بَنْك en 30 segundos
- بَنْك is the universal Arabic word for a financial institution, derived from the Italian word 'banco'.
- It is a masculine noun with the broken plural form بُنُوك (bunūk), used in all dialects.
- Commonly used with verbs like 'open' (fataha), 'withdraw' (sahaba), and 'transfer' (hawwala).
- Essential for daily life, travel, and business, often appearing as 'al-bank' with the definite article.
The Arabic word بَنْك (Bank) is a fascinating example of a linguistic loanword that has become completely integrated into the modern Arabic lexicon. While classical Arabic might use the term مصرف (Maṣrif), the word بَنْك is ubiquitous across the Middle East and North Africa, from the bustling streets of Cairo to the financial hubs of Dubai. It refers specifically to a financial institution licensed to receive deposits and make loans. However, its usage extends beyond just the physical building; it encompasses the entire ecosystem of modern finance, including digital banking, ATMs, and credit facilities. In everyday conversation, when someone says they are going to the 'bank', they are often referring to a wide range of activities: withdrawing cash, paying bills, or managing their savings. The word is masculine in gender and follows the standard rules for triliteral-style nouns, despite its foreign origin. Historically, the concept of banking in the Arab world evolved from the traditional ṣarrāf (money changer) who sat in the marketplace. Today, the بَنْك represents the intersection of global economic systems and local financial needs. It is a word you will see on every high street, hear in every business meeting, and find in every mobile app store.
- Etymological Root
- Derived from the Italian 'banco' meaning bench, referring to the tables used by money changers.
- Modern Ubiquity
- Used in all Arabic dialects, though 'maṣrif' is preferred in formal documents in some regions like Saudi Arabia.
أَيْنَ أَقْرَبُ بَنْك مِنْ هُنَا؟ (Where is the nearest bank from here?)
لَدَيَّ مَوْعِدٌ فِي الـبَنْك السَّاعَةَ العَاشِرَةَ. (I have an appointment at the bank at ten o'clock.)
Furthermore, the word بَنْك is used in technical contexts such as 'Bank of Blood' (بَنْك الدَّم) or 'Data Bank' (بَنْك المَعْلُومَات), showing its versatility in modern Arabic as a container or repository for valuable assets, not just currency. When discussing Islamic finance, you will encounter the term بَنْك إِسْلَامِي, which operates under Sharia principles, avoiding interest (riba) and focusing on profit-sharing. Understanding this word is essential because it serves as the gateway to navigating the practicalities of living or traveling in an Arabic-speaking country. Whether you are a student, a tourist, or a business professional, the bank is a central node in your daily logistics. The plural form بُنُوك (bunūk) is also vital to know, especially when discussing the banking sector as a whole or comparing different institutions. In the digital age, 'e-banking' is often translated as الصَّيْرَفَة الإِلِكْتُرُونِيَّة, but you will still hear people say تَطْبِيق البَنْك (the bank app). The word is robust, phonetically simple for English speakers to pronounce, and provides an easy win for beginners building their vocabulary. It bridges the gap between the familiar Latin-based systems and the rich structure of the Arabic language.
Using بَنْك in a sentence requires an understanding of basic Arabic syntax, specifically how it interacts with prepositions and verbs. Because it is a noun, it can function as the subject, object, or part of a prepositional phrase. Common verbs associated with this word include ذَهَبَ (to go), فَتَحَ (to open), and سَحَبَ (to withdraw). For example, to say 'I am going to the bank,' you use the preposition إِلَى: أَنَا أَذْهَبُ إِلَى البَنْك. Note how the definite article الـ (al-) is attached to the beginning of the word to make it 'the bank'. If you are opening an account, the phrasing is فَتَحْتُ حِسَاباً فِي البَنْك (I opened an account in the bank). Here, the preposition فِي (in) is used. It is also important to recognize how adjectives follow the noun. Since بَنْك is masculine, any adjective describing it must also be masculine. For instance, 'a big bank' is بَنْك كَبِير, and 'a national bank' is بَنْك وَطَنِي.
- With Prepositions
- Commonly used with 'إلى' (to) for movement and 'في' (in) for location or status.
هَلْ يَعْمَلُ أَخُوكَ فِي بَنْك؟ (Does your brother work in a bank?)
يَقَعُ الـبَنْك بِجَانِبِ المَطْعَمِ. (The bank is located next to the restaurant.)
In more complex sentences, بَنْك can be part of a possessive structure called an Idafa. For example, 'The Bank of Egypt' is بَنْك مِصْر. In this case, the first word doesn't take the definite article, but the second word defines it. This is a very common way to name specific financial institutions. Additionally, when discussing loans or mortgages, you might hear قَرْض مِنَ البَنْك (a loan from the bank). The word also appears in plural form بُنُوك in sentences like تَتَنَافَسُ البُنُوكُ عَلَى العُمَلَاءِ (Banks compete for customers). Understanding the case endings (dhamma for subject, fatha for object, kasra after prepositions) is helpful for advanced learners, though in spoken Arabic, these are often dropped. For instance, فِي البَنْكِ (fil-banki) becomes simply fil-bank. Mastering these sentence patterns allows you to handle financial transactions, ask for directions, and describe employment with confidence. The word's simplicity makes it a perfect anchor for learning how to build sentences with locations and professional settings.
