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A2 noun #1,500 le plus courant 5 min de lecture

شَعْر

sha'r Top 1,500

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'sha'r' means hair. You should be able to use it with simple colors like 'aswad' (black) or 'abiyad' (white). You might use it to describe yourself or your family members in very basic sentences. For example: 'My hair is short' (Sha'ri qasir). It is one of the basic body parts you learn early on, along with eyes (ayun) and hands (yadayn). Focus on the pronunciation: 'sha'r' with a short 'a' sound.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'sha'r' in daily contexts like going to the barber or describing people in more detail. You should know adjectives like 'tawil' (long), 'qasir' (short), 'na'im' (smooth/straight), and 'mu'ajja' (curly). You can form sentences about daily routines, such as washing or brushing hair. You also start to recognize the difference between 'sha'r' (hair) and 'shi'r' (poetry) to avoid basic confusion.

At the B1 level, you can discuss hair care and styles. You might use terms like 'tasriha' (hairstyle) or 'sabigh' (dye). You can describe more complex situations, such as 'I need to cut my hair because it is getting too long' or 'I like the way she styles her hair'. You are also introduced to the unit noun 'sha'ra' to refer to a single strand of hair, often used in the context of finding a hair in food or describing thinning hair.

At the B2 level, you use 'sha'r' in more idiomatic or technical ways. You might read articles about health that mention 'tasaqut al-sha'r' (hair loss) or 'taghdhiyat al-sha'r' (hair nutrition). You understand the cultural nuances of hair in the Arab world, including the significance of head coverings and how they relate to 'sha'r'. You can also handle more complex grammatical structures involving the word, such as using it as a 'mudaf' in an 'idafa' construction.

At the C1 level, you explore the literary and metaphorical uses of 'sha'r'. In classical literature, hair is often compared to the night (due to its darkness) or to silk. You can appreciate nuances in descriptive prose where 'sha'r' is used to convey a character's state of mind or social status. You also understand the etymological link between 'sha'r' and 'shu'ur' (feeling) and how this root influences Arabic thought regarding perception.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of the word and its derivatives. You can discuss the historical evolution of the word from Proto-Semitic roots. You are familiar with obscure classical terms for specific hair types or styles found in ancient poetry. You can use the word in high-level academic discussions about biology, sociology, or linguistics without hesitation, and you understand every subtle pun or wordplay involving 'sha'r' and 'shi'r'.

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

شَعْر en 30 secondes

Sha'r means hair or fur.
It is a masculine collective noun.
The unit noun is 'sha'ra' (one hair).
Don't confuse it with 'shi'r' (poetry).

The Arabic word شَعْر (sha'r) primarily refers to the biological growth found on the skin of humans and mammals, known in English as 'hair'. In the Arabic linguistic tradition, the root sh-'-r relates to perception and awareness, which is why the same root gives us words for feeling (shu'ur) and poetry (shi'r). However, when pronounced with a fatha on the first letter (sha-), it specifically denotes the physical strands of hair. This noun is a collective noun in Arabic, meaning it refers to the hair on the head as a single entity. If you wish to refer to a single strand of hair, you would use the unit noun شَعْرَة (sha'ra).

Biological Context: In a scientific or medical context, 'sha'r' refers to the protein filaments that grow from follicles in the dermis. In Arabic, this term covers everything from the hair on one's head to the fur on a cat or the woolly coat of a goat.
Physical Description: It is one of the most common features used in Arabic to describe a person's appearance, often followed by adjectives for color (aswad, bunni, ashqar) or texture (na'im, mu'ajja).

البنت لها شَعْر طويل وجميل.
(The girl has long and beautiful hair.)

Culturally, hair has significant importance in the Arab world. Historically, long, thick hair has been a symbol of health and beauty in classical Arabic poetry. Even today, the way one styles their 'sha'r' is a major part of social identity and personal grooming. It is important to note that while 'sha'r' refers to the hair on the body, specific types of hair have their own names, such as 'lihya' for a beard or 'shwarib' for a mustache, though they are all composed of 'sha'r'.

قطتي لديها شَعْر ناعم جداً.
(My cat has very soft hair/fur.)

