 'sea' or 'large body of saltwater'.
- Masculine noun, plural is 'bihaar' or 'buhoor'.
- Used metaphorically for vast knowledge or abundance.
- Root b-h-r means vastness or expansion.
- Literal Meaning
- The literal meaning refers strictly to the geographical feature of a sea or ocean, a massive body of saltwater.
Sentence بَحْر العَرَب كَبِير جِدّاً.
- Metaphorical Usage
- Used to describe vast quantities of abstract concepts like knowledge, generosity, or even sadness.
Sentence هُوَ بَحْر فِي العِلْم.
- Cultural Significance
- The sea represents both a source of life and sustenance, as well as a powerful, sometimes dangerous force of nature in Arabic literature and folklore.
Sentence نَحْنُ نُحِبُّ الذَّهَابَ إِلَى الـ بَحْر فِي الصَّيْف.
Sentence يَقَعُ لُبْنَان عَلَى الـ بَحْر الأَبْيَضِ المُتَوَسِّط.
Sentence دَرَسْتُ عِلْمَ العَرُوضِ وَعَرَفْتُ بُحُور الشِّعْر.
- Adjective Agreement
- Always use masculine adjectives. For example, say 'bahr kabeer' (a big sea) or 'al-bahr al-kabeer' (the big sea).
Sentence هَذَا بَحْر جَمِيلٌ جِدّاً.
- Common Prepositions
- Use 'fi' for inside the water, 'ila' for direction towards it, and 'ala' for location on its shore.
Sentence سَأُسَافِرُ إِلَى الـ بَحْر غَداً.
- Associated Verbs
- Learn verbs like sabaha (swim), abhara (sail), and ghariqa (drown) to build comprehensive sentences.
Sentence السَّفِينَةُ تُبْحِرُ فِي الـ بَحْر العَمِيق.
Sentence مَشَيْنَا عَلَى شَاطِئِ الـ بَحْر عِنْدَ الغُرُوب.
Sentence تَتَلَوَّثُ الـ بِحَار بِسَبَبِ البِلَاسْتِيك.
- Everyday Conversations
- Frequently used when discussing summer holidays, weekend getaways, and local weather patterns.
Sentence الجَوُّ حَارٌّ، لِنَذْهَبْ إِلَى الـ بَحْر.
- News and Media
- A critical vocabulary word for understanding reports on geopolitics, trade, and environmental issues.
Sentence أَفَادَتِ الأَخْبَارُ بِوُقُوعِ حَادِثٍ فِي الـ بَحْر الأَحْمَر.
- Music and Poetry
- Used metaphorically to express deep emotions, vastness, and the unpredictable nature of love and life.
Sentence حُبُّكِ مِثْلُ الـ بَحْر لَا نِهَايَةَ لَهُ.
Sentence أَكَلْنَا ثِمَارَ الـ بَحْر فِي المَطْعَم.
Sentence ذُكِرَ الـ بَحْر فِي القُرْآنِ الكَرِيمِ عِدَّةَ مَرَّات.
- Preposition Errors
- Do not use 'ala' (on) when you mean 'fi' (in) for swimming. Reserve 'ala' for being physically located on the coast or shore.
Sentence أَنَا أَسْبَحُ فِي الـ بَحْر (Correct) vs أَنَا أَسْبَحُ عَلَى البَحْر (Incorrect).
- Plural Adjective Agreement
- Always use a feminine singular adjective when modifying the plural forms 'bihaar' or 'buhoor'.
Sentence الـ بِحَار وَاسِعَةٌ (Correct) vs البِحَار وَاسِعُونَ (Incorrect).
- Vocabulary Confusion
- Ensure you distinguish between bahr (sea/ocean), nahr (river), and buhayra (lake).
Sentence نَهْرُ النِّيلِ لَيْسَ بَحْراً.
Sentence يَجِبُ نُطْقُ حَرْفِ الحَاءِ بِوُضُوحٍ فِي كَلِمَةِ بَحْر.
Sentence المُحِيطُ الهَادِئُ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ أَيِّ بَحْر.
- Ocean vs. Sea
- Use 'muheet' for the major global oceans (Atlantic, Pacific) and 'bahr' for smaller, enclosed bodies of water (Mediterranean, Red).
Sentence المُحِيطُ الأَطْلَسِيُّ يَرْبِطُ بَيْنَ قَارَّاتٍ عِدَّة، وَلَيْسَ مُجَرَّدَ بَحْر صَغِير.
- Classical Synonym
- 'Yamm' is a formal, classical synonym used primarily in religious and poetic contexts.
Sentence أُلْقِيَ مُوسَى فِي الـ يَمّ كَمَا جَاءَ فِي القِصَّة.
- Diminutive Form
- 'Buhayra' means lake, literally translating to 'little sea'.
Sentence هَذِهِ بُحَيْرَةٌ عَذْبَةٌ وَلَيْسَتْ بَحْراً مَالِحاً.
Sentence جَلَسْنَا عَلَى الشَّاطِئِ نُرَاقِبُ أَمْوَاجَ الـ بَحْر.
