Taabeer is the Arabic word for expression
Taabeer is the Arabic word for expression
Taabeer is the Arabic word for expression
Taabeer is the Arabic word for expression

Arts & Culture

‘Taabeer’: The Arabic word for expression is rooted in the idea of passing

The word can used in the context of communication and in the arts

Maan Jalal
Maan Jalal

February 23, 2024

  • English
  • Arabic

Sometime in the early 20th century, Russian painter and art theorist Wassily Kandinsky said “every production of an artist should be the expression of an adventure of his soul".

Decades later, pop star Madonna released her 1989 hit single Express Yourself, in which she encouraged women to feel empowered and to stand up for themselves, reminding them of the importance of self-expression.

This week’s Arabic word of the week is taabeer, which translates to expression. It has universally been appreciated as an important means through which ideas and feelings can be shared. It brings with it benefits such as personal growth or creating meaningful art.

Taabeer is a noun, which in classical and colloquial Arabic means expression. It has two plural variations, tabeerat or taabeer which are used depending on context.

Taabeer also has several meanings in an Arabic context.

It can refer to the act of representing or communicating one's thoughts, feelings or ideas through a variety of media. This can include speech, writing, or through the arts, such as painting, poetry or performance. Taabeer can also be seen through someone’s body language or facial expressions.

It can also refer to a particular phrase or word or a representation or explanation of how something was expressed.