The word بَنْك is ubiquitous in the Arab world, appearing in a variety of settings from formal news broadcasts to casual street conversations. If you are walking down a main street in any major Arab city like Amman, Riyadh, or Casablanca, you will see the word emblazoned in large neon signs or elegant calligraphy on the facades of buildings. In the media, financial news segments frequently use بَنْك when discussing interest rates, inflation, or the stock market. You'll hear phrases like البَنْك المَرْكَزِي (The Central Bank) almost daily on news channels like Al Jazeera or Al Arabiya. In the workplace, employees might discuss their salaries being transferred to the بَنْك. On the radio, advertisements for personal loans or credit cards will repeat the word constantly, often highlighting the benefits of one بَنْك over another. Even in literature and cinema, the bank often serves as a setting for dramatic scenes, from heist movies to stories about social mobility and economic struggle.
- News & Media
- Used in financial reporting, economic analysis, and government announcements regarding fiscal policy.
أَعْلَنَ البَنْك المَرْكَزِيُّ عَنْ رَفْعِ الفَائِدَةِ. (The Central Bank announced an increase in interest rates.)
سَأُحَوِّلُ المَبْلَغَ إِلَى حِسَابِكَ فِي الـبَنْك. (I will transfer the amount to your account in the bank.)
In social circles, the word is used when friends discuss splitting a bill via a banking app or when someone mentions their job. 'I work at a bank' (أَنَا أَعْمَلُ فِي بَنْك) is a common way to state one's profession. During the holy month of Ramadan or before major holidays like Eid, you'll hear people talking about going to the بَنْك to get new banknotes to give as gifts (Eidiya). The word also features prominently in travel situations; tourists frequently ask for the بَنْك to exchange currency, even though specialized exchange offices (ṣayrafa) also exist. In digital spaces, 'mobile banking' is a hot topic, and phrases like تَطْبِيق البَنْك لَا يَعْمَل (the bank app is not working) are common complaints on social media. Whether it's the high-stakes world of international finance or the simple act of checking a balance at an ATM (صَرَّاف آلِي), the word بَنْك is the essential linguistic key. It is one of those rare words that sounds almost the same in Arabic as it does in English, making it instantly recognizable and highly practical for learners at all levels.
While بَنْك is a relatively straightforward word, learners often make a few specific errors. The most common mistake is related to the plural form. Many beginners try to pluralize it using the regular masculine plural suffix (bankūn), which is incorrect. The correct plural is the 'broken' plural بُنُوك (bunūk). Another frequent error involves the definite article. In English, we might say 'I am at bank,' but in Arabic, you almost always need the definite article الـ (al-) when referring to a specific institution or the concept of the bank in general: أَنَا فِي البَنْك. Additionally, learners sometimes confuse بَنْك with مَصْرِف. While they are synonyms, مَصْرِف is more formal and is often used in the names of official government institutions or in high-level economic literature. Using بَنْك in a very formal legal document might be slightly less precise than مَصْرِف, although it is still widely accepted.
- Pluralization Error
- Avoid 'bankūn'; always use 'bunūk' (بُنُوك) for multiple banks.
Incorrect: ذَهَبْتُ إِلَى بَنْكُونَ.
Correct: ذَهَبْتُ إِلَى بُنُوكٍ كَثِيرَةٍ. (I went to many banks.)
Mistake: هَذَا بَنْكَة كَبِيرَة.
Correct: هَذَا بَنْكٌ كَبِيرٌ. (The word is masculine, not feminine.)
Pronunciation can also be a minor hurdle. While it sounds like 'bank', the Arabic 'b' is often followed by a short 'a' sound (fatha) and a clear 'n' and 'k'. Some learners might over-anglicize the 'a' sound. Furthermore, when using the word in a possessive construction (Idafa), remember the rule that the first word cannot have 'al-'. Saying البَنْك مِصْر instead of بَنْك مِصْر (Bank of Egypt) is a common grammatical slip. Finally, don't confuse بَنْك with بِنْج (binj), which means anesthesia! A simple vowel change can lead to a very different conversation. By paying attention to the plural form, the gender agreement, and the rules of the Idafa, you can avoid the most common pitfalls and sound much more like a native speaker. The word is an excellent tool for practicing these core Arabic grammar concepts because its meaning is so familiar.
In Arabic, while بَنْك is the most common term for a financial institution, there are several alternatives and related words that carry specific nuances. The most prominent alternative is مَصْرِف (Maṣrif). This word comes from the Arabic root ṣ-r-f, which relates to spending or exchanging money. In many official contexts, such as the names of central banks or in formal economic reports, مَصْرِف is preferred because it is purely Arabic in origin. For example, the Central Bank of Libya is مَصْرِف لِيبِيَا المَرْكَزِي. Another related term is خِزَانَة (Khizāna), which means treasury or safe. While not a direct synonym for a bank, it is used when referring to government funds or a literal safe where money is kept. For currency exchange, you might look for a صَرَّاف (Ṣarrāf) or a مَكْتَب صَيْرَفَة (Exchange Office), which are specialized businesses that don't offer the full range of banking services like loans or savings accounts.
- بَنْك vs. مَصْرِف
- 'Bank' is the common loanword; 'Maṣrif' is the formal Arabic equivalent used in official names.
- بَنْك vs. صَرَّاف
- A 'Bank' is a full financial institution; a 'Ṣarrāf' is specifically a money changer or an ATM.