Sentence سَافَرْنَا بَرّاً ثُمَّ أَكْمَلْنَا الرِّحْلَةَ عَبْرَ الـ بَحْر.
How Formal Is It?
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Wusstest du?
Because the root means 'vastness', a dictionary in Arabic is called a 'Qamoos' (ocean) or 'Muheet' (ocean), and sometimes 'Bahr', because it contains a vast expanse of words!
Aussprachehilfe
- Pronouncing the 'ح' (ħ) as a soft English 'h' (هـ). This makes it sound like 'bahr' (with a soft h), which is incorrect.
- Pronouncing the 'r' (ر) as a hard, retroflex American 'r'. It should be a tapped or rolled 'r'.
- Adding a vowel sound between the 'ح' and the 'ر', saying 'ba-har'. It should be one crisp syllable: 'baħr'.
- Elongating the 'a' vowel to make it sound like 'baaaahr'. The vowel is short.
- Confusing the pronunciation with 'barr' (land) by missing the 'ح' sound entirely.
Schwierigkeitsgrad
Very easy to read. Only three letters, completely phonetic. The only slight difficulty is recognizing the broken plural forms.
Easy to write. The letters connect simply. Must remember to write the 'ح' correctly.
Moderate difficulty due to the 'ح' (Haa) sound. English speakers often struggle to produce this pharyngeal sound accurately.
Generally easy to hear, but in fast speech, the 'ح' might be swallowed or confused with 'هـ' by untrained ears.
Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest
Voraussetzungen
Als Nächstes lernen
Fortgeschritten
Wichtige Grammatik
Non-human Plural Agreement: Broken plurals of non-human nouns (like bihaar) are treated as feminine singular.
البِحَارُ وَاسِعَةٌ (The seas are vast - 'waasi'a' is feminine singular).
Idafa (Genitive Construction): When combining two nouns to show possession or relationship, the first noun loses its definite article.
شَاطِئُ البَحْرِ (The shore of the sea - 'shati'' has no 'al').
Prepositions of Location: Use 'fi' for inside a 3D space (in the water) and 'ala' for a surface (on the coast).
أَسْبَحُ فِي البَحْرِ وَأَجْلِسُ عَلَى الشَّاطِئ.
Nisba Adjective (Relational Adjective): Add 'iyy' (masculine) or 'iyya' (feminine) to a noun to make it an adjective.
بَحْر (sea) -> بَحْرِيّ (marine/naval).
Form V Verbs for Deep Action: Adding 'ta' and doubling the middle root letter often implies doing something deeply or thoroughly.
بَحْر (sea) -> تَبَحَّرَ (to delve deeply into a subject).
Beispiele nach Niveau
هَذَا بَحْر.
This is a sea.
Basic equational sentence with a demonstrative pronoun and an indefinite noun.
البَحْرُ أَزْرَق.
The sea is blue.
Definite noun subject followed by an indefinite adjective predicate.
أَنَا أُحِبُّ البَحْر.
I love the sea.
The word is the direct object of the verb 'uhibbu', taking a fatha (accusative case).
البَحْرُ كَبِير.
The sea is big.
Simple subject-predicate sentence with a masculine adjective.
نَحْنُ فِي البَحْر.
We are in the sea.
Use of the preposition 'fi' (in) indicating location inside the water.
أَذْهَبُ إِلَى البَحْر.
I go to the sea.
Use of the preposition 'ila' (to) indicating direction.
مَاءُ البَحْرِ مَالِح.
The sea water is salty.
Simple Idafa (genitive) construction: 'water of the sea'.
البَحْرُ جَمِيل.
The sea is beautiful.
Basic descriptive sentence.
سَأُسَافِرُ إِلَى البَحْرِ فِي الصَّيْف.
I will travel to the sea in the summer.
Future tense verb with a prepositional phrase indicating time.
البِحَارُ وَاسِعَةٌ جِدّاً.
The seas are very vast.
Plural noun 'bihaar' taking a feminine singular adjective 'waasi'a'.
يُوجَدُ سَمَكٌ كَثِيرٌ فِي البَحْر.
There are many fish in the sea.
Use of 'yoojadu' (there is/are) with a prepositional phrase of location.
مَشَيْتُ عَلَى شَاطِئِ البَحْر.
I walked on the seashore.
Past tense verb with an Idafa construction following a preposition.
البَحْرُ الأَحْمَرُ دَافِئ.
The Red Sea is warm.
Specific geographical name using an adjective as part of the proper noun.
لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ السِّبَاحَةَ فِي البَحْر.
I cannot swim in the sea.
Negative ability sentence followed by a verbal noun (masdar).
أَمْوَاجُ البَحْرِ عَالِيَةٌ اليَوْم.
The sea waves are high today.
Idafa construction as the subject, with a feminine singular predicate.
بَيْتِي قَرِيبٌ مِنَ البَحْر.
My house is close to the sea.
Use of the preposition 'min' (from) after the adjective 'qareeb' (close).
تَلَوُّثُ البَحْرِ مُشْكِلَةٌ بِيئِيَّةٌ خَطِيرَة.
Sea pollution is a serious environmental problem.
Complex subject using Idafa, followed by a noun-adjective predicate.
