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Uneasy
مضطرب (muḍṭarib) is an adjective meaning 'uneasy,' 'disturbed,' 'agitated,' or 'turbulent.' It describes a state of mental or physical discomfort, anxiety, or disorder. This word is commonly used to describe both emotional states and physical conditions that lack stability or calm.
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كان يشعر بحالة مضطربة بعد سماع الأخبار السيئة.
Kāna yashʿuru bi-ḥālah muḍṭarribah baʿda samāʿ al-akhbār al-sayyi'ah.
He felt uneasy after hearing the bad news.
البحر مضطرب اليوم بسبب العاصفة.
Al-baḥr muḍṭarib al-yawm bi-sabab al-ʿāṣifah.
The sea is turbulent today because of the storm.
نومها مضطرب ومليء بالأحلام المزعجة.
Nawmuhā muḍṭarib wa-malī' bi-al-aḥlām al-muzʿijah.
Her sleep is restless and full of disturbing dreams.
الأوضاع السياسية في المنطقة مضطربة جداً.
Al-awḍāʿ al-siyāsiyyah fī al-minṭaqah muḍṭarribah jiddan.
The political situation in the region is very unstable.
شعر بقلب مضطرب أثناء انتظاره نتائج الامتحان.
Shaʿara bi-qalb muḍṭarib athnāʾ intizārihi natāʾij al-imtiḥān.
He felt an uneasy heart while waiting for the exam results.
In Arabic literature and daily conversation, مضطرب is frequently used to describe both emotional and social conditions. It's particularly common in discussions about mental health, political situations, and weather conditions. The word carries both literal and metaphorical meanings, making it versatile in different contexts from formal writing to casual conversation.
Remember that مضطرب can function as both an adjective and a noun. When describing emotions or states, it usually follows the noun it modifies (e.g., 'نوم مضطرب' - restless sleep). Pay attention to context to distinguish between 'emotionally uneasy' and 'physically turbulent' meanings. This word often appears in formal or literary Arabic but is also used in everyday speech.
The Arabic word مضطرب (muḍṭarib) is an adjective that translates to 'uneasy,' 'disturbed,' 'agitated,' or 'turbulent' in English. It describes a state characterized by lack of calm, stability, or peace. This versatile word can be applied to emotional states, physical conditions, social situations, and natural phenomena. The root of this word comes from the Arabic verb اضطرب (iḍṭaraba), which means 'to be disturbed' or 'to become agitated.'
Emotional Context: When describing a person's emotional state, مضطرب conveys feelings of unease, anxiety, or disturbance. For example, someone might be described as مضطرب نفسياً (muḍṭarib nafsiyyan - emotionally disturbed) or experiencing حالة مضطربة (ḥālah muḍṭarribah - an uneasy state).
Physical Context: The word can describe physical conditions. النوم المضطرب (al-nawm al-muḍṭarib - restless sleep) is a common phrase used to describe sleep that is interrupted or troubled by nightmares. Similarly, البحر المضطرب (al-baḥr al-muḍṭarib - turbulent sea) describes rough or agitated water.
Social and Political Context: In formal or journalistic Arabic, مضطرب frequently describes unstable or chaotic situations. Phrases like أوضاع مضطربة (awḍāʿ muḍṭarribah - turbulent/unstable conditions) are commonly used when discussing social unrest, political instability, or economic uncertainty.
As an adjective, مضطرب follows standard Arabic gender and number agreement rules. In its masculine singular form, it remains مضطرب. In the feminine singular form, it becomes مضطربة (muḍṭarribah). The plural forms are مضطربون (muḍṭaribūn) for masculine plural and مضطربات (muḍṭarribāt) for feminine plural.
Understanding the word family helps deepen comprehension:
When learning Arabic, it's helpful to understand words with similar meanings:
Understanding opposite meanings is equally important:
كان يشعر بحالة مضطربة بعد سماع الأخبار السيئة (Kāna yashʿuru bi-ḥālah muḍṭarribah baʿda samāʿ al-akhbār al-sayyi'ah)
البحر مضطرب اليوم بسبب العاصفة (Al-baḥr muḍṭarib al-yawm bi-sabab al-ʿāṣifah)
نومها مضطرب ومليء بالأحلام المزعجة (Nawmuhā muḍṭarib wa-malī' bi-al-aḥlām al-muzʿijah)
In Arabic literature and media, مضطرب appears frequently in both formal and informal contexts. It's particularly common in psychological discussions, literary descriptions, and news reporting. The word has a somewhat formal tone compared to some synonyms, making it appropriate for both written and spoken Arabic, though it tends to appear more often in formal or literary contexts.
When using this word, remember that it functions primarily as an adjective that must agree with the noun it modifies in gender and number. Don't confuse it with اضطر (the root verb), which means 'to be forced' or 'to be compelled.' Pay close attention to context—the same word can describe emotional states, physical conditions, or social situations. Practice using it in different contexts to fully internalize its versatile nature.
مضطرب (muḍṭarib) is an essential Arabic word that effectively conveys states of unease, disturbance, and turbulence. Its applications span emotional, physical, and social domains, making it a valuable addition to any Arabic learner's vocabulary. Through regular practice and exposure to various contexts, you'll develop an intuitive understanding of when and how to use this word appropriately in your Arabic communication.