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مُرَشَّح

B2 noun #3,500 most common 9 min read

مُرَشَّح

murashah Top 3,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips مُرَشَّح in 30 Seconds

Explanation مُرَشَّح in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that مُرَشَّح (murashshaḥ) means 'candidate' or 'person for a job.' You might see it in simple forms or on posters. Think of it as a label for a person who wants a job or to be a leader. You can use it in very basic sentences like 'He is a candidate' (هو مُرَشَّح). Don't worry about the complex grammar yet; just remember that it refers to a person in a competition for a role. You might hear it during election time on the news. It is a masculine noun, and for a woman, you add a 'ta marbuta' at the end: مُرَشَّحَة. Focus on recognizing the word when you see it in a list of names or in a simple job advertisement. It is a formal word, but very common in daily life in Arab countries.

At the A2 level, you should be able to use مُرَشَّح in simple sentences with prepositions. The most important preposition is لـِ (for). For example, أنا مُرَشَّح لِلْوَظيفة (I am a candidate for the job). You should also recognize the plural form مُرَشَّحون (murashshaḥūn). At this stage, you start to see the word in the context of news headlines or office talk. You might describe someone as a 'good candidate' (مُرَشَّح جَيِّد). Understanding that this word is more formal than 'applicant' (مُتَقَدِّم) will help you sound more natural. You should practice making sentences about people you know who are applying for things, using the correct gender agreement.

At the B1 level, you can use مُرَشَّح to discuss more complex social and professional scenarios. You should be able to talk about the 'selection process' (عَمَلِيَّة الاخْتِيار) and how a مُرَشَّح is chosen. You can use the word in the possessive (Idafa) construction, like مُرَشَّحُ الحِزْبِ الحاكِم (the candidate of the ruling party). You will also encounter the verbal noun تَرْشِيح (nomination) and should understand how they are related. At this level, you can express opinions about candidates, such as 'I think this candidate is the most qualified' (أعْتَقِدُ أنَّ هذا المُرَشَّحَ هو الأكْثَرُ كَفَاءَة). You are moving beyond simple identification to active discussion about people's roles and ambitions.

At the B2 level, you should have a firm grasp of the word's etymology and its various shades of meaning. You understand that مُرَشَّح is a passive participle of Form II, which gives it a specific 'weight' in the sentence. You can distinguish between a مُرَشَّح مُسْتَقِل (independent candidate) and one who is backed by an institution. You are comfortable using the word in professional writing, such as an email discussing potential hires or a report on an election. You also know the technical meaning of 'filtered' in scientific contexts, though you primarily use it for people. You can use the word in complex grammatical structures, including conditional sentences like 'If he were a candidate, I would vote for him' (لَوْ كانَ مُرَشَّحاً، لَصَوَّتُّ لَه).

At the C1 level, you use مُرَشَّح with precision and stylistic flair. You are aware of its synonyms like مُزَكَّى or مُناَفِس and choose between them based on the desired register. You can use the word in political analysis, discussing 'candidate viability' or 'shortlisting strategies.' You understand how the word functions in media rhetoric to frame certain individuals as front-runners or underdogs. Your use of the word is grammatically flawless across all cases (nominative, accusative, genitive) and pluralities. You might also use it metaphorically in literature or high-level journalism to describe someone 'destined' or 'nominated' by fate for a particular struggle or achievement.

At the C2 level, your mastery of مُرَشَّح is native-like. You understand the historical development of the root ر-ش-ح and how it transitioned from 'filtering/oozing' to 'nominating.' You can appreciate the word's use in classical-style modern poetry or philosophical essays where it might represent the 'chosen' or the 'vetted' soul. You can navigate the most complex legal and constitutional documents where the rights and obligations of a مُرَشَّح are defined. You are also capable of wordplay, perhaps punning on the 'filter' and 'candidate' meanings in a sophisticated joke or a sharp piece of satire. Your understanding is not just linguistic but deeply cultural, knowing the weight a 'nomination' carries in different Arab societies.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

مُرَشَّح in 30 Seconds

A formal term for a candidate or nominee in politics, business, or awards.
Derived from the root meaning to filter, implying a vetted selection.
Must agree in gender (murashshaḥah) and number (murashshaḥūn) with the subject.
Commonly used with the preposition 'li' (for) to specify the role.

The word مُرَشَّح (murashshaḥ) is a cornerstone of formal Arabic discourse, particularly in the realms of politics, professional recruitment, and competitive accolades. At its core, it refers to an individual who has been proposed or has put themselves forward for a specific role, title, or honor. This term is the passive participle of the Form II verb رَشَّحَ (rashshaḥa), which means 'to nominate' or 'to candidate someone.' Interestingly, the root ر-ش-ح (r-sh-ḥ) originally relates to the concept of oozing, perspiration, or filtering. In a metaphorical sense, a 'candidate' is someone who has been 'filtered' through a selection process to emerge as a viable option for a position.