أُرِيدُ الذَّهَابَ إِلَى المَصْرِفِ لِفَتْحِ حِسَابٍ. (I want to go to the bank/masrif to open an account.)
There are also terms for specific types of banks. A بَنْك زِرَاعِي is an agricultural bank, while a بَنْك عَقَارِي is a real estate or mortgage bank. If you are looking for a place to keep your money, you might also hear the word صُنْدُوق (Ṣundūq), which literally means box but is used to mean 'fund' or 'savings chest', such as صُنْدُوق التَّوْفِير (Savings Fund). In the context of the digital economy, بَنْك رَقْمِي (Digital Bank) is becoming more common. Understanding these distinctions helps you navigate different financial services more effectively. For instance, if you need to exchange dollars for dirhams, a ṣarrāf is often faster and more convenient than a large bank. Conversely, for a long-term loan, only a bank or masrif will suffice. By learning these alternatives, you broaden your vocabulary and gain a deeper understanding of the economic landscape in Arabic-speaking countries. This knowledge is particularly useful for business Arabic and for those looking to achieve a higher CEFR level of proficiency.
How Formal Is It?
Dato curioso
Before 'bank' became the standard word, Arabs used the term 'ṣarrāf' (money changer). The transition to 'bank' reflects the modernization of the financial system in the 19th and 20th centuries. In some parts of the Maghreb, French influence makes 'banque' sound even more similar to the European original.
Guía de pronunciación
- Pronouncing it as 'benk' (with an 'e' sound).
- Adding an extra vowel at the end (e.g., 'banku') when not required by grammar.
- Swapping the 'k' for a 'g' sound in some rural dialects.
- Confusing the 'b' with 'p' (though 'p' doesn't exist in standard Arabic).
- Over-emphasizing the 'n' so it sounds like two syllables.
Nivel de dificultad
Very easy to read; only three letters and sounds like English.
Simple script: Ba, Noon, Kaf. No complex ligatures.
Pronunciation is almost identical to the English word.
Easily recognizable even in fast speech due to its familiar sound.
Qué aprender después
Requisitos previos
Aprende después
Avanzado
Gramática que debes saber
Broken Plural (جمع التكسير)
بَنْك (singular) -> بُنُوك (plural). Unlike regular plurals, the internal structure changes.
Idafa Construction (الإضافة)
بَنْكُ مِصْرَ (Bank of Egypt). The first noun loses its 'al-' and 'tanween'.
Masculine Noun Agreement
بَنْكٌ نَاجِحٌ (A successful bank). The adjective must match the masculine gender.
Genitive Case after Prepositions
فِي البَنْكِ (In the bank). The noun ends in a kasra.
Definite Article (الـ)
البَنْك. The 'l' is pronounced because 'b' is a moon letter (حرف قمري).
Ejemplos por nivel
أَيْنَ البَنْكُ؟
Where is the bank?
Uses 'أَيْنَ' (where) for location.
هَذَا بَنْكٌ كَبِيرٌ.
This is a big bank.
Adjective 'كَبِير' follows the noun 'بَنْك'.
أَنَا أَذْهَبُ إِلَى البَنْكِ.
I am going to the bank.
Preposition 'إِلَى' (to) causes the noun to be in the genitive case (kasra).
البَنْكُ مَفْتُوحٌ الآنَ.
The bank is open now.
Subject-predicate sentence structure.
عِنْدِي نُقُودٌ فِي البَنْكِ.
I have money in the bank.
Uses 'فِي' (in) for location.
هُوَ يَعْمَلُ فِي بَنْكٍ.
He works in a bank.
Indefinite noun 'بَنْكٍ' after a preposition.
البَنْكُ بَعِيدٌ عَنْ هُنَا.
The bank is far from here.
Uses 'بَعِيد عَنْ' (far from).
شُكْراً يَا بَنْكُ.
Thank you, Bank (personified or simple address).
Vocative 'يَا' (though unusual for a building, used in simple drills).
أُرِيدُ فَتْحَ حِسَابٍ فِي البَنْكِ.
I want to open an account in the bank.
Verb 'أُرِيدُ' followed by a verbal noun 'فَتْح'.
هَلْ هُنَاكَ صَرَّافٌ آلِيٌّ قُرْبَ البَنْكِ؟
Is there an ATM near the bank?
Compound term 'صَرَّاف آلِي'.
يُغْلِقُ البَنْكُ السَّاعَةَ الثَّالِثَةَ.
The bank closes at three o'clock.
Present tense verb 'يُغْلِقُ'.
هَذِهِ البُنُوكُ قَدِيمَةٌ جِدّاً.
These banks are very old.
Plural 'بُنُوك' treated as feminine singular for adjectives.
بَنْكُ مِصْرَ مَشْهُورٌ.
The Bank of Egypt is famous.
Idafa construction: 'بَنْكُ مِصْرَ'.
سَحَبْتُ مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ مِنَ البَنْكِ.
I withdrew a hundred dinars from the bank.
Past tense verb 'سَحَبْتُ'.
أَيُّ بَنْكٍ هُوَ الأَفْضَلُ؟
Which bank is the best?
Comparative 'الأَفْضَل'.
يَقَعُ البَنْكُ أَمَامَ المَحَطَّةِ.
The bank is located in front of the station.
Spatial preposition 'أَمَامَ'.
يُقَدِّمُ البَنْكُ قُرُوضاً لِلشَّبَابِ.