تَعْتَمِدُ المَدِينَةُ عَلَى صَيْدِ الأَسْمَاكِ مِنَ البَحْر.
The city relies on fishing from the sea.
Verb taking the preposition 'ala', followed by an Idafa and another prepositional phrase.
أَبْحَرَتِ السَّفِينَةُ فِي عُرْضِ البَحْر.
The ship sailed into the open sea.
Use of the derived verb 'abhara' and the phrase ''urd al-bahr' (open sea).
يُعْتَبَرُ البَحْرُ الأَبْيَضُ المُتَوَسِّطُ مَرْكَزاً لِلتِّجَارَة.
The Mediterranean Sea is considered a center for trade.
Passive verb 'yu'tabaru' followed by a complex proper noun.
غَرِقَ القَارِبُ فِي البَحْرِ بِسَبَبِ العَاصِفَة.
The boat sank in the sea because of the storm.
Past tense narrative sentence indicating cause and effect.
مُسْتَوَى سَطْحِ البَحْرِ يَرْتَفِعُ بِاسْتِمْرَار.
The sea level is rising continuously.
Complex Idafa 'mustawa sath al-bahr' (level of the surface of the sea).
قَضَيْنَا عُطْلَةً رَائِعَةً عَلَى سَاحِلِ البَحْر.
We spent a wonderful holiday on the sea coast.
Use of 'sahil' (coast) in an Idafa construction.
يَخَافُ بَعْضُ النَّاسِ مِنَ أَعْمَاقِ البَحْر.
Some people are afraid of the depths of the sea.
Verb 'yakhaafu' taking the preposition 'min', followed by an Idafa.
هَذَا المَبْلَغُ مُجَرَّدُ قَطْرَةٍ فِي بَحْر.
This amount is just a drop in the ocean.
Use of a common idiom to express insignificance.
كَانَ العَالِمُ بَحْراً فِي المَعْرِفَةِ وَالأَدَب.
The scholar was a sea of knowledge and literature.
Metaphorical use of the word to indicate vastness or abundance.
تُوَاجِهُ الدُّوَلُ السَّاحِلِيَّةُ تَحَدِّيَاتٍ بِسَبَبِ ارْتِفَاعِ مَنْسُوبِ البَحْر.
Coastal countries face challenges due to the rise in sea level.
Advanced vocabulary 'mansoob' (level) and complex sentence structure.
تَبْحَثُ الشَّرِكَاتُ عَنِ النِّفْطِ فِي قَاعِ البَحْر.
Companies search for oil in the seabed.
Use of 'qa'' (bottom/bed) in an industrial context.
يُشَكِّلُ البَحْرُ حَاجِزاً طَبِيعِيّاً بَيْنَ القَارَّتَيْن.
The sea forms a natural barrier between the two continents.
Use of the word as an active subject performing a geographical function.
تَزْخَرُ بِحَارُ العَالَمِ بِتَنَوُّعٍ بِيُولُوجِيٍّ مُذْهِل.
The world's seas abound with amazing biological diversity.
Advanced verb 'tazkharu' (abounds) with the plural form 'bihaar'.
لَقَدْ تَبَحَّرَ فِي دِرَاسَةِ التَّارِيخِ الإِسْلَامِيّ.
He delved deeply into the study of Islamic history.
Use of the derived Form V verb 'tabahhara' meaning to go deep into a subject.
تَعَرَّضَتِ السَّفِينَةُ لِقَرْصَنَةٍ فِي عُرْضِ البَحْر.
The ship was subjected to piracy in the open sea.
Advanced vocabulary 'qarsana' (piracy) combined with a maritime phrase.
يُعَدُّ عِلْمُ العَرُوضِ وَبُحُورِ الشِّعْرِ مِنْ أَعْقَدِ العُلُومِ اللُّغَوِيَّة.
The science of prosody and poetic meters (seas) is considered one of the most complex linguistic sciences.
Use of the plural 'buhoor' in its specialized literary sense.
تَتَضَارَبُ الأَمْوَاجُ فِي بَحْرِ الحَيَاةِ كَمَا تَتَضَارَبُ فِي المُحِيطَات.
The waves clash in the sea of life just as they clash in the oceans.
Complex metaphorical sentence drawing a parallel between nature and human experience.
تُشِيرُ المُعَاهَدَاتُ الدَّوْلِيَّةُ إِلَى حُقُوقِ المِلَاحَةِ فِي أَعَالِي البِحَار.
International treaties refer to navigation rights in the high seas.
Legal and diplomatic register using the phrase 'a'aali al-bihaar' (high seas).
وَقَفَ الشَّاعِرُ أَمَامَ البَحْرِ يَسْتَلْهِمُ مِنْهُ قَصَائِدَهُ الخَالِدَة.
The poet stood before the sea, drawing inspiration from it for his immortal poems.
Literary narrative style with advanced vocabulary like 'yastalhimu' (draws inspiration).
إِنَّ اللُّغَةَ العَرَبِيَّةَ بَحْرٌ لَا سَاحِلَ لَهُ.
The Arabic language is a sea with no shore.
A famous classical proverb using absolute negation 'la sahila lahu'.