Political Context: In political science, a مُرَشَّح is any person running for office, whether it be a local council seat or the presidency. The term implies that the person has met the legal requirements to be on the ballot. You will see this word on every news broadcast during election season, often paired with the political party they represent.

يعتبر هذا الرجل أقوى مُرَشَّح للرئاسة في الدورة القادمة.
(This man is considered the strongest candidate for the presidency in the next term.)

Professional/Corporate Context: When applying for a job in the Arab world, once you move past the initial 'applicant' stage (مُتَقَدِّم) and enter the interview phase, you are often referred to as a مُرَشَّح. This indicates that you are being seriously considered and 'vetted' for the role. Human Resources departments use this term to categorize individuals who have reached the final shortlist.

Furthermore, in the world of arts and entertainment, particularly during award ceremonies like the Oscars or the Nobel Prize, a nominee is always called a مُرَشَّح. It signifies a level of prestige and recognition, regardless of whether the person ultimately wins. The word carries a sense of potentiality—it describes someone on the threshold of a significant change in status. Whether you are discussing a friend applying for a scholarship or a world leader seeking re-election, this word provides the necessary formal weight to the conversation.

تم إعلان قائمة المُرَشَّحين النهائيين لجائزة الأدب.
(The list of final nominees for the literature prize has been announced.)

Social Nuance: Using this word shows a high level of linguistic competence. While a beginner might use 'talib' (student) or 'shakhs' (person), using مُرَشَّح correctly identifies you as someone who understands the structures of institutional life in the Arabic-speaking world.

هل أنت مُرَشَّح لهذا المنصب؟
(Are you a candidate for this position?)

Using مُرَشَّح requires an understanding of its role as a noun and its relationship with prepositions. Most commonly, it is followed by the preposition لـِ (for) to indicate the position or award being sought. For example, 'a candidate for the job' is مُرَشَّح لِلْوَظيفة. This structure is very consistent and mirrors the English 'candidate for.' It can also be used in an Idafa (possessive) construction, such as مُرَشَّحُ الحِزْب (the party's candidate), where the word becomes the first part of the possessive link.

Agreement in Gender and Number: Since it is a noun/adjective derivative, it must agree with the person it describes. A female candidate is a مُرَشَّحَة (murashshaḥah). If you are talking about a group of women, use مُرَشَّحات (murashshaḥāt). This gender agreement is vital for grammatical accuracy in both spoken and written Modern Standard Arabic.

هذه السيدة هي أفضل مُرَشَّحَة رأيناها اليوم.
(This lady is the best candidate we have seen today.)

In more complex sentences, مُرَشَّح often acts as the subject of a nominal sentence or the object of verbs like 'to choose' (اختار), 'to support' (دَعَم), or 'to reject' (رَفَض). For instance, 'The committee chose the candidate' would be اخْتارَتِ اللَّجْنَةُ المُرَشَّح. Notice how the definite article الـ is added when referring to a specific, previously mentioned candidate. Furthermore, in business reporting, you might see it used with the verb 'to be shortlisted' as تَمَّ تَرْشِيحُه (he was nominated), where the verbal noun تَرْشِيح is used.

The Passive Nuance: Because it is a passive participle, it implies that the candidate has been 'nominated' by someone else or a system. Even if a person nominates themselves, the language treats them as the 'nominated one.' This reflects the formal process of being accepted into a pool of contenders.

يوجد ثلاثة مُرَشَّحِينَ يَتَنافسون على المَقْعَد.
(There are three candidates competing for the seat.)

Syntactically, the word is very flexible. It can be a Khabar (predicate) in a sentence like أنا مُرَشَّح (I am a candidate), or it can be a Na't (adjective) modifying a noun, such as القائمة المُرَشَّحَة (the nominated list). Mastering these variations allows you to navigate professional environments with confidence, ensuring you use the right form for the right person in the right grammatical slot.

You will encounter مُرَشَّح in a variety of high-stakes environments. The most prominent is the news media. During election cycles in countries like Egypt, Lebanon, or Iraq, the word is repeated incessantly on channels like Al Jazeera or Al Arabiya. News tickers will list أسماء المُرَشَّحين (names of candidates) and discuss their platforms. In this context, the word carries the weight of national destiny and political ambition.