Linguistic Root: The root Sh-'-R (ش-ع-ر) is fascinating because it connects the physical sensation of hair (which is sensitive) to the emotional sensation of feeling and the artistic expression of poetry.

Using the word شَعْر in a sentence is straightforward, but there are grammatical nuances to keep in mind. As a collective noun, it is treated as a masculine singular noun in most contexts. For example, you would say 'sha'ruhu aswad' (his hair is black), using the masculine singular 'aswad'.

Adjective Agreement: Adjectives following 'sha'r' must be masculine singular.
Example: شَعْرٌ قَصِير (short hair), شَعْرٌ كَثِيف (thick hair).

يجب أن أغسل شَعْرِي اليوم.
(I must wash my hair today.)

When you want to describe the act of cutting hair, you use the verb 'qassa' (قَصَّ). For example, 'qasastu sha'ri' (I cut my hair). If you are at the barber, you might say 'uridu qassa sha'ri' (I want a haircut). Note that in many dialects, the word might be pronounced slightly differently, but the written form remains constant.

وجدتُ شَعْرَةً في طعامي!
(I found a hair in my food!)

Possessive Forms: Sha'ri (My hair), Sha'ruka (Your hair - masc), Sha'ruki (Your hair - fem), Sha'ruhu (His hair), Sha'ruha (Her hair).

You will encounter the word شَعْر in various daily scenarios. The most common is at the hallaq (barber) or salun al-tajmil (beauty salon). Conversations about grooming, fashion, and health frequently involve this word.

الحلاق يقص شَعْر الزبون.
(The barber is cutting the customer's hair.)

In medical settings, a dermatologist (tabib al-jildiyya) might ask about 'tasaqut al-sha'r' (hair loss). In supermarkets, you'll see it on bottles of 'shambu' (shampoo) or 'muna'im al-sha'r' (hair conditioner). In literature, descriptions of characters often start with the color and length of their 'sha'r'.

At the Salon: 'Sabigh al-sha'r' (hair dye) and 'tajfif al-sha'r' (hair drying) are common terms you will hear.

The most frequent mistake learners make with شَعْر is confusing it with its 'look-alike' words that share the same root but have different vowels. This is a classic 'vowel trap' in Arabic.

Sha'r vs. Shi'r: شَعْر (Sha'r) means hair.
شِعْر (Shi'r) means poetry.
Mixing these up can lead to funny sentences like 'I am writing a hair' or 'I am cutting my poetry'.
Sha'r vs. Shu'ur: شُعُور (Shu'ur) means feeling or emotion. While related by root, they are distinct nouns.

خطأ: أحب هذا الشَعْر (بمعنى القصيدة).
(Error: I love this hair - when you mean poem.)

Another mistake is using the plural 'ash'ar' to mean 'many hairs'. In Arabic, if you want to say someone has a lot of hair, you just use the singular collective 'sha'r'. If you use 'ash'ar', an Arabic speaker will immediately think you are talking about poems.

While شَعْر is the general term for hair, Arabic has specific words for different types of hair or hair-like structures on other creatures.

فَرْو (Farw): Means 'fur'. While you can use 'sha'r' for an animal, 'farw' specifically refers to the thick coat of animals like foxes, bears, or expensive fur coats.
رِيش (Reesh): Means 'feathers'. This is used exclusively for birds.
صُوف (Suf): Means 'wool'. This is the specific term for the hair of sheep.
وَبَر (Wabar): Specifically refers to camel hair or the fine undercoat of some animals.

الخروف له صوف، والطائر له ريش، والإنسان له شَعْر.
(The sheep has wool, the bird has feathers, and the human has hair.)

How Formal Is It?

Formel

Informel

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Exemples par niveau

شَعْرِي أَسْوَد.

My hair is black.

Possessive suffix '-i' attached to 'sha'r'.

هِيَ لَهَا شَعْر طَوِيل.

She has long hair.

Adjective 'tawil' follows the noun.

هَذَا شَعْر جَمِيل.

This is beautiful hair.

Demonstrative 'hadha' (masculine) used with 'sha'r'.

أَيْنَ الشَعْر؟

Where is the hair?

Definite article 'al-' attached.

شَعْرُهُ قَصِير.

His hair is short.

Possessive suffix '-hu' (his).