تَلْعَبُ المَضَايِقُ البَحْرِيَّةُ دَوْراً اسْتِرَاتِيجِيّاً فِي الجِيُوسِيَاسِيَّةِ العَالَمِيَّة.
Maritime straits play a strategic role in global geopolitics.
Use of the relational adjective 'bahriyya' (maritime/naval) in a geopolitical context.
اِسْتَخْرَجَ الغَوَّاصُونَ اللُّؤْلُؤَ مِنْ قَاعِ البَحْرِ فِي الخَلِيج.
The divers extracted pearls from the seabed in the Gulf.
Historical and cultural context using specific vocabulary like 'ghawwasoon' (divers).
تَتَمَيَّزُ النُّظُمُ الإِيكُولُوجِيَّةُ البَحْرِيَّةُ بِحَسَاسِيَّةٍ بَالِغَةٍ لِلتَّغَيُّرِ المُنَاخِيّ.
Marine ecosystems are characterized by extreme sensitivity to climate change.
Academic and scientific register using complex noun phrases.
قَالَ ابْنُ مَنْظُورٍ فِي لِسَانِ العَرَبِ إِنَّ البَحْرَ سُمِّيَ بِذَلِكَ لِسَعَتِهِ وَانْبِسَاطِه.
Ibn Manzur said in Lisan al-Arab that the sea was named as such due to its vastness and expanse.
Direct quotation from a classical dictionary explaining etymology.
تَتَجَلَّى عَظَمَةُ الخَالِقِ فِي هَذَا الخِضَمِّ المُتَلَاطِمِ الَّذِي نُسَمِّيهِ البَحْر.
The greatness of the Creator is manifested in this crashing vastness that we call the sea.
Highly elevated literary and theological register using words like 'khidamm' (vast ocean).
لَمْ يَكُنْ عِلْمُهُ مُجَرَّدَ حِفْظٍ، بَلْ كَانَ تَبَحُّراً فِي أُصُولِ المَسَائِلِ وَفُرُوعِهَا.
His knowledge was not mere memorization, but rather a deep delving into the roots and branches of the issues.
Use of the verbal noun 'tabahhur' to indicate profound intellectual depth.
إِنَّ قَصِيدَةَ النَّثْرِ تُحَاوِلُ التَّمَرُّدَ عَلَى بُحُورِ الخَلِيلِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ الفَرَاهِيدِيّ.
The prose poem attempts to rebel against the poetic meters (seas) of Al-Khalil bin Ahmad Al-Farahidi.
Deep literary criticism referencing the founder of Arabic prosody.
تُعَدُّ المِلَاحَةُ الفَلَكِيَّةُ عِلْماً قَدِيماً اسْتَخْدَمَهُ العَرَبُ لِقَهْرِ مَجَاهِلِ البَحْر.
Celestial navigation is an ancient science used by the Arabs to conquer the unknowns of the sea.
Historical and scientific register using 'majahil' (unknowns/wilderness).
تَتَرَدَّدُ أَصْدَاءُ المَلَاحِمِ البَحْرِيَّةِ فِي الذَّاكِرَةِ الشَّعْبِيَّةِ لِمُدُنِ السَّاحِل.
The echoes of maritime epics reverberate in the popular memory of coastal cities.
Poetic and anthropological register discussing cultural memory.
يُمَثِّلُ البَحْرُ فِي رِوَايَاتِ حَنَّا مِينَا الرَّمْزَ الأَكْبَرَ لِلصِّرَاعِ الوُجُودِيّ.
The sea in the novels of Hanna Mina represents the ultimate symbol of existential struggle.
Literary analysis referencing a specific Arab author famous for sea literature.
اِسْتَنْبَطَ الفُقَهَاءُ أَحْكَاماً دَقِيقَةً تَتَعَلَّقُ بِلُقَطَةِ البَحْرِ وَمَا يَلْفِظُهُ المَوْج.
Jurists derived precise rulings regarding items found in the sea and what the waves cast ashore.
Classical Islamic jurisprudence register using specific legal terminology.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
عَلَى البَحْر
فِي البَحْر
بَحْرٌ مِنَ الدُّمُوع
مَاءُ البَحْر
رِحْلَةٌ بَحْرِيَّة
قُوَّاتٌ بَحْرِيَّة
عُلُومُ البِحَار
مِينَا البَحْر
بَحْرُ العَرَب
البَحْرُ الأَبْيَضُ المُتَوَسِّط
Wird oft verwechselt mit
Learners often confuse the two major bodies of water. Remember 'Nahr' is a river (flowing freshwater), 'Bahr' is a sea (vast saltwater).
Buhayra is the diminutive of Bahr. It means lake. Do not call a lake a sea, except for the Dead Sea (Al-Bahr Al-Mayyit).
While native speakers sometimes use 'bahr' casually for oceans, in formal or geographical contexts, 'muheet' must be used for oceans.
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
"قَطْرَةٌ فِي بَحْر"
A drop in the ocean. Means a very small amount compared to what is needed or exists.
مُسَاعَدَتِي قَطْرَةٌ فِي بَحْر.
Standard/Metaphorical"بَحْرٌ مِنَ العِلْم"
A sea of knowledge. Used to describe a highly educated or wise person.
