Loading...
Petrified
مرعب (mur'ib) is an adjective meaning 'terrifying,' 'frightening,' or 'petrifying.' It describes something that causes intense fear or terror. The word is commonly used to express extreme fright or horror in response to scary situations, people, or events.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11
Get a new Arabic word delivered to your inbox every day — with pronunciation, meaning, and cultural context.
كان الفيلم مرعباً جداً ولم أستطع النوم بعده.
Kana al-film mur'iban jiddan wa lam astati' al-nawm ba'dahu.
The movie was very terrifying and I couldn't sleep after it.
حادثة مرعبة وقعت في الطريق السريع أمس.
Haditha mur'iba waqa'at fi al-tariq al-sari' ams.
A terrifying accident happened on the highway yesterday.
سمعت صوتاً مرعباً في منتصف الليل.
Sami'tu sawtan mur'iban fi muntasaf al-layl.
I heard a frightening sound in the middle of the night.
التجربة كانت مرعبة لكنها ساعدتني على التغلب على خوفي.
Al-tajriba kanat mur'iba lakinna sa'adat-ni 'ala al-taghallub 'ala khawfi.
The experience was petrifying but it helped me overcome my fear.
المشهد مرعب وجعلني أرتعد من الخوف.
Al-mashhad mur'ib wa ja'alani arta'id min al-khawf.
The scene is horrifying and made me tremble with fear.
In Arabic-speaking cultures, the word مرعب is frequently used in everyday conversation to describe frightening experiences, horror films, and scary stories. Arabic literature and folklore have rich traditions of scary tales, and this word is essential for discussing these narratives. The concept of fear and how it's expressed varies across Arab cultures, but مرعب remains a universally understood and commonly used descriptor.
Remember that مرعب is an adjective that agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. When describing a masculine noun, use مرعب (mur'ib), and for feminine nouns, use مرعبة (mur'iba). This word is stronger than مخيف (frightening) and conveys a more intense level of fear. Use it when you want to express extreme terror rather than mild fright.
مرعب (mur'ib) is an Arabic adjective that translates to "terrifying," "frightening," or "petrifying" in English. It describes something that causes intense fear or horror. This word comes from the root ع-ر-ب (r-'-b), which is associated with the concept of fear and terror. When something is مرعب, it evokes a strong emotional response of dread and fright.
As an adjective, مرعب must agree with the noun it describes in both gender and number. The masculine form is مرعب (mur'ib), while the feminine form is مرعبة (mur'iba). For example:
When used with plural nouns, the form typically becomes مرعبة for both masculine and feminine plurals in most modern Arabic dialects, though Classical Arabic has more specific plural forms.
The word is pronounced as: moo-RAY-ib (for masculine) and moo-RAY-bah (for feminine). The emphasis falls on the second syllable, and the guttural 'ayn sound (ع) gives it a distinctive characteristic that is important for correct pronunciation.
مرعب is commonly used to describe:
While مرعب is a strong descriptor of fear, several synonymous words exist in Arabic:
The intensity level varies among these synonyms, with مرعب typically expressing the strongest level of fear and terror.
The opposite concepts include:
In Arab cultures, storytelling has a rich tradition that often includes tales of the supernatural, historical tragedies, and dramatic narratives. The word مرعب plays an important role in discussions of literature, film, and folklore. Arabic cinema and television have developed strong horror and thriller genres where this word is frequently employed. Understanding how to use مرعب appropriately helps learners engage with contemporary Arabic media and cultural discussions.
Several common expressions use مرعب:
When learning to use مرعب, remember to:
Understanding the word family helps deepen comprehension:
مرعب is an essential adjective for Arabic learners who want to describe frightening situations, discuss horror media, or express strong emotional reactions to scary experiences. Its proper usage requires attention to grammatical agreement and understanding the intensity level it conveys compared to milder descriptors of fear.