Qamar is the Arabic for moon.
Qamar is the Arabic for moon.
Qamar is the Arabic for moon.
Qamar is the Arabic for moon.

'Qamar': Arabic word for moon invokes beauty and beyond


Razmig Bedirian
  • English
  • Arabic

The Arabic word for moon can be a blushing compliment just as much as it can denote an empty promise or an impossible request.

The Moon, in Arabic, is qamar. The word is also used as a name. Although it's a bit dated, to say someone is like the Moon — mitl al qamar — is to say they are exceptionally beautiful.

Another variation of this is qamar arbaatash, a reference to the 14th day of the lunar month, the day of the full moon (badr). The crescent, meanwhile, is hilal. Hilal mutazayid is a waxing crescent. Hilal akhir asshahr is a waning one. Alahdub almutazayid is a waxing gibbous moon. Alahdub almutanaqis is a waning gibbous. The Moon at the first quarter can be referred to as al tarbea al awwal, whereas al tarbea al thani is in its second quarter.

On that note, the lunar month is asshar al qamari. In plural that would be, asshuhoor alqamariyya. Alsine alqamariyya is the lunar year.

In dual form, al qamaraanm is a way to refer to the Sun (al shams) and the Moon. Al qamar is also the 54th chapter of the Quran.

Qamar sinaai, literally translating to artificial moon, means satellite.

Qamar al din is an apricot fruit leather that’s made into a nectar beverage that is traditionally most consumed during the holy month of Ramadan.

To say someone is asking for the Moon — aam titlob al qamar — is to say they are asking for the impossible. To say they promised the Moon — waaada bilqamar — is to say they promised something they are unable to fulfil.

If someone has aadat al qamar, or the habits of the Moon, it means they’re usually asleep during the day and out at night.

The Moon has a prevalent place in Arabic music.

Fairuz, in particular, has a handful of songs that make use of the Moon’s symbolism, including Balleghouhou Ya Qamarou (Let him know, oh Moon) and Ya Qamar Ala Daretna (Oh Moon, on our house).

Melhem Barakat also has a song titled Amarein (Two moons). Amr Diab’s 1999 hit album and song are also titled the same.

One of Mahmoud Darwish’s most famous lines of poetry puts into question the Moon’s beauty, saying: Larubbama al qamar laysa jameelan illa liannahu baaeed. “Maybe the Moon isn’t beautiful but maybe only distant.”

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

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The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Company%20Profile
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

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Real Madrid 1
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HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT

1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 1:39:46.713
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 00:00.908
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 00:12.462
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 00:12.885
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 00:13.276
6. Fernando Alonso, McLaren 01:11.223
7. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 1 lap
8. Sergio Perez, Force India 1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon, Force India  1 lap
10. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren 1 lap
11. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso 1 lap
12. Jolyon Palmer, Renault 1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas 1 lap
14. Lance Stroll, Williams 1 lap
15. Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber 2 laps
16. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber 2 laps
17r. Nico Huelkenberg, Renault 3 laps
r. Paul Di Resta, Williams 10 laps
r. Romain Grosjean, Haas 50 laps
r. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 70 laps

If you go

The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes.


The car
Hertz offers compact car rental from about $300 (Dh1,100) per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.


The national park
Entry to Mount Rainier National Park costs $30 for one vehicle and passengers for up to seven days. Accommodation can be booked through mtrainierguestservices.com. Prices vary according to season. Rooms at the Holiday Inn Yakima cost from $125 per night, excluding breakfast.

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
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  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Updated: June 08, 2023, 5:28 AM`