In the Corporate Office: If you work in a multinational company in Dubai or Riyadh, HR managers will use this word daily. During recruitment meetings, you might hear: 'لدينا مُرَشَّح مُمتاز لهذه الوظيفة' (We have an excellent candidate for this job). It is the standard professional term for anyone who has passed the initial screening phase.

سَنُقابِلُ المُرَشَّحَ الأخير غداً في الساعة العاشرة.
(We will meet the last candidate tomorrow at ten o'clock.)

Another common venue is academia and the arts. When a professor is being considered for tenure, or a student for a prestigious PhD fellowship, they are a مُرَشَّح. Similarly, in the Arab film industry, when the 'Carthage Film Festival' or the 'Cairo International Film Festival' announces its nominees, the term مُرَشَّح لِلْجائزة is used in every press release and interview. It is a word that bridges the gap between the effort of applying and the reward of winning.

The Technical Side: While less common in daily speech, if you are in a lab or a kitchen, you might hear مُرَشَّح referring to a filter. For example, مُرَشَّح مياه (water filter) or مُرَشَّح قهوة (coffee filter). However, context always makes the meaning clear; you are unlikely to confuse a political candidate with a coffee filter!

من هو مُرَشَّحُكَ المُفَضَّل لِهذا العام؟
(Who is your favorite candidate for this year?)

One of the most frequent errors learners make is confusing مُرَشَّح (murashshaḥ) with مُتَقَدِّم (mutaqaddim). While both can be translated as 'applicant' or 'candidate,' they represent different stages of a process. A مُتَقَدِّم is anyone who has submitted an application—it's the 'entry-level' term. A مُرَشَّح is someone who has been vetted, nominated, or chosen to proceed. Using the former when you mean a finalist can sound slightly unprofessional or imprecise.

Pronunciation Pitfalls: The 'shadda' (doubling of the consonant) on the letter 'shin' (شّ) is crucial. If you pronounce it with a single 'sh' sound, it may sound like a different root or simply like broken Arabic. It is 'mu-rash-shaḥ,' with a distinct emphasis on the 'sh.' Additionally, the final 'ḥ' (ح) must be a sharp, breathy sound from the throat, not a soft English 'h.'

خطأ: أنا مُرَشَح (بدون شدة).
صواب: أنا مُرَشَّح (مع الشدة).
(Wrong: single 'sh'. Right: double 'sh'.)

Another mistake is failing to use the correct preposition. Learners often try to use عن (about/on behalf of) or في (in) when they should use لـِ (for). While مُرَشَّح عَنْ حِزْب (candidate on behalf of a party) is correct for political affiliation, saying 'candidate in the job' is incorrect; it must be 'candidate for the job' (لِلْوَظيفَة).

Passive vs. Active Confusion: Do not confuse مُرَشَّح (the nominee) with مُرَشِّح (the nominator). The difference is just one vowel (the 'kasra' under the 'sh' makes it the person doing the nominating). In modern script, the vowels are often omitted, so you must rely on context. However, in speech, getting that 'a' (fatha) sound in 'murashshaḥ' is vital to show you are the one being nominated!

تأكد من تأنيث الكلمة إذا كانت مُرَشَّحَة.
(Make sure to feminize the word if it is a female candidate.)

While مُرَشَّح is the most standard term for a candidate, several other words occupy similar semantic space. Understanding the nuances between them will greatly enhance your vocabulary. The most common alternative is مُتَقَدِّم (mutaqaddim), which literally means 'one who comes forward' or 'applicant.' As discussed, this is used for anyone who applies, whereas مُرَشَّح implies a higher level of selection.

Comparison of Terms

مُرَشَّح (Murashshaḥ):: A vetted candidate or nominee for a formal role.
مُتَقَدِّم (Mutaqaddim):: An applicant who has simply submitted their papers.
مُناَفِس (Munāfis):: A competitor or rival in a race or contest.

المُرَشَّح هو مُنافس قوي في هذه الانتخابات.
(The candidate is a strong competitor in these elections.)

Another word is طالِب (ṭālib), which usually means 'student' but can also mean 'seeker' or 'requester.' In legal or very formal old-fashioned contexts, you might see طالِب الوَظيفة (the seeker of the job). However, in modern usage, مُرَشَّح has largely replaced this. For sports or competitions, the word مُتَسابِق (mutasābiq - contestant) is more appropriate than مُرَشَّح, as it implies an active race (like a marathon or a game show) rather than a nomination-based selection.

Synonyms in Context: If you want to sound more literary, you might use مُزَكَّى (muzakkā), which means 'someone who has been recommended or purified for a role.' This is common in religious or traditional community contexts where a leader is chosen based on their reputation and 'recommendation' by elders.