The bank offers loans to young people.
Plural object 'قُرُوضاً' (loans).
نَسِيتُ رَقْمِي السِّرِّيَّ لِبِطَاقَةِ البَنْكِ.
I forgot my PIN for the bank card.
Possessive 'رَقْمِي السِّرِّيَّ'.
يَجِبُ أَنْ نَتَأَكَّدَ مِنْ عُمُولَةِ البَنْكِ.
We must check the bank's commission.
Noun 'عُمُولَة' (commission/fee).
تَعَامَلْتُ مَعَ هَذَا البَنْكِ لِسَنَوَاتٍ.
I have dealt with this bank for years.
Verb 'تَعَامَلَ مَعَ' (to deal with).
هَلْ يُوجَدُ فَرْعٌ لِهَذَا البَنْكِ فِي لَنْدَن؟
Is there a branch of this bank in London?
Noun 'فَرْع' (branch).
البَنْكُ الإِسْلَامِيُّ لَا يَتَعَامَلُ بِالفَائِدَةِ.
The Islamic bank does not deal with interest.
Negative particle 'لَا' with present tense.
حَوَّلْتُ رَاتِبِي إِلَى البَنْكِ الجَدِيدِ.
I transferred my salary to the new bank.
Verb 'حَوَّلَ' (to transfer).
تُفَضِّلُ أُمِّي تَوْفِيرَ المَالِ فِي البَنْكِ.
My mother prefers saving money in the bank.
Verbal noun 'تَوْفِير' (saving).
يَلْعَبُ البَنْكُ المَرْكَزِيُّ دَوْراً حَيَوِيّاً فِي الاسْتِقْرَارِ المَالِيِّ.
The central bank plays a vital role in financial stability.
Adjective 'حَيَوِيّ' (vital).
ارْتَفَعَتْ أَسْهُمُ البُنُوكِ فِي البُورْصَةِ اليَوْمَ.
Bank shares rose on the stock exchange today.
Plural 'أَسْهُم' (shares).
تَسْعَى البُنُوكُ إِلَى تَطْوِيرِ خِدْمَاتِهَا الرَّقْمِيَّةِ.
Banks seek to develop their digital services.
Verb 'تَسْعَى إِلَى' (to seek/strive).
قَامَ البَنْكُ بِتَجْمِيدِ حِسَابَاتِ الشَّرِكَةِ.
The bank froze the company's accounts.
Verb 'قَامَ بِـ' (performed/did).
يُعَانِي البَنْكُ مِنْ نَقْصٍ فِي السُّيُولَةِ.
The bank is suffering from a lack of liquidity.
Noun 'سُيُولَة' (liquidity).
تَمَّ الاندِمَاجُ بَيْنَ البَنْكَيْنِ الكَبِيرَيْنِ.
The merger between the two large banks was completed.
Dual form 'البَنْكَيْنِ'.
يَشْتَرِطُ البَنْكُ وُجُودَ ضَمَانٍ عَقَارِيٍّ.
The bank requires a real estate guarantee.
Verb 'يَشْتَرِطُ' (to stipulate/require).
أَصْبَحَتِ الصَّيْرَفَةُ عَبْرَ الإِنْتَرْنِت تَهْدِيداً لِلْبُنُوكِ التَّقْلِيدِيَّةِ.
Online banking has become a threat to traditional banks.
Noun 'تَهْدِيد' (threat).
تُعَدُّ المَلَاءَةُ المَالِيَّةُ لِلْبَنْكِ مِعْيَاراً لِنَجَاحِهِ.
The financial solvency of the bank is a criterion for its success.
Noun 'مَلَاءَة' (solvency).
تَدَخَّلَ البَنْكُ المَرْكَزِيُّ لِحِمَايَةِ العُمْلَةِ الوَطَنِيَّةِ مِنَ الانْهِيَارِ.
The central bank intervened to protect the national currency from collapse.
Verb 'تَدَخَّلَ' (intervened).
تُوَاجِهُ البُنُوكُ تَحَدِّيَاتٍ جَمَّةً فِي ظِلِّ العَوْلَمَةِ.
Banks face numerous challenges in light of globalization.
Adjective 'جَمَّة' (numerous/great).
يَتَطَلَّبُ فَتْحُ بَنْكٍ جَدِيدٍ تَرَاخِيصَ صَارِمَةً مِنَ الدَّوْلَةِ.
Opening a new bank requires strict licenses from the state.
Noun 'تَرَاخِيص' (licenses).
انْتَقَدَ الخُبَرَاءُ سِيَاسَةَ البَنْكِ فِي مَنْحِ الائْتِمَانِ.
Experts criticized the bank's policy in granting credit.
Noun 'ائْتِمَان' (credit).
تُسَاهِمُ البُنُوكُ التَّنْمَوِيَّةُ فِي تَمْوِيلِ المَشَارِيعِ البِنْيَوِيَّةِ.
Development banks contribute to financing structural projects.
Adjective 'بِنْيَوِيَّة' (structural).
يَجِبُ الفَصْلُ بَيْنَ إِدَارَةِ البَنْكِ وَأَهْوَاءِ المُسَاهِمِينَ.
A separation must be made between bank management and the whims of shareholders.
Noun 'أَهْوَاء' (whims/desires).
أَدَّتْ أَزْمَةُ الرَّهْنِ العَقَارِيِّ إِلَى إِفْلَاسِ عِدَّةِ بُنُوكٍ.