أُمِي لَهَا شَعْر بُنِّي.

My mother has brown hair.

Color adjective 'bunni'.

شَعْر القِطَّة أَبْيَض.

The cat's hair/fur is white.

Idafa construction: hair of the cat.

أَنَا أُحِبُّ شَعْرِي.

I love my hair.

Verb 'uhibbu' (I love) + object.

أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَقُصَّ شَعْرِي.

I want to cut my hair.

Present tense verb 'aqussa' (I cut).

شَعْرُهَا نَاعِم جِدّاً.

Her hair is very smooth.

Adverb 'jiddan' (very) modifying the adjective.

هَلْ تَغْسِلُ شَعْرَكَ كُلَّ يَوْم؟

Do you wash your hair every day?

Question format with 'hal'.

أَخِي لَهُ شَعْر مُجَعَّد.

My brother has curly hair.

Adjective 'mu'ajja' (curly).

اسْتَخْدِمِ المِشْط لِشَعْرِكَ.

Use the comb for your hair.

Imperative verb 'istakhdim'.

شَعْرُ الجَدِّ أَبْيَض.

The grandfather's hair is white.

Idafa: hair of the grandfather.

لَا أُحِبُّ الشَعْر الطَوِيل لِلرِّجَال.

I don't like long hair for men.

Negation 'la' + 'uhibbu'.

شَعْرُهَا أَشْقَر مِثْل الذَّهَب.

Her hair is blonde like gold.

Simile using 'mithl' (like).

اشْتَرَيْتُ شَامْبُو جَدِيداً لِشَعْرِي الجَاف.

I bought a new shampoo for my dry hair.

Adjective 'jaf' (dry).

تَذْهَبُ إِلَى الصَالُون لِتَصْبِيغِ شَعْرِهَا.

She goes to the salon to dye her hair.

Verbal noun 'tasbigh' (dyeing).

كَانَ شَعْرُهُ يَتَسَاقَطُ بِسَبَبِ التَّوَتُّر.

His hair was falling out because of stress.

Verb 'yatasaqatu' (falling out/shedding).

هَذِهِ التَّسْرِيحَة تُنَاسِبُ شَعْرَكِ.

This hairstyle suits your hair.

Noun 'tasriha' (hairstyle).

يَجِبُ تَرْطِيبُ الشَعْر فِي الصَّيْف.

Hair must be moisturized in the summer.

Passive-like construction with 'yajib'.

وَجَدْتُ شَعْرَةً بَيْضَاءَ وَاحِدَةً اليَوْم.

I found one single white hair today.

Unit noun 'sha'ra' used for a single strand.

شَعْرُهَا كَثِيفٌ وَيَصْعُبُ تَمْشِيطُهُ.

Her hair is thick and hard to comb.

Adjective 'kathif' (thick).

يَسْتَعْمِلُ زَيْتَ الزَّيْتُون لِتَقْوِيَةِ الشَعْر.

He uses olive oil to strengthen the hair.

Purpose clause with 'li-'.

يُعَانِي الكَثِيرُ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ مِنْ فُقْدَانِ الشَعْرِ.

Many men suffer from hair loss.

Verb 'yu'ani' (suffers).

تَمَيَّزَتِ المَرْأَةُ بِشَعْرِهَا الفَاحِمِ السَّوَادِ.

The woman was distinguished by her jet-black hair.

Compound adjective 'faham al-sawad'.

إِنَّ صِحَّةَ الشَعْرِ تَعْكِسُ صِحَّةَ الجِسْمِ.

Hair health reflects body health.

Particle 'inna' for emphasis.

قَامَ الحَلَّاقُ بِتَدْرِيجِ الشَعْرِ بِاحْتِرَافِيَّةٍ.

The barber faded the hair professionally.

Verbal noun 'tadriij' (fading/layering).

تُوجَدُ مَوَادُّ كِيمِيَائِيَّةٌ قَدْ تَضُرُّ بِالشَعْرِ.

There are chemicals that might harm the hair.

Relative clause 'qad tadhurru'.

كَانَ الشَعْرُ يَنْسَدِلُ عَلَى كَتِفَيْهَا.

The hair was flowing down over her shoulders.

Verb 'yansadilu' (to flow/drape).