هَذَا الأُسْتَاذُ بَحْرٌ مِنَ العِلْم.
Formal/Complimentary"رَمَى نَفْسَهُ فِي البَحْر"
Threw himself into the sea. Means to take a huge, often reckless risk.
فِي هَذَا المَشْرُوعِ، رَمَى نَفْسَهُ فِي البَحْر.
Informal/Metaphorical"بَحْرٌ لَا سَاحِلَ لَهُ"
A sea with no shore. Describes something infinite, boundless, or overwhelmingly complex.
الفَلْسَفَةُ بَحْرٌ لَا سَاحِلَ لَهُ.
Literary"غَرِقَ فِي شِبْرِ مَاء"
Drowned in a span of water. Means someone who fails at a very simple task or gets overwhelmed easily (related to water/sea themes).
هُوَ يَغْرَقُ فِي شِبْرِ مَاء.
Informal/Humorous"عَادَ بِخُفَّيْ حُنَيْن"
Returned with Hunayn's shoes. (Not directly using 'bahr', but often used in stories of failed sea voyages to mean returning empty-handed).
عَادَ مِنَ الرِّحْلَةِ البَحْرِيَّةِ بِخُفَّيْ حُنَيْن.
Classical Idiom"مِنَ البَحْرِ إِلَى النَّهْر"
From the sea to the river. A geopolitical phrase referring to the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.
فِلَسْطِينُ مِنَ البَحْرِ إِلَى النَّهْر.
Political"يَبِيعُ المَاءَ فِي حَارَةِ السَّقَّايِين"
Selling water in the water-carriers' neighborhood. Similar to selling ice to Eskimos. (Water related idiom).
لَا تَشْرَحْ لَهُ، أَنْتَ تَبِيعُ المَاءَ فِي حَارَةِ السَّقَّايِين.
Informal"تَجْرِي الرِّيَاحُ بِمَا لَا تَشْتَهِي السُّفُن"
The winds blow counter to what the ships desire. Things don't go as planned.
أَرَدْتُ السَّفَرَ وَلَكِنْ تَجْرِي الرِّيَاحُ بِمَا لَا تَشْتَهِي السُّفُن.
Poetic/Proverb"خَاضَ غِمَارَ البَحْر"
Plunged into the depths of the sea. Means to tackle a very difficult or dangerous situation head-on.
خَاضَ غِمَارَ البَحْرِ لِيُنْقِذَ شَرِكَتَهُ.
Formal/LiteraryLeicht verwechselbar
Sounds very similar to Bahr, only missing the 'H' sound.
Barr means land or mainland. It is the exact opposite of Bahr. Mispronouncing the 'H' changes the meaning entirely.
سَافَرَ بَرّاً (He traveled by land).
Rhymes with Bahr and shares the middle 'H' and final 'R'.
Sihr means magic. Completely unrelated in meaning.
هَذَا سِحْرٌ (This is magic).
Rhymes with Bahr and is also a body of water.
Nahr is a river, Bahr is a sea.
نَهْرُ النِّيل (The Nile River).
Derived from the same root, looks very similar.
Bahhaar is a person (a sailor), Bahr is the place (the sea). Notice the shadda (doubling) on the 'H' and the long 'A'.
البَحَّارُ شُجَاع (The sailor is brave).
Similar rhythm and ending.
Fakhr means pride. No relation to water.
أَشْعُرُ بِالفَخْر (I feel pride).
Satzmuster
[Noun/Pronoun] + فِي + البَحْر
نَحْنُ فِي البَحْر.
البَحْر + [Adjective Masculine]
البَحْرُ كَبِير.
[Verb] + إِلَى + البَحْر
ذَهَبْتُ إِلَى البَحْر.
[Noun] + البَحْرِ (Idafa)
مَاءُ البَحْرِ مَالِح.
البِحَار + [Adjective Feminine Singular]
البِحَارُ عَمِيقَة.
[Verb] + عَلَى + سَاحِلِ/شَاطِئِ + البَحْر
مَشَيْنَا عَلَى شَاطِئِ البَحْر.
مُجَرَّد + [Noun] + فِي + بَحْر (Idiom)
هَذَا مُجَرَّدُ قَطْرَةٍ فِي بَحْر.
[Verb Form V] + فِي + [Noun Abstract]
تَبَحَّرَ فِي العِلْم.
Wortfamilie
Substantive
Verben
Adjektive
Verwandt
So verwendest du es
Extremely High. It is one of the core nouns in the Arabic language.
-
Saying 'أَسْبَحُ عَلَى البَحْر' (I swim on the sea).
→
أَسْبَحُ فِي البَحْر (I swim in the sea).
Using 'ala' (on) implies you are physically on top of the surface or on the coast. For the action of swimming inside the water, you must use 'fi' (in).
-
Saying 'البِحَارُ كَبِيرُونَ' (The seas are big - using masculine plural adjective).
→
البِحَارُ كَبِيرَةٌ (The seas are big - using feminine singular adjective).
In Arabic, plural nouns that do not refer to humans are treated grammatically as a single female. Therefore, the adjective must be feminine singular.
