The palm is a common member of the flora of the UAE and throughout the Arab world, an ancient and powerful symbol of nations, cultures and religions. This week’s Arabic word of the week is nakhla, which translates as palm tree.
Palm trees line a freshwater canal based on the traditional falaj irrigation system at Al Qattara Oasis in Al Ain. AP Photo
This shows the importance of the palm tree across the Arab world, traditionally symbolising prosperity and historically having been used as a resource by many in the region.
Although nakhla means palm tree, the verb form of the word, nakhala, means to sift through or to strain thoroughly. While not officially confirmed, a connection between the meaning of the verb can be connected to the unique properties and history of the palm tree in the region.
Often seen as the tree of the desert, palms also symbolise an oasis in an arid landscape, providing shade from the sun and sweet fruit in the form of dates. Historically, palm trees have been used in the construction of homes, their leaves for thatching and cladding structures, dwellings or household items as far back as 4,000 BC in the ancient region of Mesopotamia, or modern day Iraq.
Given that traditionally every part of the palm tree — from its trunk to leaves and fruit — have been used, the origins of the verb form of nakhla can be interpreted as using the best of any substance.
The date palm tree is also associated with fertility in the Arab world, since trees are either male or female, with the latter bearing dates. There are more than 2,600 species of palm trees that grow in warm, sub-tropical and tropical climates along with more than 200 varieties of dates.
Palm trees have also been referenced in all the Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Judaism and in Islam, where it continues to have a strong cultural presence.
While palm trees are ancient and have been great sources of inspiration in Arabic proverbs and poetry, today, palm trees are also seen as symbols of paradise, associated with beaches and tropical islands.
One of the most popular celebrations of the palm tree as a symbol for the Arab region is the UAE’s design for Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, the tree-shaped artificial island.
Satellite imagery shows Dubai's Palm Jumeirah, World Islands and Palm Deira. Photo: Mbrsc
Renowned Iraqi singer Nazem Al Ghazali popularised the traditional folklore song Foug El Nakhal, which translates to Above the Palm Trees, in the 1950s. The song’s lyrics describe a man admiring an unattainable and beautiful woman “above the palm trees”.
The song has been re-recorded in varying styles and genres over the years due to its simple lyrics and the Arab world’s fondness for palm trees.
Scroll through the gallery below to see The National's pick of Arabic words of the week
Hob is the Arabic word for love, but can be used in many contexts
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
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 mustaqbal is best expressed as future in English
Waqaa, the Arabic word for fall, can signify a loss of power, stature, health or grace
Hudood means borders in English
The Arabic word rooh translates to spirit or soul in English
The Arabic word ain means eye in English
Waraq, the Arabic word of the week means paper in English
Bahr, the Arabic for sea, has a poetic lilt
Kareem means generous in English
Bab means door in English
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
Alwan, the Arabic word for colours, has many shades of meaning
Akel can refer to home-cooked meals, embezzlement, fire and rust
Jamal is the Arabic word for beauty, be it literal or figurative
Herfe translates to profession or craft
Tabiaa translates to nature and can frame landscapes and portraits
Sehha is the Arabic word for health
Ijaza is Arabic for holiday and shines in summer but is not stress-free
Aamal is the Arabic word for work
Al dahr translates to time
Qalb is a word for heart, with poetic roots
Lugha in Arabic translates to language in English
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
The Arabic word for life touches on eternity, death and accomplishment
Qamar is the Arabic for moon
The Arabic word for strength or power is quwwa
Burj is Arabic for tower
The Arabic word for sun is shams
Sabr in English can translate to patience
Hayba is the Arabic word for prestige
The Arabic term al shay'e translates as 'the thing' in English
The Arabic word for road is tareeq
The Arabic word for read has mystical and scholarly connotations
Istikan is the Arabic word for a type of tea cup
The Arabic word hanan means affection in English
The Arabic word atlal means ruins in English
Kura is the Arabic word for ball, in all its forms
Janaah in Arabic means wing in English
The Arabic word sana translates to year in English
Qasida is the Arabic for poem, not poetry
Ameer, the Arabic word for prince, which influenced another English title
Nakhla translates to palm tree in English
Al samt is the Arabic for silence
Kalimaat translates to words in English
Markaz is Arabic for centre
Beshara is the Arabic word for good news
Bayt is the Arabic for house or home
Fann is the Arabic word for art, and can be either a verb or an adjective
Isim, which means name, is made up of three letters, alif, seen and meem
Dunya is the Arabic word for world
Nazaafah translates to cleanliness in English
Many traditions revolve around drinking coffee, including weddings, funerals and business meetings
Fajr is the Arabic word for dawn
Maghrib is the Arabic word for sunset
The Arabic language is filled with idioms, quotes and colloquial quips involving the mirror
Raei is the Arabic word for opinion
Wa'ed is a multifaceted word for 'promise', as well as a female name
Qussa is the Arabic word for story
Sadaaka is the Arabic word for friendship
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.
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
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
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
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How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
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THE SCORES
Ireland 125 all out
(20 overs; Stirling 72, Mustafa 4-18)
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(17 overs, Mustafa 39, D’Silva 29, Usman 29)
UAE won by five wickets
PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP
Men’s:
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)
Women's:
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
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