The mortgage crisis led to the bankruptcy of several banks.
Compound 'رَهْن عَقَارِي' (mortgage).
تَتَجَلَّى هَيْمَنَةُ البُنُوكِ العَابِرَةِ لِلْقَارَّاتِ فِي النِّظَامِ الرَّأْسِمَالِيِّ.
The dominance of transcontinental banks is manifest in the capitalist system.
Compound adjective 'عَابِرَة لِلْقَارَّات'.
إِنَّ إِعَادَةَ هَيْكَلَةِ القِطَاعِ البَنْكِيِّ أَمْرٌ لَا مَفَرَّ مِنْهُ.
The restructuring of the banking sector is an inevitable matter.
Phrase 'لَا مَفَرَّ مِنْهُ' (inevitable).
تَعْمَلُ البُنُوكُ المَرْكَزِيَّةُ كَصَمَّامِ أَمَانٍ لِلِاقْتِصَادِ الكُلِّيِّ.
Central banks act as a safety valve for the macroeconomy.
Metaphor 'صَمَّام أَمَان'.
يُثِيرُ مَوْضُوعُ خَصْخَصَةِ البُنُوكِ الحُكُومِيَّةِ جَدَلاً وَاسِعاً.
The issue of privatizing state banks sparks wide debate.
Noun 'خَصْخَصَة' (privatization).
لَا بُدَّ مِنَ التَّصَدِّي لِظَاهِرَةِ غَسْلِ الأَمْوَالِ عَبْرَ القَنَوَاتِ البَنْكِيَّةِ.
It is necessary to confront the phenomenon of money laundering through banking channels.
Phrase 'غَسْل الأَمْوَال'.
تَعْكِسُ أَرْبَاحُ البُنُوكِ مَدَى تَعَافِي الِاقْتِصَادِ مِنْ الرُّكُودِ.
Bank profits reflect the extent of the economy's recovery from recession.
Noun 'تَعَافِي' (recovery).
تُعَدُّ الشَّفَافِيَّةُ البَنْكِيَّةُ رُكْناً أَسَاسِيّاً فِي الحَوْكَمَةِ الرَّشِيدَةِ.
Banking transparency is a fundamental pillar of good governance.
Noun 'حَوْكَمَة' (governance).
تَسْعَى الدُّوَلُ إِلَى تَعْزِيزِ الشُّمُولِ المَالِيِّ عَبْرَ تَوَسُّعِ الخِدْمَاتِ البَنْكِيَّةِ.
Countries seek to enhance financial inclusion through the expansion of banking services.
Term 'شُمُول مَالِي' (financial inclusion).
Colocaciones comunes
Frases Comunes
Se confunde a menudo con
Means anesthesia. Confusing the 'k' and 'j' can lead to funny or dangerous misunderstandings.
Means girl. The 'n' and 't' sounds are different, but beginners might mix up the short vowels.
Means font or point (as in size). Phonetically similar but used in printing.
Modismos y expresiones
— A person who knows everything or a repository of vast knowledge.
أُسْتَاذِي بَنْكٌ لِلْمَعْلُومَاتِ.
Informal/Praising— Said of someone very wealthy (literally: like a walking bank).
هَذَا الرَّجُلُ كَأَنَّهُ بَنْكٌ يَمْشِي.
Slang— To win a lot of money or to deplete a fund (similar to 'break the bank').
لَقَدْ كَسَرْنَا البَنْكَ فِي هَذِهِ اللُّعْبَةِ.
Informal— A list of targets or objectives (often used in military or strategic contexts).
تَمَّ تَحْدِيدُ بَنْكِ الأَهْدَافِ لِلْعَمَلِيَّةِ.
Formal/Military— A repository of known figures or suspects.
تَحَقَّقَتِ الشُّرْطَةُ مِنْ بَنْكِ الوُجُوهِ.
Technical— Used as a threat: 'I'll settle the score with you' (literally: your account is with me).
لَا تَقْلَقْ، حِسَابُكَ عِنْدِي!
Informal/Threatening— You have enough credit/goodwill to do something.
رَصِيدُكَ عِنْدِي يَسْمَحُ لَكَ بِطَلَبِ المَزِيدِ.
Metaphorical— A large collection of exam questions.
تَدَرَّبَ الطُّلَّابُ عَلَى بَنْكِ الأَسْئِلَةِ.
Educational— Not taken into consideration (literally: outside the accounts).
هَذَا الاحْتِمَالُ خَارِجُ الحِسَابَاتِ.
Formal— To settle scores or finish all outstanding business.
قَرَّرَ المُدِيرُ تَصْفِيَةَ حِسَابَاتِهِ مَعَ الخُصُومِ.
Formal/MetaphoricalFácil de confundir
They are synonyms.
'Bank' is a loanword used everywhere; 'Masrif' is the native Arabic word used in formal/official titles.
أَذْهَبُ إِلَى البَنْكِ. (Common) / مَصْرِفُ الإِمَارَاتِ المَرْكَزِيُّ. (Official)
Both deal with money.
A 'Bank' is the institution; a 'Ṣarrāf' is either the human teller or the ATM machine itself.
أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى صَرَّافٍ آلِيٍّ.
Both store money.
'Bank' is for public/private deposits; 'Khizāna' is a safe box or the government's central treasury.