Hob is the Arabic word for love, but can be used in many contexts
Hob is the Arabic word for love, but can be used in many contexts
The Arabic word helu translates, in English, to sweet
The Arabic word helu translates, in English, to sweet
Nashef is the Arabic word for dry, but has many connotations, depending on the context in which you use it
Nashef is the Arabic word for dry, but has many connotations, depending on the context in which you use it
The Arabic word hurriyeh translates to freedom in English
The Arabic word hurriyeh translates to freedom in English
The Arabic word tayeb can mean delicious or good, depending on the context
The Arabic word tayeb can mean delicious or good, depending on the context
The Arabic word mustaqbal is best expressed as future in English
The Arabic word mustaqbal is best expressed as future in English
Waqaa, the Arabic word for fall, can signify a loss of power, stature, health or grace
Waqaa, the Arabic word for fall, can signify a loss of power, stature, health or grace
Hudood means borders in English
Hudood means borders in English
The Arabic word rooh translates to spirit or soul in English
The Arabic word rooh translates to spirit or soul in English
The Arabic word ain means eye in English
The Arabic word ain means eye in English
Waraq, the Arabic word of the week means paper in English
Waraq, the Arabic word of the week means paper in English
Bahr, the Arabic for sea, has a poetic lilt
Bahr, the Arabic for sea, has a poetic lilt
Kareem means generous in English
Kareem means generous in English
Bab means door in English
Bab means door in English
Eid means holiday or festival
Eid means holiday or festival
Najm means star for the night sky and cosmos, but also has plenty of other meanings, including ambition or fame
Najm means star for the night sky and cosmos, but also has plenty of other meanings, including ambition or fame
Alwan, the Arabic word for colours, has many shades of meaning
Alwan, the Arabic word for colours, has many shades of meaning
Akel can refer to home-cooked meals, embezzlement, fire and rust
Akel can refer to home-cooked meals, embezzlement, fire and rust
Jamal is the Arabic word for beauty, be it literal or figurative
Jamal is the Arabic word for beauty, be it literal or figurative
Herfe translates to profession or craft
Herfe translates to profession or craft
Tabiaa translates to nature and can frame landscapes and portraits
Tabiaa translates to nature and can frame landscapes and portraits
Sehha is the Arabic word for health
Sehha is the Arabic word for health
Ijaza is Arabic for holiday and shines in summer but is not stress-free
Ijaza is Arabic for holiday and shines in summer but is not stress-free
Aamal is the Arabic word for work
Aamal is the Arabic word for work
Al dahr translates to time
Al dahr translates to time
Qalb is a word for heart, with poetic roots
Qalb is a word for heart, with poetic roots
Lugha in Arabic translates to language in English
Lugha in Arabic translates to language in English
Insaan means human being
Insaan means human being
Na'eeman is an idiomatic expression used when someone has had a shower or bath, a haircut or had their beard trimmed
Na'eeman is an idiomatic expression used when someone has had a shower or bath, a haircut or had their beard trimmed
The Arabic word for life touches on eternity, death and accomplishment
The Arabic word for life touches on eternity, death and accomplishment
Qamar is the Arabic for moon
Qamar is the Arabic for moon
The Arabic word for strength or power is quwwa
The Arabic word for strength or power is quwwa
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Burj is Arabic for tower
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The Arabic word for sun is shams
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Sabr in English can translate to patience
Hayba is the Arabic word for prestige
Hayba is the Arabic word for prestige
The Arabic term al shay'e translates as 'the thing' in English
The Arabic term al shay'e translates as 'the thing' in English
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The Arabic word for road is tareeq
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The Arabic word for read has mystical and scholarly connotations
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Istikan is the Arabic word for a type of tea cup
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The Arabic word hanan means affection in English
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The Arabic word atlal means ruins in English
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Kura is the Arabic word for ball, in all its forms
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Janaah in Arabic means wing in English
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The Arabic word sana translates to year in English
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Qasida is the Arabic for poem, not poetry
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Ameer, the Arabic word for prince, which influenced another English title
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Nakhla translates to palm tree in English
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Al samt is the Arabic for silence
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Kalimaat translates to words in English
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Markaz is Arabic for centre
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Beshara is the Arabic word for good news
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Bayt is the Arabic for house or home
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Fann is the Arabic word for art, and can be either a verb or an adjective
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Isim, which means name, is made up of three letters, alif, seen and meem
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Dunya is the Arabic word for world
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Nazaafah translates to cleanliness in English
Many traditions revolve around drinking coffee, including weddings, funerals and business meetings
Many traditions revolve around drinking coffee, including weddings, funerals and business meetings
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Fajr is the Arabic word for dawn
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Maghrib is the Arabic word for sunset
The Arabic language is filled with idioms, quotes and colloquial quips involving the mirror
The Arabic language is filled with idioms, quotes and colloquial quips involving the mirror
Raei is the Arabic word for opinion
Raei is the Arabic word for opinion
Wa'ed is a multifaceted word for 'promise', as well as a female name
Wa'ed is a multifaceted word for 'promise', as well as a female name
Qussa is the Arabic word for story
Qussa is the Arabic word for story
Sadaaka is the Arabic word for friendship
Sadaaka is the Arabic word for friendship
Akhbaar is the Arabic word for news
Akhbaar is the Arabic word for news
Rasem is made up of the three Arabic letters Rah, Seen and Meem. While it can simply mean a drawing or a sketch it’s also a malleable word whose definition can change depending on context and dialect – particularly between colloquial and classical Arabic.
Rasem is made up of the three Arabic letters Rah, Seen and Meem. While it can simply mean a drawing or a sketch it’s also a malleable word whose definition can change depending on context and dialect – particularly between colloquial and classical Arabic.
As well as finishing a task, khatem denotes a deeper sense of finality
As well as finishing a task, khatem denotes a deeper sense of finality
Commonly translated to blessed, mubarak is used as a popular greeting on auspicious days
Commonly translated to blessed, mubarak is used as a popular greeting on auspicious days
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The Arabic word for lighthouse is also a term that has become closely associated with Islam
Siyaam, the Arabic word for fasting is also connected to silence
Siyaam, the Arabic word for fasting is also connected to silence
Tawbah, the Arabic word for repentance, is also connected to Ramadan
Tawbah, the Arabic word for repentance, is also connected to Ramadan
Safar, the Arabic Word for travel can also refer to sunny days, a brighter-blazing fire or exile. The National
Safar, the Arabic Word for travel can also refer to sunny days, a brighter-blazing fire or exile. The National

There is taabeer majaazi, which refers to figures of speech that aren’t meant to be understood literally. For example, if someone was overwhelmed and said, “my head is going to explode”.

There is also taabeer istalaahee, which refers to expressions or proverbs that make sense only within the context of a particular topic. For example, "birds of a feather flock together" when used to describe a group of people who are similar to each other and so spend a lot of time together.

Taabeer is derived from the verb abbara, which translates to the action of showing one's ideas or emotions through words, actions, or facial expressions. It’s also the action of releasing or expressing whatever is inside oneself.

Abbara is made up of three Arabic letters, ain, bah and rah. The same three letters pronounced slightly differently create the word abbarah – which while not a direct origin of taabeer – has close conceptual ties to the meaning of the word.

Abbara translates to the ideas of passing over or crossing from one side to another. This concept is reflected in the meaning of taabeer as the idea of passing a message or emotion inside us to the wider world.

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

What is graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.

It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.

But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties. 

 

History's medical milestones

1799 - First small pox vaccine administered

1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery

1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases

1895 - Discovery of x-rays

1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time

1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin

1953 - Structure of DNA discovered

1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place 

1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill

1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.

1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out

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While you're here
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Updated: February 23, 2024, 6:02 PM
ArabicLiteratureWeekend