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يحقّر (yahaqir) is a verb meaning 'to abase,' 'to demean,' or 'to belittle.' It expresses the action of treating someone with contempt, reducing their dignity, or speaking disparagingly of them. This word carries a strong negative connotation and is commonly used in both classical and modern Arabic to describe acts of humiliation or degradation.
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لا يجب أن نحقّر الآخرين بسبب فقرهم.
La yajib an nahaqir al-akharin bi-sabab faqrihim.
We should not abase others because of their poverty.
إن هذه الكلمات تحقّر من قيمتك الإنسانية.
Inna hadhih al-kalimaat tahaqir min qimatak al-insaniyah.
These words demean your human dignity.
يحقّر نفسه عندما يتصرف بهذه الطريقة.
Yahaqir nafsahu 'indama yatasarruf bi-hadhih al-tareeqah.
He debases himself when he acts this way.
لا تحقّري من جهود زميلتك في العمل.
La tahaqiri min juhud zamilatik fi al-'amal.
Do not belittle your colleague's efforts at work.
الإسلام يحظر أن نحقّر أحداً من الناس.
Al-Islam yahdhur an nahaqir ahadan min al-nas.
Islam forbids abasing anyone from the people.
In Islamic and Arab cultural traditions, treating others with dignity and respect is highly valued. The act of abasing or humiliating someone is considered morally reprehensible in Islamic teaching, and numerous Quranic verses and Hadith emphasize the importance of treating all humans with respect regardless of their social status. The use of يحقّر often appears in religious and ethical discussions about maintaining human dignity.
Remember that يحقّر is a strong verb expressing serious disrespect. Use it carefully in formal contexts as it carries significant negative weight. The verb can be used with both direct objects (people) and indirect objects (qualities or values). Pay attention to the grammatical agreement with the subject, as this verb follows standard Form II conjugation patterns with the doubled ق.
The Arabic verb يحقّر (yahaqir) translates to 'to abase,' 'to demean,' or 'to belittle' in English. It is a Form II verb derived from the root ح-ق-ر (h-q-r), which carries connotations of contempt, degradation, and humiliation. When used, this verb expresses the action of treating someone or something with disrespect, reducing their value or dignity, or speaking disparagingly about them.
يحقّر follows the pattern of Form II (Mufattal) verbs in Arabic, which involve doubling the middle radical. The present tense conjugation maintains this doubled form throughout:
The past tense follows similarly: حقّر (he abased), حقّرت (she abased), etc.
يحقّر is commonly used in both literary and conversational Arabic to describe acts of humiliation or the treatment of someone with contempt. It can be used with direct objects to indicate the person being abased, or with prepositional phrases to indicate what aspect of a person is being diminished. For example:
The verb carries strong moral and ethical implications in Islamic discourse, as the religion emphasizes human dignity and respect for all people.
Several synonyms exist for يحقّر:
The noun form تحقير (tahqir) means 'abasement' or 'degradation,' while the adjective حقير (haqir) means 'despicable' or 'abject.'
In Islamic tradition, treating people with respect and dignity is a fundamental principle. The Quran emphasizes that all humans are created with honor (karamah) and nobility, and numerous Islamic teachings warn against humiliating or abasing others. The use of يحقّر in religious contexts often emphasizes the prohibition against such behavior, making it an important word for understanding Islamic ethics and values.
In everyday usage, يحقّر might appear in contexts discussing workplace dynamics, family relationships, or social interactions:
Several idiomatic expressions use يحقّر:
When learning يحقّر, remember that it is a strong word with significant moral weight. It should be used primarily in formal contexts or when expressing serious criticism or ethical concerns. Pay careful attention to the doubled middle consonant, as this is characteristic of Form II verbs and affects both pronunciation and spelling. Understanding the cultural and religious context of this word will help learners appreciate its importance in Arabic discourse and use it appropriately in conversation and writing.