-
Pronouncing the word as 'ba-har' with two syllables.
→
Pronouncing it as 'baħr' with one crisp syllable.
Learners often insert a short vowel between the 'ح' and the 'ر' to make it easier to say. It should be a single syllable with a consonant cluster at the end.
-
Using 'bahr' when referring to the Pacific or Atlantic.
→
Using 'muheet' (مُحِيط) for oceans.
While 'bahr' is understood, it is geographically incorrect for oceans. 'Muheet' is the proper term for the massive, open oceans.
-
Writing 'البحرة' (Al-Bahra) to mean the sea.
→
Writing 'البَحْر' (Al-Bahr).
Learners sometimes mistakenly add a taa marbuta thinking it might be feminine or just misremembering the spelling. 'Bahr' is masculine. 'Buhayra' (lake) has the taa marbuta.
Tipps
Plural Agreement
Always remember the golden rule of Arabic grammar: non-human plurals take feminine singular adjectives. Say 'Al-Bihaar Al-Waasi'a' (The vast seas), not 'Al-Waasi'oon'.
Master the Haa
Don't get lazy with the 'ح' sound. If you pronounce it like an English 'h', you might be misunderstood, or at least you will sound very foreign. Practice the raspy throat sound.
Sea vs. Ocean
Upgrade your vocabulary by knowing when to use 'bahr' (sea) and 'muheet' (ocean). Use 'muheet' for the Pacific and Atlantic, and 'bahr' for the Mediterranean and Red Sea.
A Drop in the Ocean
Impress native speakers by using the idiom 'qatra fi bahr' (a drop in a sea) when you want to say something is a very small amount compared to what is needed.
On the Sea
When booking a hotel, ask for a room 'ala al-bahr' (on the sea). This is the natural way to ask for a sea view or a beachfront location.
Look for the Root
When you see words like 'buhayra' (lake) or 'bahhaar' (sailor), recognize the b-h-r root. This will help you guess the meaning of new words related to water or vastness.
Poetic Seas
If you study Arabic literature, remember that 'buhoor' doesn't just mean physical seas; it refers to the complex rhythmic meters of poetry.
No Taa Marbuta
Remember that 'bahr' is masculine and does not end in a taa marbuta (ة). Its diminutive form, 'buhayra' (lake), does end in a taa marbuta and is feminine.
In vs. On
Don't translate 'swimming in the sea' directly from your native language if it uses 'on'. In Arabic, you swim 'fi' (in) the sea, not 'ala' (on) it.
Learn the Names
Memorize the Arabic names for the seas around the Arab world: Al-Bahr Al-Abyad Al-Mutawassit (Mediterranean), Al-Bahr Al-Ahmar (Red Sea), and Bahr Al-Arab (Arabian Sea).
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Imagine a BEAR (sounds a bit like Bahr, but remember the raspy H) swimming in the SEA. The BEAR is in the BAHR.
Visuelle Assoziation
Visualize a massive, deep blue ocean. In the middle of the water, picture the Arabic letter 'ح' (Haa) floating like a boat, reminding you of the crucial throat sound in the middle of the word.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Next time you look at a map, point to the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Sea, and say their names aloud in Arabic using the word 'Bahr'.
Wortherkunft
The word originates from the Proto-Semitic root *baḥr-, which broadly means a large body of water. This root is ancient and is shared across several Semitic languages. In classical Arabic lexicography, the root b-h-r carries the fundamental meaning of 'cleaving' or 'expanding widely'. Therefore, the sea is called 'bahr' because of its vast, expansive nature that seems to cleave the earth.
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: A vast, expansive space (originally could apply to wide land, but became exclusively associated with large bodies of water).
Semitic (Afroasiatic). Cognates exist in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Ge'ez.Kultureller Kontext
No specific cultural sensitivities, but be aware of the geopolitical names of certain bodies of water (e.g., Arabian Gulf vs. Persian Gulf) which can be politically sensitive, though 'bahr' itself is neutral.
English speakers often use 'ocean' for large bodies of water, but in Arabic, 'bahr' (sea) is used much more frequently in daily conversation, even when technically referring to an ocean, unless in a strict geographical context.