هناك فرق بَين المُتَقَدِّم لِلعَمَل وبين المُرَشَّح النهائي.
(There is a difference between the job applicant and the final candidate.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The link between 'filtering' and 'candidate' comes from the idea of a person being 'filtered' through a selection process until only the best remains. It is like the 'distilled' choice for a position.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /mu.raʃ.ʃaħ/

US /mu.ræʃ.ʃæħ/

The stress is on the second syllable: mu-RASH-shaḥ.

Rhymes With

مُصَحَّح (muṣaḥḥaḥ) مُوَضَّح (muwaḍḍaḥ) مُسَلَّح (musallaḥ) مُجَنَّح (mujannaḥ) مُفَتَّح (mufattaḥ) مُقَبَّح (muqabbaḥ) مُسَبَّح (musabbaḥ) مُلَحَّح (mulaḥḥaḥ)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'sh' as a single sound instead of doubled (shadda).
Using a soft English 'h' instead of the deep Arabic 'ḥ'.
Changing the 'u' sound to an 'o' sound.
Stress on the first syllable.
Failing to pronounce the final 'ḥ' clearly.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize in text due to common patterns.

Writing 4/5

Requires correct use of shadda and gender endings.

Speaking 4/5

The final 'ḥ' and shadda can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 3/5

Clear pronunciation in formal media.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

شَخْص (person) عَمَل (work) اخْتار (to choose) اسْم (name) مَدير (manager)

Learn Next

انْتِخابات (elections) تَصْويت (voting) مُناَفَسَة (competition) تَزْكِيَة (recommendation) بَرْنامَج (program)

Advanced

دُسْتور (constitution) بَرْلَمان (parliament) اسْتِحْقاق (entitlement/election) اقْتِراع (ballot) تَحالف (alliance)

Grammar to Know

Passive Participle Formation

رَشَّحَ -> مُرَشَّح (Form II)

Idafa (Possessive) Construction

مُرَشَّحُ الحِزْبِ (The party's candidate)

Noun-Adjective Agreement

مُرَشَّحٌ ذَكِيٌّ (A smart candidate)

Sound Masculine Plural

مُرَشَّحون / مُرَشَّحين

Prepositional Usage

مُرَشَّح لـِ (Candidate for)

Examples by Level

هو مُرَشَّح.

He is a candidate.

Simple subject-predicate sentence.

هي مُرَشَّحَة.

She is a candidate.

Feminine form with ta marbuta.

أنا مُرَشَّح لِلْوَظيفة.

I am a candidate for the job.

Use of preposition 'li' (for).

من هو المُرَشَّح؟

Who is the candidate?

Question with 'man' (who).

المُرَشَّح هُنا.

The candidate is here.

Definite article 'al-'.

هذا مُرَشَّح جَيِّد.

This is a good candidate.

Adjective 'jayyid' (good) follows the noun.

عِندي مُرَشَّح.

I have a candidate.

Possession with 'indi'.

المُرَشَّح في المَكْتَب.

The candidate is in the office.

Prepositional phrase.

هناك مُرَشَّحون كَثيرون.

There are many candidates.

Sound masculine plural 'un'.

اخْتَرنا مُرَشَّحاً مُمتازاً.

We chose an excellent candidate.

Accusative case for the object.

هل تَعْرِفُ المُرَشَّحَة؟

Do you know the female candidate?

Direct object with 'al-'.

المُرَشَّحُ ذَكِيٌّ جِدّاً.

The candidate is very smart.

Noun-adjective agreement.

أُريدُ أنْ أكونَ مُرَشَّحاً.

I want to be a candidate.

Accusative after 'yakuna'.

المُرَشَّحُ يَتَحَدَّثُ الآن.

The candidate is speaking now.

Present tense verb following the noun.

هذا المُرَشَّحُ مِن مِصْر.

This candidate is from Egypt.

Demonstrative 'hadha' + noun.

البَحْثُ عَنْ مُرَشَّحٍ جَدِيد.

Searching for a new candidate.

Genitive case after 'an'.

تَمَّ قُبولُ المُرَشَّحِ في الوَظيفة.

The candidate was accepted for the job.

Passive-style 'tamma' construction.

المُرَشَّحُ يَمْتَلِكُ خِبْرَةً واسِعَة.

The candidate possesses extensive experience.

Noun + verb + object.

نَحْنُ نَدْعَمُ هَذا المُرَشَّحَ.

We support this candidate.

Accusative demonstrative phrase.

المُرَشَّحُ الفائِزُ سَيَبْدَأُ غَداً.

The winning candidate will start tomorrow.