تُعْتَبَرُ زِرَاعَةُ الشَعْرِ حَلّاً لِلصَّلَعِ.

Hair transplant is considered a solution for baldness.

Passive verb 'tu'tabaru'.

يَلْعَبُ الغِذَاءُ دَوْراً هَامّاً فِي نُمُوِّ الشَعْرِ.

Nutrition plays an important role in hair growth.

Idafa: growth of the hair.

وَصَفَ الشَّاعِرُ شَعْرَ المَحْبُوبَةِ كَلَيْلٍ بَهِيمٍ.

The poet described the beloved's hair as a pitch-black night.

Metaphorical usage in literature.

تَتَأَثَّرُ بُصَيْلَاتُ الشَعْرِ بِالعَوَامِلِ الوِرَاثِيَّةِ.

Hair follicles are affected by genetic factors.

Technical term 'busaylat' (follicles).

كَانَ مَلْمَسُ شَعْرِهَا كَالحَرِيرِ الخَالِصِ.

The texture of her hair was like pure silk.

Noun 'malmas' (texture/feel).

أَثَارَتِ القَضِيَّةُ خِلَافاً حَوْلَ قَصِّ الشَعْرِ القَسْرِيِّ.

The case sparked a dispute over forced hair cutting.

Adjective 'qasri' (forced).

يُسْتَخْدَمُ الشَعْرُ فِي بَعْضِ الأَحْيَانِ لِتَحْلِيلِ الحِمْضِ النَّوَوِيِّ.

Hair is sometimes used for DNA analysis.

Scientific context.

انْتَصَبَ شَعْرُ رَأْسِهِ مِنَ الخَوْفِ.

The hair on his head stood up from fear.

Idiomatic expression for extreme fear.

كَانَ الشَعْرُ مَضْفُوراً بِإِتْقَانٍ شَدِيدٍ.

The hair was braided with great precision.

Passive participle 'madhfur' (braided).

تَجَلَّتْ بَرَاعَةُ النَّحَّاتِ فِي تَفَاصِيلِ الشَعْرِ.

The sculptor's skill was evident in the details of the hair.

Abstract usage in art criticism.

تَغَنَّى الأُدَبَاءُ بِسَوَادِ الشَعْرِ وَطُولِهِ فِي العَصْرِ الجَاهِلِيِّ.

Literary figures sang of the blackness and length of hair in the Pre-Islamic era.

Historical literary context.

إِنَّ التَّمَايُزَ بَيْنَ الشَّعْرِ وَالشِّعْرِ جَوْهَرِيٌّ فِي فَهْمِ البَلَاغَةِ.

The distinction between 'hair' and 'poetry' is essential in understanding rhetoric.

Linguistic analysis.

تَعْكِسُ تَسْرِيحَاتُ الشَعْرِ التَّحَوُّلَاتِ السُّوسْيُوكُلْتُورِيَّةَ.

Hairstyles reflect socio-cultural transformations.

Sociological terminology.

يُعَدُّ الشَعْرُ بَقَايَا أَثَرِيَّةً بَيولوجِيَّةً فِي عِلْمِ الإِنْسَانِ.

Hair is considered biological archaeological remains in anthropology.

Academic context.

لَمْ يَبْقَ بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا شَعْرَةُ مُعَاوِيَةَ.

Nothing remained between them but Muawiya's hair (a thin thread of diplomacy).

High-level political idiom.

يَتَطَلَّبُ تَرْميمُ الشَعْرِ التَّالِفِ عِلَاجاً كِيمِيَائِيّاً مُعَقَّداً.

Restoring damaged hair requires complex chemical treatment.

Advanced technical description.

كَانَ الشَعْرُ مُرْسَلاً دُونَ قَيْدٍ أَوْ رِبَاطٍ.

The hair was let loose without restraint or tie.

Poetic/Literary phrasing.

تَشَابَكَتْ خُصَلُ الشَعْرِ كَأَغْصَانِ شَجَرَةٍ عَتِيقَةٍ.

The locks of hair intertwined like the branches of an ancient tree.

Advanced simile.