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
Summer Holidays
- الذَّهَاب إِلَى البَحْر
- السِّبَاحَة فِي البَحْر
- شَاطِئ البَحْر
- شَالِيه عَلَى البَحْر
Geography
- البَحْر الأَبْيَض المُتَوَسِّط
- البَحْر الأَحْمَر
- مُسْتَوَى سَطْح البَحْر
- دُوَل حَوْض البَحْر
Food and Dining
- ثِمَار البَحْر
- سَمَك بَحْرِيّ
- مَطْعَم مَأْكُولَات بَحْرِيَّة
- طَازَج مِنَ البَحْر
News and Environment
- تَلَوُّث البِحَار
- القُوَّات البَحْرِيَّة
- حَوَادِث فِي البَحْر
- حِمَايَة البِيئَة البَحْرِيَّة
Literature and Poetry
- بُحُور الشِّعْر
- بَحْر مِنَ الحُبّ
- أَمْوَاج البَحْر
- غَرِقَ فِي بَحْرِ أَفْكَارِه
Gesprächseinstiege
"هَلْ تُحِبُّ قَضَاءَ العُطْلَةِ الصَّيْفِيَّةِ عَلَى البَحْرِ أَمْ فِي الجَبَلِ؟"
"مَا هُوَ أَجْمَلُ بَحْرٍ رَأَيْتَهُ فِي حَيَاتِكَ؟"
"هَلْ تَعْرِفُ كَيْفَ تَسْبَحُ فِي البَحْرِ العَمِيقِ؟"
"مَا رَأْيُكَ فِي مُشْكِلَةِ تَلَوُّثِ البِحَارِ بِالبِلَاسْتِيكِ؟"
"هَلْ تُفَضِّلُ أَكْلَ ثِمَارِ البَحْرِ أَمِ اللَّحْمِ؟"
Tagebuch-Impulse
صِفْ ذِكْرَى جَمِيلَةً لَكَ عِنْدَ البَحْرِ فِي طُفُولَتِكَ.
تَخَيَّلْ أَنَّكَ تَعِيشُ فِي بَيْتٍ يُطِلُّ عَلَى البَحْرِ، كَيْفَ سَيَكُونُ يَوْمُكَ؟
اُكْتُبْ عَنْ أَهَمِّيَّةِ حِمَايَةِ البِحَارِ وَالمُحِيطَاتِ مِنَ التَّلَوُّث.
قَارِنْ بَيْنَ رِحْلَةٍ فِي البَحْرِ وَرِحْلَةٍ فِي الصَّحْرَاءِ.
اُكْتُبْ قِصَّةً قَصِيرَةً عَنْ بَحَّارٍ ضَاعَ فِي عُرْضِ البَحْر.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenThe word 'bahr' is masculine in Arabic. Therefore, any adjectives describing a single sea must be in the masculine form, such as 'bahr kabeer' (a big sea). However, its plural forms ('bihaar' or 'buhoor') are treated as feminine singular because they are non-human plurals.
There are a few broken plural forms. The most common in everyday use and geography is 'bihaar' (بِحَار). Another common plural, often used in poetry or literature, is 'buhoor' (بُحُور). A less common plural is 'abhur' (أَبْحُر).
While 'bahr' means sea, the specific word for ocean is 'muheet' (مُحِيط). For example, the Atlantic Ocean is 'Al-Muheet Al-Atlasi'. However, in casual conversation, people might loosely refer to the ocean as 'al-bahr'.
Actually, classical dictionaries were sometimes named with sea-related terms because the root b-h-r implies vastness. 'Qamoos' originally meant the deep part of the sea, and 'Muheet' means ocean. They are metaphors for a vast collection of words.
The 'ح' (Haa) is a voiceless pharyngeal fricative. You produce it by constricting your throat muscles and breathing out sharply. It sounds like a loud, raspy whisper. It is much stronger and deeper than the English 'h'.
Yes, extensively. It is commonly used to describe someone with vast knowledge ('bahr fi al-ilm') or boundless generosity. It can also describe overwhelming emotions, like a 'sea of sadness'.
'Tabahhara' is a Form V verb derived from the same root. It literally means 'to navigate the sea', but it is almost exclusively used metaphorically to mean 'to delve deeply into a subject' or 'to study something extensively'.
Despite geographically being a salt lake, it is historically and commonly called a sea in Arabic: 'Al-Bahr Al-Mayyit' (البحر الميت).
Use 'fi' (in) if you are in the water (swimming). Use 'ila' (to) if you are traveling towards it. Use 'ala' (on) if you are referring to a location on the coast, like a house on the sea.
This phrase translates to 'the seas of poetry'. It is the technical term used in Arabic literature to refer to the rhythmic meters of classical Arabic poetry, established by Al-Khalil bin Ahmad.
Teste dich selbst 200 Fragen
Write a simple sentence saying 'The sea is beautiful'.
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Write a sentence saying 'I swim in the sea'.
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Write a sentence saying 'We will go to the sea tomorrow'.
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Write a sentence saying 'The seas are vast' using the correct plural and adjective agreement.
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Write a sentence mentioning the Red Sea.
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Write a sentence about sea pollution.
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Write a sentence using the word 'شَاطِئ' (beach) and 'بَحْر'.
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Write a sentence saying 'He is a sea of knowledge'.
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Write a sentence using the idiom 'a drop in the ocean'.
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Write a sentence using the verb 'أَبْحَرَ' (to sail).
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Write a sentence using 'عُرْض البَحْر' (open sea).
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Write a sentence mentioning 'بُحُور الشِّعْر' (poetic meters).
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Write a sentence using 'تَبَحَّرَ' (delved deeply).
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Write a sentence comparing a sea and an ocean.
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Write a sentence using 'ثِمَار البَحْر' (seafood).
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Write a sentence using 'قَاع البَحْر' (seabed).
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Write a sentence using 'أَمْوَاج البَحْر' (sea waves).
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Write a sentence using 'دَوَار البَحْر' (seasickness).
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Write a sentence using 'يَمّ' (classical sea).
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Write a sentence using 'سَاحِل' (coast).