Future tense with 'sa-'.

يَجِبُ مُقابَلَةُ كُلِّ المُرَشَّحين.

It is necessary to interview all candidates.

Genitive plural after 'kull'.

المُرَشَّحَةُ قَدَّمَتْ عَرْضاً رائعاً.

The female candidate gave a wonderful presentation.

Past tense feminine verb.

هَلْ قَرَأْتَ سِيرَةَ المُرَشَّحِ؟

Have you read the candidate's biography?

Idafa construction.

المُرَشَّحُ يَبْدُو واثِقاً مِنْ نَفْسِه.

The candidate seems confident in himself.

Verb 'yabdu' (seems).

يُعْتَبَرُ المُرَشَّحُ الأَوْفَرَ حَظّاً.

The candidate is considered the luckiest/most likely to win.

Passive verb 'yu'tabaru'.

المُرَشَّحُ المُسْتَقِلُّ يُواجِهُ تَحَدِّياتٍ كَبيرة.

The independent candidate faces great challenges.

Adjective 'mustaqill'.

تَراجَعَ المُرَشَّحُ عَنْ قَرارِهِ.

The candidate withdrew from his decision.

Verb 'taraja'a' (withdrew).

المُرَشَّحُ لَدَيْهِ بَرْنامَجٌ انْتِخابِيٌّ قَوِيّ.

The candidate has a strong electoral program.

Complex nominal sentence.

تَمَّ اسْتِبْعادُ المُرَشَّحِ لِأسْبابٍ قانونِيَّة.

The candidate was excluded for legal reasons.

Masdar 'istib'ad' (exclusion).

المُرَشَّحُ يَتَعَهَّدُ بِتَحْسِينِ الاقْتِصاد.

The candidate pledges to improve the economy.

Verb 'yata'ahhadu' (pledges).

هذا المُرَشَّحُ يُمَثِّلُ جِيلَ الشَّباب.

This candidate represents the youth generation.

Verb 'yumaththilu' (represents).

المُرَشَّحُ يَخْضَعُ لِتَدْقيقٍ صارِم.

The candidate is undergoing strict scrutiny.

Verb 'yakhda'u' (undergoes).

أَثارَ المُرَشَّحُ جَدَلاً واسِعاً بِتَصريحاتِه.

The candidate sparked widespread controversy with his statements.

Verb 'athara' (sparked).

المُرَشَّحُ يَسْعى لِكَسْبِ أصْواتِ المُتَرَدِّدين.

The candidate seeks to win the votes of the undecided.

Genitive plural 'al-mutaraddidin'.

تَتَوافَرُ في المُرَشَّحِ كافَّةُ الشُّروطِ المَطْلوبة.

All the required conditions are met in the candidate.

Verb 'tatawafaru' (to be available).

المُرَشَّحُ يَتَبَنَّى سِياسَةً اقْتِصادِيَّةً لِيبِرالِيَّة.

The candidate adopts a liberal economic policy.

Verb 'yatabanna' (adopts).

انْتَقَدَ المُرَشَّحُ أداءَ الحُكومَةِ الحاليَّة.

The candidate criticized the performance of the current government.

Verb 'intaqada' (criticized).

المُرَشَّحُ يَحْظى بِدَعْمِ النِّقاباتِ العُمَّالِيَّة.

The candidate enjoys the support of labor unions.

Verb 'yahza' (enjoys/obtains).

يَبْدُو أنَّ المُرَشَّحَ قَدْ حَسَمَ المَعْرَكَةَ لِصالِحِه.

It seems the candidate has decided the battle in his favor.

Verb 'hasama' (decided/finalized).

المُرَشَّحُ يُشَدِّدُ عَلى أهَمِّيَّةِ الوَحْدَةِ الوَطَنِيَّة.

The candidate emphasizes the importance of national unity.

Verb 'yushaddidu' (emphasizes).

يُشَكِّلُ المُرَشَّحُ ظاهِرَةً سِياسِيَّةً فَريدَة.

The candidate constitutes a unique political phenomenon.

Verb 'yushakkilu' (constitutes).

المُرَشَّحُ يَرْتَكِزُ في حَمْلَتِهِ عَلى البُعْدِ الأيديولوجي.

The candidate bases his campaign on the ideological dimension.

Verb 'yartakizu' (bases/relies).

ثَمَّةَ شُكوكٌ حَوْلَ أهْلِيَّةِ المُرَشَّحِ لِخَوْضِ الغِمار.

There are doubts about the candidate's eligibility to enter the fray.

Idiom 'khawd al-ghimar' (enter the fray).