وَضَعْتُ الذَّهَبَ فِي الخِزَانَةِ.
Both are financial institutions.
'Bank' handles accounts/loans; 'Būrṣa' is the stock exchange for trading shares.
خَسِرَ المَالَ فِي البُورْصَةِ.
Both are business entities.
'Bank' is a specific type of financial company; 'Sharika' is a general term for any company.
هَذِهِ شَرِكَةُ اسْتِثْمَارٍ.
Patrones de oraciones
أَيْنَ [Noun]؟
أَيْنَ البَنْكُ؟
أُرِيدُ أَنْ [Verb] فِي البَنْكِ.
أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَفْتَحَ حِسَاباً فِي البَنْكِ.
[Noun] البَنْكِ [Adjective].
خِدْمَاتُ البَنْكِ سَرِيعَةٌ.
قَامَ البَنْكُ بِـ [Verbal Noun].
قَامَ البَنْكُ بِتَحْوِيلِ المَبْلَغِ.
بِنَاءً عَلَى سِيَاسَةِ البَنْكِ...
بِنَاءً عَلَى سِيَاسَةِ البَنْكِ، تَمَّ رَفْضُ الطَّلَبِ.
تَعْكِسُ مِيزَانِيَّةُ البَنْكِ...
تَعْكِسُ مِيزَانِيَّةُ البَنْكِ مَدَى قُوَّتِهِ المَالِيَّةِ.
هَذَا [Noun] [Adjective].
هَذَا بَنْكٌ مَشْهُورٌ.
هَلْ تَعْمَلُ فِي [Noun]؟
هَلْ تَعْمَلُ فِي بَنْكٍ؟
Familia de palabras
Sustantivos
Verbos
Adjetivos
Relacionado
Cómo usarlo
Extremely High (Top 500 words in modern Arabic).
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Using 'بَنْكُونَ' (bankūn) as the plural.
→
بُنُوك (bunūk)
Arabic uses a broken plural for this word, not the regular masculine plural suffix.
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Treating 'بَنْك' as feminine because it ends in a 'k' sound.
→
بَنْك كَبِير (not كَبِيرَة)
The word is masculine; adjectives must agree with the masculine gender.
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Writing 'البَنْك مِصْر' for 'Bank of Egypt'.
→
بَنْك مِصْر
In an Idafa (possessive) construction, the first word never takes the definite article 'al-'.
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Confusing 'بَنْك' with 'بَنْج' (anesthesia).
→
بَنْك (Bank) vs بَنْج (Binj)
One small sound change at the end completely changes the meaning. Be careful with 'k' vs 'j'.
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Forgetting the 'al-' in general statements.
→
أَنَا فِي البَنْك.
In Arabic, you usually refer to 'the bank' with the definite article unless you are talking about any random bank.
Consejos
Broken Plurals
Remember that 'bunūk' is a broken plural. When describing multiple banks, use feminine singular adjectives, e.g., 'بُنُوك كَبِيرَة' (big banks).
Hospitality
If you visit a bank manager's office in the Arab world, expect to be offered tea or coffee. It's polite to accept.
Maṣrif vs Bank
Use 'Maṣrif' if you want to sound more academic or when reading official government documents.
Pronunciation
Keep the 'k' sharp and clear. Don't let it sound like a 'g' unless you are intentionally using a specific local dialect.
Working Hours
Many banks in the Middle East close early in the afternoon and are closed on Fridays (the holy day). Plan your errands accordingly.
Apps
Most major Arab banks have excellent apps. Search for 'بَنْك' in the app store to see how they use the word in their branding.
Data Banks
Use 'بَنْك المَعْلُومَات' to describe a person who is very knowledgeable. It’s a great compliment.
Idafa Rule
When naming a bank (e.g., Bank of Jordan), never put 'al-' on the word 'Bank'. It's 'بَنْك الأُرْدُن' not 'البَنْك الأُرْدُن'.
News Keywords
In economic news, listen for 'al-bank al-markazi'. It's usually followed by 'rafa'a' (raised) or 'khafada' (lowered) interest rates.
Cognate Power
Leverage the fact that it's a cognate. It's one less word you have to struggle to memorize from scratch!
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Just remember it sounds exactly like 'Bank'! If you can say it in English, you can say it in Arabic. Just add an 'al-' to the front and you're a pro.
Asociación visual
Imagine a giant piggy bank sitting on top of a traditional Arabic 'Maṣrif' (stone building). The 'B' in Bank looks like the two humps of a camel carrying bags of money.
Word Web
Desafío
Try to find five different bank logos in Arabic online and write down their names. Notice how many use 'Bank' and how many use 'Masrif'.
Origen de la palabra
The word 'بَنْك' entered Arabic through contact with European languages, primarily Italian and French. It is a loanword that has been fully naturalized.
Significado original: The word comes from the Italian 'banco', which means a bench or table. In medieval Europe, money changers would conduct their business on benches in public squares.
Indo-European (via Romance languages) into Afroasiatic (Semitic/Arabic).Contexto cultural
Be aware of the religious sensitivity regarding 'riba' (interest). When discussing banking with very religious individuals, the term 'Islamic Bank' might carry more positive weight.
English speakers will find this word the easiest to learn as it is a direct cognate. The concept of a 'bank' is identical, though the service culture may differ.
