Arabic Slang, Jargon, and New Words from Double-Tongued Dictionary

Arabic language. You can also see entries assigned to this category.

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al mudbakh n. The real action was taking place in al mudbakh—the kitchen—a euphemism for the elite group of perhaps 12 party leaders and aides who huddled behind doors that were closed even to the members of the committee drafting the constitution. [Arabic Iraq Politics] [full cite] (Sep. 3, 2005)

al-box n. Seventy-eight fully grown men were fit in two police cars with the capacity of each only 10. Many Egyptian university students must know those cars quite well—they are referred to in Egypt by an English word borrowed into Arabic specifically for this usage: “al-box.” [Arabic English-derived Automobiles & Transportation] [full cite] (Sep. 14, 2004)

al-tali n. Kidnap is now so common new words have been added to Iraqi thieves’ slang. A kidnap victim is called al-tali or the sheep. [Arabic Iraq Crime & Prisons] [full cite] (Jun. 23, 2004)

alibaba n. Others who interrogate a suspect are sometimes at a loss for questions, asking simply, “Are you alibaba?” the commonly used term for the enemy. [Arabic Iraq Military] [full cite] (Jul. 29, 2005)

Arabizi n. The banter is a form of speech that mixes Arabic with English. It is widely used among Jordan’s Western-educated elites, drawing ire from language purists and exposing a widening social and economic gap in the small kingdom. Dubbed by some “Arabizi”—a slang term for Arabic and “Inglizi,” or English in Arabic—it is also a means of expression for many young Jordanians who have been educated abroad and who do not share Jordan’s conservative values. [ Language Arabic English-derived] [full cite] (Dec. 22, 2005)

cheekia n. Czechoslovakia, under the nascent communist regime in 1948, trained Jews and others to fight for Israeli independence in the hope that Israel would become a communist state. As that effort backfired, Czechoslo-vakia tried to help foster socialism in the Arab world and became a chief weapons exporter to Arab countries. The arms trade was greatly reduced after 1989, but Snaidau said some Arabs still refer to guns in slang as “cheekia,” derived from Czechia. [Arabic Military Slang] [full cite] (Jul. 8, 2004)

dhimmi n. The Moslem rulers classed the Mandeans with those called “dhimmi”, i.e., the ones with whom a compact for religious toleration had been made…The Koran mentions three groups of dhimmi, the Jews, the Christians and the Sabiun or the Sabeans, not to be confused with the Sabean family of the Semitic peoples. [Arabic Religion] [full cite] (Oct. 13, 2004)

dhimmi n. Lebanese Forces officials say they are only trying to establish a balance of power between Christians and Druze and end what they allege is the Christian status as dhimmi, second-class citizens, in the Chouf. [Arabic Religion] [full cite] (Oct. 13, 2004)

dhimmi n. Jews had held the status of “dhimmis” since the twelfth century. “Dhimmi” means a protected person without the rights of a citizen. He could not vote, get a passport or have his oath accepted in a Morroccan law court. [Arabic Religion] [full cite] (Oct. 13, 2004)

dhimmi n. Tolerated unbelievers were called dhimmi, or ahl al-dhimma, “the people of the pact.” This was a legal term for the tolerated and protected non-Muslim subjects of the Muslim state.…The dhimma, which determined their status, was conceived as a pact between the Muslim ruler and the non-Muslim communities and was thus essentially a contract. The basis of this contract was the recognition by the dhimmis of the supremacy of Islam and the dominance of the Muslim state, and their acceptance of a position of subordination, symbolized by certain social restrictions and by the payment of a poll tax (jizya) to which Muslims were not subject. In return, they were granted security of life and property, protection against external enemies, freedom of worship, and a very large measure of internal autonomy in the conduct of their affairs. [Arabic Religion] [full cite] (Oct. 13, 2004)

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