المُرَشَّحُ يَسْتَنْهِضُ هِمَمَ القاعِدَةِ الشَّعْبِيَّة.

The candidate rouses the spirits of the popular base.

Verb 'yastan-hidu' (to rouse).

يَتَسِمُ خِطابُ المُرَشَّحِ بِالنَّبْرَةِ الشَّعْبَوِيَّة.

The candidate's discourse is characterized by a populist tone.

Verb 'yattasimu' (is characterized by).

المُرَشَّحُ يُحاوِلُ احْتِواءَ الأَزْمَةِ داخِلَ حِزْبِه.

The candidate is trying to contain the crisis within his party.

Verb 'ihtiwa' (containment).

أضْحى المُرَشَّحُ رَمْزاً لِلتَّغْييرِ المَنْشود.

The candidate has become a symbol for the desired change.

Verb 'adha' (has become).

المُرَشَّحُ يَنْأى بِنَفْسِهِ عَنِ التَّجاذُباتِ الحِزْبِيَّة.

The candidate distances himself from party polarizations.

Verb 'yan'a' (to distance oneself).

Synonyms

مُتَقَدِّم طَالِب وَظِيفَة مُزَكَّى

Antonyms

مُسْتَبْعَد

Common Collocations

مُرَشَّح رِئاسي

مُرَشَّح مُسْتَقِل

قائِمَة المُرَشَّحين

مُرَشَّح لِلْجائزَة

مُرَشَّح مُحْتَمَل

مُرَشَّح نِهائي

مُرَشَّح حِزْبي

مُرَشَّح مِثالي

مُرَشَّح بَديل

مُرَشَّح تَوافُقي

Common Phrases

أفْضَل مُرَشَّح

— The best candidate for a specific task or role.

هو أفضل مرشح رأيناه.

مُرَشَّح سابِق

— A person who was a candidate in the past but is not now.

تحدث المُرَشَّح السابق عن تجربته.

مُرَشَّح جَدِيد

— A newcomer to the race or the application process.

دخل مرشح جديد إلى الساحة.

مُرَشَّح لِلْمَنْصِب

— A person nominated for a specific high-ranking position.

من هو المُرَشَّح للمنصب الجديد؟

مُرَشَّح قَوِي

— A candidate with a high chance of winning or being selected.

تبدو المُرَشَّحة قوية جداً.

مُرَشَّح وَحيد

— The only candidate available or running.

بقي مرشح وحيد في السباق.

مُرَشَّح خاسِر

— A candidate who did not win the election or job.

هنأ المُرَشَّح الخاسر منافسه.

مُرَشَّح فائز

— The candidate who successfully secured the role.

احتفل المُرَشَّح الفائز مع فريقه.

مُرَشَّح لِمَنْحَة

— A person nominated for a scholarship.

أنا مرشح لمنحة دراسية.

مُرَشَّح تِلْقائي

— An automatic nominee or candidate based on previous status.

هو مرشح تلقائي بحكم منصبه.

Often Confused With

مُرَشَّح vs مُرَشِّح

The nominator (active participle). Only one vowel difference.

مُرَشَّح vs مُتَقَدِّم

An applicant. Murashshaḥ is further along in the process.

مُرَشَّح vs مُناَفِس

A competitor. Murashshaḥ is specifically for a nominated role.

Idioms & Expressions

"مُرَشَّح فَوْقَ العادَة"

— An exceptional candidate who far exceeds the requirements.

إنه مرشح فوق العادة لهذا الدور.

Formal

"مُرَشَّح الظِّل"

— A candidate who acts behind the scenes or is a puppet.

يعتقد البعض أنه مرشح ظل.

Political

"مُرَشَّح الحَظّ"

— Someone who became a candidate by pure luck or chance.

لم يتوقع أحد فوزه، فهو مرشح الحظ.

Informal

"مُرَشَّح الوَقْتِ الضّائِع"

— A candidate entered at the last minute.

ظهر كمرشح في الوقت الضائع.

Journalistic

"مُرَشَّح التَّسْوِيَة"

— A compromise candidate chosen to please all parties.

تم اختيار مرشح التسوية لإنهاء النزاع.

Diplomatic

"مُرَشَّح مَحْروق"

— A candidate whose reputation is ruined and has no chance.

لا تصوت له، فهو مرشح محروق.

Slang/Political

"مُرَشَّح الوَرَق"

— A candidate who only exists on paper but has no real presence.

هو مجرد مرشح ورق.

Critical

"مُرَشَّح الصُّدْفَة"

— A candidate who appeared by accident.

أصبح مرشح الصدفة بعد استقالة الجميع.