Practica en la vida real
Contextos reales
Asking for directions
- أَيْنَ أَقْرَبُ بَنْك؟
- هَلِ البَنْكُ بَعِيدٌ؟
- كَيْفَ أَصِلُ إِلَى البَنْكِ؟
- أُرِيدُ بَنْكاً مَفْتُوحاً.
At the counter
- أُرِيدُ سَحْبَ مَالٍ.
- أُرِيدُ فَتْحَ حِسَابٍ.
- أَيْنَ مُوَظَّفُ البَنْكِ؟
- كَمِ العُمُولَةُ؟
Business meeting
- سَنُحَوِّلُ المَالَ عَبْرَ البَنْكِ.
- نَحْتَاجُ إِلَى ضَمَانٍ بَنْكِيٍّ.
- البَنْكُ المَرْكَزِيُّ غَيَّرَ القَوَانِينَ.
- نَتَعَامَلُ مَعَ بُنُوكٍ دَوْلِيَّةٍ.
Problem solving
- بِطَاقَةُ البَنْكِ لَا تَعْمَلُ.
- نَسِيتُ الرَّقْمَ السِّرِّيَّ.
- التَّطْبِيقُ البَنْكِيُّ مُعَطَّلٌ.
- أُرِيدُ إِغْلَاقَ حِسَابِي.
Shopping/Travel
- هَلْ تَقْبَلُونَ بِطَاقَةَ البَنْكِ؟
- أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى بَنْكٍ لِتَصْرِيفِ العُمْلَةِ.
- أَيْنَ الصَّرَّافُ الآلِيُّ لِلْبَنْكِ؟
- دَفَعْتُ عَبْرَ تَحْوِيلٍ بَنْكِيٍّ.
Inicios de conversación
"هَلْ تَعْرِفُ بَنْكاً مُمْتَازاً فِي هَذِهِ المَدِينَةِ؟ (Do you know an excellent bank in this city?)"
"مَا هُوَ رَأْيُكَ فِي خِدْمَاتِ البُنُوكِ الإِلِكْتُرُونِيَّةِ؟ (What is your opinion on electronic banking services?)"
"هَلْ يَعْمَلُ أَيُّ فَرْدٍ مِنْ عَائِلَتِكَ فِي بَنْكٍ؟ (Does any member of your family work in a bank?)"
"كَيْفَ يُمْكِنُنِي فَتْحُ حِسَابٍ بَنْكِيٍّ لِلأَجَانِبِ هُنَا؟ (How can I open a bank account for foreigners here?)"
"هَلْ تُفَضِّلُ التَّعَامُلَ مَعَ بَنْكٍ مَحَلِّيٍّ أَمْ دَوْلِيٍّ؟ (Do you prefer dealing with a local or international bank?)"
Temas para diario
اكْتُبْ عَنْ تَجْرِبَتِكَ فِي الذَّهَابِ إِلَى البَنْكِ فِي بَلَدٍ عَرَبِيٍّ. (Write about your experience going to the bank in an Arab country.)
هَلْ تَعْتَقِدُ أَنَّ البُنُوكَ سَتَخْتَفِي فِي المُسْتَقْبَلِ بِسَبَبِ التِّكْنُولُوجِيَا؟ (Do you think banks will disappear in the future because of technology?)
مَا هِيَ أَهَمُّ الصِّفَاتِ الَّتِي تَبْحَثُ عَنْهَا فِي البَنْكِ؟ (What are the most important qualities you look for in a bank?)
صِفْ كَيْفَ تُدِيرُ مَصَارِيفَكَ البَنْكِيَّةَ كُلَّ شَهْرٍ. (Describe how you manage your bank expenses every month.)
تَخَيَّلْ أَنَّكَ مُدِيرُ بَنْكٍ، مَا هِيَ التَّغْيِيرَاتُ الَّتِي سَتَقُومُ بِهَا؟ (Imagine you are a bank manager, what changes would you make?)
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, 'مَصْرِف' (maṣrif) is also very common, especially in formal writing and the names of official government banks. However, in daily life, 'بَنْك' is the word everyone uses.
The plural is 'بُنُوك' (bunūk). It is a broken plural, meaning you change the internal vowels rather than adding a suffix like -ūn or -āt.
It is masculine. So you say 'بَنْك كَبِير' (a big bank) and use masculine verbs and pronouns when referring to it.
Not exactly. The ATM is called 'صَرَّاف آلِي' (ṣarrāf ālī), but you might say 'I'm going to the bank' when you really mean you're going to use the ATM outside the bank.
A 'بَنْك إِسْلَامِي' (bank islāmī) is a financial institution that follows Sharia law, which prohibits interest. They use profit-sharing and other ethical investment models.
It is 'البَنْك المَرْكَزِي' (al-bank al-markazī). This is the government body that controls the currency and monetary policy.
In modern Arabic, it can also refer to a 'repository' or 'database', like 'بَنْك الدَّم' (blood bank) or 'بَنْك المَعْلُومَات' (data bank).
It's a loanword! It came into Arabic from European languages like Italian (banco) and French (banque) during the 19th century.
You say 'حِسَاب بَنْكِي' (ḥisāb bankī) or 'حِسَاب فِي البَنْك' (ḥisāb fī al-bank).
In Modern Standard Arabic, it is 'al-bank'. In many dialects (like Egyptian), the 'a' in 'al' often sounds like an 'e', resulting in 'el-bank'.
