Adults
البالغون (al-bālighūn) is the masculine plural form of 'بالغ' (bāligh), meaning 'adults' or 'grown-ups.' This word refers to people who have reached adulthood or maturity, typically those who have completed their physical and mental development. It is commonly used in social, legal, and educational contexts to distinguish adults from children.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11 — completely free
Get a new Arabic word delivered to your inbox every day — with pronunciation, meaning, and cultural context.
البالغون مسؤولون عن قراراتهم الخاصة.
Al-bālighūn mas'ūlūn ʿan qarārātihim al-khāṣṣah.
Adults are responsible for their own decisions.
يجب على البالغين احترام القانون.
Yajib ʿalá al-bālighīn iḥtirām al-qānūn.
Adults must respect the law.
عدد البالغين في المدينة يزداد كل سنة.
ʿAdad al-bālighīn fī al-madīnah yazdād kull sanah.
The number of adults in the city increases every year.
البالغون لهم حقوق وواجبات مختلفة عن الأطفال.
Al-bālighūn lahum ḥuqūq wa-wājibāt mukhtalifah ʿan al-aṭfāl.
Adults have different rights and responsibilities than children.
معظم البالغين يعملون بدوام كامل.
Muʿẓam al-bālighīn yaʿmalūn bi-dawām kāmil.
Most adults work full-time.
In Arab culture, adulthood carries significant social and family responsibilities. The concept of البالغون is important in Islamic law (Shariah), where legal obligations change once someone reaches the age of maturity (typically puberty). This word is frequently used in official documents, educational settings, and social discourse when distinguishing between different age groups and their respective rights and duties.
Remember that البالغون is specifically the masculine plural form; use البالغات for feminine plural and البالغين for mixed or indirect object forms. This word is formal and appropriate for official, legal, and educational contexts. When discussing mixed-gender groups of adults in Arabic, the masculine plural form is typically used according to Arabic grammar rules.
البالغون (al-bālighūn) is the masculine plural form of the Arabic word بالغ (bāligh), which translates to 'adults' or 'grown-ups' in English. This word is derived from the root بلغ (b-l-gh), which carries the meaning of 'to reach,' 'to attain,' or 'to mature.' The word specifically refers to individuals who have reached adulthood or maturity, distinguishing them from children and young people.
Understanding the different grammatical forms of this word is essential for Arabic learners:
The word follows standard Arabic noun patterns and undergoes case declension according to its position in a sentence.
In Arab and Islamic societies, the concept of البالغون holds significant cultural and legal importance. Adulthood is traditionally marked not only by physical maturity but also by social responsibilities and legal obligations. In Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), reaching the age of maturity (called بلوغ or bulūgh) is a critical milestone that marks when individuals become fully accountable for their actions under Islamic law.
The term is commonly used in various official and social contexts, including legal documents, government policies, educational materials, and social discussions about age-appropriate activities and responsibilities.
البالغون appears frequently in:
While البالغون is the most common term for 'adults,' Arabic offers several alternatives:
Related words that share the same root include:
When using البالغون in your Arabic communication, remember these important points:
Gender and Number Agreement: The word must agree with the gender and number of the noun it modifies. When discussing a mixed-gender group of adults, use the masculine plural form البالغون or البالغين.
Case Endings: Pay attention to the diacritical marks and case endings. The nominative form البالغون is used as a subject, while البالغين is used in accusative and genitive positions.
Formality Level: This is a formal, standard Arabic term appropriate for written and official communication. In casual conversation, الكبار is more commonly used.
Context Matters: In social and legal discussions, البالغون emphasizes responsibility and accountability, while الكبار is simply descriptive of age.
Familiarizing yourself with common phrases using البالغون will enhance your Arabic proficiency:
البالغون is an essential vocabulary word for anyone learning Arabic, particularly for those interested in legal, social, or formal communication. Understanding its various forms, cultural significance, and proper usage will enable you to engage more effectively in Arabic-language discussions about age-related topics, responsibilities, and rights. As you continue your Arabic learning journey, you'll find this word and its related terms appearing frequently in texts, news articles, and formal documents.