Neutral

"مُرَشَّح الإِجْماع"

— A candidate agreed upon by everyone unanimously.

هو مرشح الإجماع في القبيلة.

Traditional

"مُرَشَّح مَفْروض"

— A candidate forced upon a group against their will.

رفض الناس المُرَشَّح المفروض عليهم.

Political

Easily Confused

مُرَشَّح vs مُرَشِّح

Identical spelling without vowels.

Murashshaḥ (passive) is the candidate; Murashshiḥ (active) is the one nominating.

المُرَشِّح اختار المُرَشَّح.

مُرَشَّح vs مُتَقَدِّم

Both refer to people seeking jobs.

Mutaqaddim is anyone who applies; Murashshaḥ is someone chosen to be considered.

كل مرشح هو متقدم، ولكن ليس كل متقدم مرشحاً.

مُرَشَّح vs مُتَسابِق

Both involve competition.

Mutasabiq is for races/games; Murashshaḥ is for offices/awards.

المتسابق يجري، والمرشح يتحدث.

مُرَشَّح vs مُؤَهَّل

Candidates are usually qualified.

Mu'ahhal refers to skills; Murashshaḥ refers to the status in the selection process.

هو مؤهل ليكون مرشحاً.

مُرَشَّح vs مُخْتار

Both relate to selection.

Mukhtar is the one already chosen; Murashshaḥ is still in the running.

تم اختيار المختار من بين المرشحين.

Sentence Patterns

هو مُرَشَّح [adjective]

هو مُرَشَّح جَيِّد.

أنا مُرَشَّح لـ [noun]

أنا مُرَشَّح لِلْوَظيفَة.

تَمَّ اخْتِيارُ [noun] كَمُرَشَّح

تَمَّ اخْتِيارُ أَحْمَد كَمُرَشَّح.

يُعْتَبَرُ المُرَشَّحُ [adjective] جِدّاً

يُعْتَبَرُ المُرَشَّحُ كُفْؤاً جِدّاً.

رَغْمَ أَنَّهُ مُرَشَّح، إِلا أَنَّهُ...

رَغْمَ أَنَّهُ مُرَشَّح، إِلا أَنَّهُ لم يَنْجَح.

تَكْمُنُ قُوَّةُ المُرَشَّحِ في...

تَكْمُنُ قُوَّةُ المُرَشَّحِ في خِطابِهِ.

هَلْ أَنْتَ مُرَشَّح لـ...؟

هَلْ أَنْتَ مُرَشَّح لِلْبَرْلَمان؟

عِنْدَنا مُرَشَّح جَدِيد

عِنْدَنا مُرَشَّح جَدِيد اليَوْم.

Word Family

Nouns

تَرْشِيح (nomination)

مُرَشِّح (nominator)

رَشْح (filtering/oozing)

Verbs

رَشَّحَ (to nominate)

تَرَشَّحَ (to run/be a candidate)

رَشَحَ (to filter/leak)

Adjectives

تَرْشِيحِيّ (nominative/electoral)

انْتِخاب (election)

مَنْصِب (position)

وَظيفَة (job)

جائِزَة (award)

لَجْنَة (committee)

How to Use It

frequency

High in news and corporate environments.

Common Mistakes

مُرَشَح (without shadda) → مُرَشَّح
The shadda is required on the 'shin' for the Form II participle.
مُرَشَّح في الوظيفة → مُرَشَّح لِلْوَظيفة
The preposition 'li' (for) is the correct one to use with candidates.
Using murashshaḥ for a random applicant. → مُتَقَدِّم
Murashshaḥ implies a level of selection or nomination.
مُرَشَّحون (for women) → مُرَشَّحات
Use the feminine plural for a group of women.
Confusing murashshaḥ with murashshiḥ. → Depends on context.
Murashshaḥ is the person being nominated; Murashshiḥ is the one nominating.

Tips

Check the Shadda

Always remember the shadda on the 'shin'. Without it, the word sounds incomplete or like a different root.

Political Weight

In the Middle East, being a 'murashshaḥ' for a local council is a big social deal. Use the word with respect for the process.

Shortlisting

When you want to say 'shortlisted candidate', use 'murashshaḥ fī al-qā'ima al-niha'iyya'.

The Deep H

The final letter is 'ḥ' (ح), not 'h' (هـ). Practice the breathy sound to sound like a native.

Prepositions Matter

Always pair it with 'li-' (for) when describing the goal: murashshaḥ li-...

HR Language

Use this word in your CV if you were a nominee for an award to sound more professional in Arabic.

News Tickers

Look for this word on Arabic news channels during elections to see it used in various headlines.