Collocations courantes

قَصُّ الشَعْر

غَسْلُ الشَعْر

تَسَاقُطُ الشَعْر

صَبْغُ الشَعْر

تَمْشِيطُ الشَعْر

شَعْرٌ نَاعِم

شَعْرٌ مُجَعَّد

شَعْرٌ طَوِيل

شَعْرٌ كَثِيف

زَيْتُ الشَعْر

Phrases Courantes

قَصَّةُ شَعْر

فَرْشَاةُ شَعْر

مُجَفِّفُ شَعْر

رَبْطَةُ شَعْر

دَبُّوسُ شَعْر

لَوْنُ الشَعْر

نُمُوُّ الشَعْر

عِلَاجُ الشَعْر

بُصَيْلَةُ شَعْر

زِرَاعَةُ الشَعْر

Souvent confondu avec

شَعْر vs شِعْر

شَعْر vs شَرّ

شَعْر vs شُعُور

Expressions idiomatiques

Facile à confondre

شَعْر vs

Structures de phrases

Comment l'utiliser

dialect

In Egyptian, it's 'sha'r'. In Levantine, 'sha'er'.

metaphor

Used to describe something very thin or a narrow escape.

Erreurs courantes

Saying 'ash'ari' for 'my hairs' instead of 'sha'ri'.
Confusing 'sha'r' with 'shi'r' (poetry).
Using feminine adjectives with 'sha'r'.
Pronouncing the 'ayn' as an 'alif'.
Using 'sha'r' for bird feathers (use 'reesh' instead).

Astuces

Collective Noun

Treat 'sha'r' as a single item even though it refers to many hairs.

Unit Noun

Use 'sha'ra' for one strand of hair.

Vowel Check

Fatha (a) = Hair. Kasra (i) = Poetry.

Compliments

Complimenting hair is very common in Arab social settings.

Animal Hair

Use 'sha'r' for most animals, but 'suf' for sheep.

Spelling

The 'ayn' is the middle letter; don't skip it.

Hairstyles

Learn 'mu'ajja' (curly) and 'na'im' (straight) first.

Hair Loss

'Tasaqut' is the word for falling hair.

Products

Look for 'al-sha'r' on shampoo bottles.

Muawiya's Hair

A famous idiom for keeping a thin connection alive.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'Sha'r' as 'SHaring' the head with your brain. Or remember: 'Sha'r' is on your head, 'Shi'r' is in your book.

Origine du mot

Semitic

Contexte culturel

Barbershops (Hallaq) are social hubs for men in the Arab world.

Henna is frequently used as a natural dye for hair and to treat the scalp.

Classical poets often compared dark hair to the night and a parting in the hair to the dawn.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"أَيْنَ تَقُصُّ شَعْرَكَ؟ (Where do you cut your hair?)"

"هَلْ تُحِبُّ الشَعْرَ الطَوِيلَ أَمِ القَصِيرَ؟ (Do you like long or short hair?)"

"مَا هُوَ لَوْنُ شَعْرِكَ الأَصْلِيُّ؟ (What is your original hair color?)"

"كَيْفَ تَعْتَنِي بِشَعْرِكَ؟ (How do you take care of your hair?)"

"هَلْ جَرَّبْتَ صَبْغَ شَعْرِكَ مِنْ قَبْلُ؟ (Have you tried dyeing your hair before?)"

Sujets d'écriture

صِفْ شَعْرَكَ وَكَيْفَ تُحِبُّ تَسْرِيحَهُ.

اُكْتُبْ عَنْ زِيَارَةٍ لِلْحَلَّاقِ.

هَلْ تَعْتَقِدُ أَنَّ الشَعْرَ يُؤَثِّرُ عَلَى الثِّقَةِ بِالنَّفْسِ؟

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

You say 'Qasastu sha'ri' (I cut my hair) or 'Hasaltu 'ala qassat sha'r'.

It is masculine.

Yes, you can use 'sha'r' or 'farw' (fur).

The plural 'ash'ar' means poems. For hair strands, use 'sha'rat'.

Sha'r ashqar.

Farshat sha'r.

Asla' (masculine) or sal'aa (feminine).

Yes, it appears in various contexts including descriptions of animals.

Context is key. If the text is about a barber, it's hair. If it's about a book, it's poetry.

Qishrat al-ra's (literally: skin of the head).