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Humble
متواضع (mutawādi') is an adjective meaning 'humble' or 'modest,' describing a person who demonstrates humility, lacks arrogance, and is unassuming in their demeanor or achievements. It combines the concepts of modesty, meekness, and a lack of pretension, and is highly valued in Arabic and Islamic cultures. The word can apply to both personal character traits and material circumstances.
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هو رجل متواضع رغم نجاحه الكبير.
Huwa rajul mutawādi' raghma najāḥihi al-kabīr.
He is a humble man despite his great success.
عاشت العائلة في بيت متواضع لكنه مريح وجميل.
ʿāshat al-ʿā'ilah fī bayt mutawādi' lākinna-hu murīḥ wa-jamīl.
The family lived in a modest house, but it was comfortable and beautiful.
التواضع من أهم الصفات في الإسلام.
Al-tawāḍuʿ min ahamm al-ṣifāt fī al-islām.
Humility is one of the most important qualities in Islam.
ركب سيارة متواضعة على الرغم من ثروته.
Rakiba sayyārah mutawādi'ah ʿalā al-raghm min tharwati-hi.
He drove a modest car despite his wealth.
بدأ من أصول متواضعة وأصبح رئيس الشركة.
Badaʾa min uṣūl mutawādi'ah wa-aṣbaḥa raʾīs al-sharikah.
He started from humble origins and became the company president.
In Islamic tradition, humility (التواضع) is a highly esteemed virtue, reflected in teachings and the behavior of religious leaders and scholars. The Prophet Muhammad is described as embodying great humility despite his position, setting an example for Muslims. In contemporary Arab society, being متواضع is generally viewed as a positive character trait, though the concept can apply to both personal modesty and humble economic circumstances, making it culturally and socially significant.
متواضع is primarily used as an adjective to describe people, places, or circumstances. When describing a person, it emphasizes their lack of arrogance and approachable nature. When describing material things (houses, cars, clothing), it means 'modest' or 'simple' in quality or cost. Remember that the word is often paired with الشأن (status), العيش (living), or الأصول (origins) to describe humble circumstances. It's important to note this is generally a compliment in Arabic culture.
متواضع (mutawādi') is an Arabic adjective that translates to 'humble' or 'modest' in English. The word encompasses multiple layers of meaning, from describing a person's character traits to characterizing material circumstances. At its core, it denotes the absence of arrogance, pretension, or grandiosity. A person who is متواضع demonstrates humility, approachability, and an unassuming nature, while objects or circumstances described as متواضع are simple, unpretentious, or of modest quality.
The word متواضع is derived from the root و-ض-ع (w-d-'), which relates to the concept of lowering, placing, or positioning something below. The pattern متفاعل (mutafā'il), which is commonly used for passive qualities or states in Arabic, creates the adjective متواضع. This linguistic construction emphasizes a state of being humble rather than actively performing humility, though the related verb تواضع (tawāda') means 'to show humility' or 'to be humble.'
When applied to people, متواضع describes someone with humble character traits. This is particularly valued in Arabic and Islamic cultures. A متواضع person is:
For example: "هو متواضع رغم تعليمه العالي" (He is humble despite his high education.)
متواضع is also used to describe homes, possessions, clothing, and living conditions. In this context, it means 'modest' or 'simple':' أسكن في بيت متواضع" (I live in a modest house.) This usage is neutral and can apply to anyone's circumstances.
Common usage involves describing someone's origins: "من أصول متواضعة" (from humble origins). This phrase describes someone who came from a simple or less privileged background.
In Islamic tradition, humility (التواضع) is one of the most celebrated virtues. The Prophet Muhammad is traditionally described as being متواضع and is reported to have said, "The greatest among you are those who are most humble." This cultural emphasis means that calling someone متواضع is typically high praise, indicating moral excellence rather than weakness.
In contemporary Arab society, being متواضع is associated with positive qualities like reliability, trustworthiness, and good character. It contrasts sharply with متكبر (arrogant) or مغرور (conceited), which are viewed negatively.
التواضع (humility) - The noun form, referring to the quality of humility itself تواضع (to be humble) - The verb form, meaning to demonstrate or show humility متواضعة - The feminine form of the adjective متواضعين - The plural masculine form متواضعات - The plural feminine form
Other words with similar meanings include:
Words with opposite meanings include:
When learning to use متواضع, remember:
متواضع is a word that reflects core values in Arab and Islamic culture. Whether describing a person's character or material circumstances, it emphasizes simplicity, lack of pretension, and genuine humility. Learning to use this word correctly helps English speakers understand both the Arabic language and the cultural values it expresses.