The Filter Metaphor

Think of a candidate as someone who has been 'filtered' out of a large group of applicants.

Levantine/Egyptian

Even in dialects, this word remains quite similar to MSA because it is an institutional term.

PhD Candidates

A PhD candidate is often called 'murashshaḥ li-darajat al-duktūrāh'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Rash' of 'Candidates' running for office. 'Mu-Rash-Shah' sounds like someone who was 'rushed' into a 'shot' at a job.

Visual Association

Imagine a coffee filter (also a murashshaḥ) and instead of coffee, a person in a suit is being 'filtered' through it to become the final candidate.

Word Web

Election Job Interview Nominee Filter Shortlist Applicant Success

Challenge

Write three sentences: one about a political candidate, one about a job candidate, and one about a movie nominee.

Word Origin

From the Arabic root R-Sh-H (ر-ش-ح), which primarily relates to the slow movement of liquids, like sweating or filtering. In Form II (rashshaḥa), the meaning evolved to 'preparing' or 'training' someone, and then to 'nominating' them for a role.

Original meaning: To filter or to cause to perspire/ooze.

Semitic (Arabic).

Cultural Context

Be careful when discussing political candidates in sensitive regions; use the word neutrally to avoid appearing biased.

In English, 'candidate' comes from 'candidatus' (wearing white), while in Arabic it comes from 'filtering'. Both reflect a process of being distinguished from the crowd.

The movie 'The Manchurian Candidate' is translated as 'المُرَشَّح المَنْشوري'. News reports on the 'Nobel Prize Nominees' use 'مُرَشَّحو جائزة نوبل'. Electoral posters in Cairo or Beirut.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Job Interview

المُرَشَّح يَنْتَظِر
سِيرَة المُرَشَّح
مُقابَلَة المُرَشَّح
تَقْييم المُرَشَّح

Elections

المُرَشَّح الرِّئاسي
صُوَر المُرَشَّحين
حَمْلَة المُرَشَّح
بَرنامَج المُرَشَّح

Awards

مُرَشَّح لِلأوسكار
قائِمَة المُرَشَّحين
تَهْنِئَة المُرَشَّح
أصْغَر مُرَشَّح

Science/Lab

مُرَشَّح كيميائي
تَغْيير المُرَشَّح
مُرَشَّح الهَواء
ورق المُرَشَّح

Meetings

مُرَشَّحنا لِلمَنْصِب
اخْتِيار المُرَشَّح
نَقاش حَوْلَ المُرَشَّح
دَعْم المُرَشَّح

Conversation Starters

"ما رأيك في المُرَشَّح الجديد لهذا المنصب؟"

"هل تعتقد أن المُرَشَّح المستقل لديه فرصة للفوز؟"

"كم عدد المُرَشَّحين الذين تمت مقابلتهم حتى الآن؟"

"من هو المُرَشَّح الذي ستصوت له في الانتخابات القادمة؟"

"هل كنت يوماً ما مُرَشَّحاً لجائزة معينة؟"

Journal Prompts

اكتب عن تجربة كنت فيها مُرَشَّحاً لوظيفة أو مسابقة.

تخيل أنك مُرَشَّح للرئاسة، ما هو أول قرار ستتخذه؟

صف الصفات التي يجب أن تتوفر في المُرَشَّح المثالي.

هل تفضل المُرَشَّح الذي لديه خبرة أم المُرَشَّح الذي لديه أفكار جديدة؟

اكتب رسالة توصية لمُرَشَّح تراه مناسباً لمنصب مدير المدرسة.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, it can also mean 'filtered' in a scientific context, such as 'filtered water' (mā' murashshaḥ). However, in 90% of daily contexts, it refers to a candidate.

The feminine form is 'murashshaḥah' (مُرَشَّحَة). It is used whenever the candidate is a woman.

You say 'murashshaḥ ri'āsī' (مُرَشَّح رِئاسي).

Not usually. It is a formal word. In slang, people might just say 'the one who wants the job' or use the English word 'candidate'.

A 'mutaqaddim' is an applicant (anyone who applies), while a 'murashshaḥ' is a candidate (someone shortlisted or nominated).

Yes, 'murashshaḥ li-jā'izat Nobel' is the correct and standard way to say it.

The root is R-Sh-H (ر-ش-ح), which originally means to filter or ooze.

The masculine plural is 'murashshaḥūn' or 'murashshaḥīn'. The feminine plural is 'murashshaḥāt'.

Yes, the verb is 'tarashshaḥa' (تَرَشَّحَ).

Sometimes, to mean a 'contender' for a title, but 'mutasābiq' or 'munāfis' are more common in active sports.