Some Arabic words can have several meanings, depending on their context. Some are difficult to translate because they refer to something not clearly identified in other languages.
And some Arabic words are very straightforward with no hidden or multi-faceted meaning, like our Arabic word of the week, al shay'e, which means "the thing".
But what makes some words interesting isn’t their meaning but their history. In the case of al shay'e, it’s extraordinary to see how the word was used throughout history and how it has influenced the world.
Colloquially, al shay'e literally means the thing and is used to reference any topic or physical object. However, Arab mathematicians used al shay'e to mean “the thing that is unknown” in the context of mathematical formulas. Specifically, al shay'e was used to represent a number being used in an equation or defined within a formula or rule.
The Arab world's contribution to the world of mathematics is vast. This includes the concept of zero, which was originally introduced in Mesopotamia some time before 1600BC, or the work of the ninth-century mathematician and astronomer Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, who we have to thank for the word algorithm (which was derived from his name) and the theories within, and the word, algebra.
A lot of this knowledge and its accompanying texts, especially the one that pertains to mathematical knowledge, were brought to Spain in the 11th and 12th centuries with the intention to translate them into Spanish.
However, as many linguists will testify, language is a living thing, prone to changes, especially when translated.
The sound "sh" does not exist in Spanish and there was no character that could represent the sound or the word al shay'e. So translators and transcribers decided to use the "k" sound from classical Greek with its letter kai. As this knowledge spread through Europe and was translated into what was then the common European tongue, Latin, the Greek letter kai was replaced with the Latin X ― since the two looked fairly similar.
Given the accessibility of Latin at the time and its influence, all the mathematical material translated into Latin formed the basis of mathematical teaching and books until this day, which is why X is used to represent a value or variable that is yet unknown.
This has infiltrated the global lexicon, from phrases such as “X marks the spot” or having an “X factor” and "X-ray" or even in pop culture content such as The X Files or X-Men. And yet the reason we use X in maths to mean the unknown, is because al shay'e in Arabic means the thing or the thing that is unknown.
Scroll through the gallery below to see The National's other picks of Arabic word of the week
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
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Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
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Test squad: Azhar Ali (captain), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan(wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah
Twenty20 squad: Babar Azam (captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz
SHADOWS%20AND%20LIGHT%3A%20THE%20EXTRAORDINARY%20LIFE%20OF%20JAMES%20MCBEY
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The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Monster Hunter: World
Capcom
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
If you go
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.
The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Price: from Dh498,542
On sale: now
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