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Say 'The sea is big' in Arabic.
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Say 'I am going to the sea' in Arabic.
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Say 'The seas are vast' in Arabic, ensuring correct plural agreement.
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Pronounce the word 'بَحْر' paying special attention to the 'ح' sound.
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Say 'Red Sea' in Arabic.
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Say 'Mediterranean Sea' in Arabic.
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Say 'He is a sea of knowledge' in Arabic.
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Say 'A drop in the ocean' in Arabic.
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Say 'Sea pollution' in Arabic.
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Say 'Seafood' in Arabic.
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Say 'Seashore' in Arabic.
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Say 'Sea waves' in Arabic.
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Say 'Seabed' in Arabic.
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Say 'Sea level' in Arabic.
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Say 'Poetic meters' (seas of poetry) in Arabic.
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Say 'He delved deeply into the subject' using the Form V verb derived from sea.
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Say 'Naval forces' in Arabic.
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Say 'Seasickness' in Arabic.
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Say 'By land and by sea' in Arabic.
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Say 'Open sea' in Arabic.
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Listen to the phrase: 'البَحْرُ جَمِيل'. What does it mean?
Listen to the phrase: 'أَسْبَحُ فِي البَحْر'. What is the person doing?
Listen to the phrase: 'البِحَارُ وَاسِعَة'. What is the subject?
Listen to the phrase: 'البَحْرُ الأَحْمَر'. Which sea is this?
Listen to the phrase: 'شَاطِئُ البَحْر'. What location is this?
Listen to the phrase: 'ثِمَارُ البَحْر'. What kind of food is this?
Listen to the phrase: 'تَلَوُّثُ البَحْر'. What is the problem?
Listen to the phrase: 'مُسْتَوَى سَطْحِ البَحْر'. What is being measured?
Listen to the phrase: 'قَطْرَةٌ فِي بَحْر'. What does this idiom mean?
Listen to the phrase: 'بَحْرٌ مِنَ العِلْم'. What is the person full of?
Listen to the phrase: 'بُحُورُ الشِّعْر'. What topic is being discussed?
Listen to the phrase: 'تَبَحَّرَ فِي الدِّرَاسَة'. What did the person do?
Listen to the phrase: 'دَوَارُ البَحْر'. What is the person suffering from?
Listen to the phrase: 'قَاعُ البَحْر'. Where is this?
Listen to the phrase: 'خِضَمٌّ مُتَلَاطِم'. What is being described?
/ 200 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word 'bahr' (بَحْر) means sea, but it is also a powerful metaphor in Arabic for anything vast and deep, like knowledge. For example, 'He is a sea of knowledge' (هُوَ بَحْرٌ فِي العِلْم).
- Means 'sea' or 'large body of saltwater'.
- Masculine noun, plural is 'bihaar' or 'buhoor'.
- Used metaphorically for vast knowledge or abundance.
- Root b-h-r means vastness or expansion.
Plural Agreement
Always remember the golden rule of Arabic grammar: non-human plurals take feminine singular adjectives. Say 'Al-Bihaar Al-Waasi'a' (The vast seas), not 'Al-Waasi'oon'.
Master the Haa
Don't get lazy with the 'ح' sound. If you pronounce it like an English 'h', you might be misunderstood, or at least you will sound very foreign. Practice the raspy throat sound.
Sea vs. Ocean
Upgrade your vocabulary by knowing when to use 'bahr' (sea) and 'muheet' (ocean). Use 'muheet' for the Pacific and Atlantic, and 'bahr' for the Mediterranean and Red Sea.
A Drop in the Ocean
Impress native speakers by using the idiom 'qatra fi bahr' (a drop in a sea) when you want to say something is a very small amount compared to what is needed.
Beispiel
البحر واسع وعميق جداً.
Verwandte Inhalte
Mehr travel Wörter
عاد
A1Zurückkehren oder an einen früheren Ort oder Zustand zurückgehen.
عَادَ
A1Zurückkehren, wiederkehren. Er kehrte nach langer Reise in sein Land zurück. (عَادَ إِلَى بَلَدِهِ بَعْدَ رِحْلَةٍ طَوِيلَةٍ). Sie arbeitet nicht mehr hier. (لَمْ تَعُدْ تَعْمَلُ هُنَا).
أعود
A1Ich kehre zurück, ich gehe zurück. Beispiel: Ich kehre morgen in mein Land zurück. (سأعود إلى بلدي غداً).
عاصمة
A1Capital city.
عَبَرَ
A2Von einer Seite zur anderen überqueren. Er überquerte die Straße sicher.
عمرة
A2Das ist eine spezielle, kürzere Reise nach Mekka aus religiösen Gründen, anders als die Hauptpilgerfahrt Haddsch.
عودة
A1Die Rückkehr (der Akt des Zurückkommens).
إِجَازَة
B1Ich habe Urlaub genommen, um mich nach einem langen Arbeitsjahr auszuruhen. Der Arzt hat ihm eine Woche Krankschreibung gewährt.
أغادر
A1Ich verlasse einen Ort.
إقلاع
A2Ein 'Iqla'' ist, wenn ein Flugzeug abhebt und zu fliegen beginnt.