Ponte a prueba 200 preguntas
Write a sentence in Arabic saying: 'I want to go to the bank.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'The bank is closed on Friday.'
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Translate: 'Where is the nearest ATM?'
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Write: 'I have a savings account in the Islamic bank.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'The central bank raised the interest rates.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write: 'I lost my bank card yesterday.'
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Translate: 'The bank offers loans for students.'
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Write: 'Banking services are developing rapidly.'
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Translate: 'I need to transfer money to my friend.'
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Write: 'The manager of the bank is a helpful person.'
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Translate: 'There are many banks in the city center.'
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Write: 'Is there a branch of Bank of Egypt here?'
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Translate: 'The bank app is very easy to use.'
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Write: 'I want to withdraw 200 dollars.'
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Translate: 'The bank requires a valid ID.'
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Write: 'What is your bank balance?'
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Translate: 'The investment bank is located in Dubai.'
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Write: 'I opened a new account last week.'
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Translate: 'The bank provides financial advice.'
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Write: 'I am waiting for a bank transfer.'
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Say in Arabic: 'Where is the bank?'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'I want to open an account.'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'Is the bank open today?'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'I need an ATM.'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'My card is lost.'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'I work in a bank.'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'How much is the commission?'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'I want to transfer money.'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'The bank is far.'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'I want to talk to the manager.'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'What time does the bank close?'
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Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'I have a bank appointment.'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'Is this an Islamic bank?'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'The app is not working.'
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Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'I want to change my PIN.'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'I need a bank statement.'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'The bank is next to the restaurant.'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'Can I pay by card?'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'I want to deposit money.'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Say in Arabic: 'Where is the Bank of Jordan?'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Listen and identify the word: 'ذَهَبْتُ إِلَى البَنْكِ صَبَاحاً.'
Listen and identify the word: 'هَذِهِ البُنُوكُ مَشْهُورَةٌ.'
Listen and identify the word: 'أَيْنَ فَرْعُ البَنْكِ؟'
Listen and identify the word: 'رَصِيدِي فِي البَنْكِ مُنْخَفِضٌ.'
Listen and identify the word: 'البَنْكُ المَرْكَزِيُّ يُرَاقِبُ السُّوقَ.'
Listen and identify the word: 'أُرِيدُ سَحْبَ مِائَةِ دُولَارٍ.'
Listen and identify the word: 'هَلْ هُنَاكَ عُمُولَةٌ؟'
Listen and identify the word: 'بِطَاقَةُ البَنْكِ فِي المِحْفَظَةِ.'
Listen and identify the word: 'تَطْبِيقُ البَنْكِ سَرِيعٌ.'
Listen and identify the word: 'فَتَحْتُ حِسَاباً جَدِيداً.'
Listen and identify the word: 'تَحْوِيلٌ بَنْكِيٌّ دَوْلِيٌّ.'
Listen and identify the word: 'قَرْضٌ لِشِرَاءِ سَيَّارَةٍ.'
Listen and identify the word: 'مُدِيرُ البَنْكِ مَشْغُولٌ.'
Listen and identify the word: 'بَنْكُ الدَّمِ مَحَلِّيٌّ.'
Listen and identify the word: 'إِيدَاعُ النُّقُودِ سَهْلٌ.'
/ 200 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word بَنْك is a highly practical, easy-to-learn loanword in Arabic that functions as the primary term for a bank. Example: 'أُرِيدُ الذَّهَابَ إِلَى البَنْكِ' (I want to go to the bank).
- بَنْك is the universal Arabic word for a financial institution, derived from the Italian word 'banco'.
- It is a masculine noun with the broken plural form بُنُوك (bunūk), used in all dialects.
- Commonly used with verbs like 'open' (fataha), 'withdraw' (sahaba), and 'transfer' (hawwala).
- Essential for daily life, travel, and business, often appearing as 'al-bank' with the definite article.
Broken Plurals
Remember that 'bunūk' is a broken plural. When describing multiple banks, use feminine singular adjectives, e.g., 'بُنُوك كَبِيرَة' (big banks).
Hospitality
If you visit a bank manager's office in the Arab world, expect to be offered tea or coffee. It's polite to accept.
Maṣrif vs Bank
Use 'Maṣrif' if you want to sound more academic or when reading official government documents.
Pronunciation
Keep the 'k' sharp and clear. Don't let it sound like a 'g' unless you are intentionally using a specific local dialect.
Contenido relacionado
Más palabras de daily_life
أَعَدَّ
A2Preparar; disponer. Hacer las operaciones necesarias para obtener un producto.
عاش
A1Vivir (estar vivo, existir). Ejemplo: Ella vive en Madrid.
أَعْطَى
A2Dar, entregar, conceder. Ella le dio una segunda oportunidad.
أعيش
A1Vivo en Madrid con mi familia. (I live in Madrid with my family.)
عصراً
A2Por la tarde, específicamente al final de la tarde.
عطلة نهاية الأسبوع
A2El fin de semana es el tiempo de descanso semanal.
عيد
A2Un día festivo o de celebración, a menudo religioso o nacional. Ex: 'Es un día festivo agradable.' 'Esperamos el festival con impaciencia.'
عِيد
A2Un día de celebración o descanso. La gente compra ropa nueva y prepara dulces especiales para la fiesta.
عيش
B1La vida o el sustento. En Egipto, también significa pan.
أبريل
A2Abril es el cuarto mes del año en el calendario gregoriano.
