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Airmail
البريد الجوّيّ (al-barīd al-jawwiyyah) refers to airmail, a postal service that transports letters and packages by aircraft. This term is commonly used in modern Arabic to describe expedited international mail delivery. It combines the word البريد (mail/post) with the adjective الجوّيّ (aerial/air-related).
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أرسلت الرسالة بالبريد الجوّيّ لتصل بسرعة إلى الولايات المتحدة.
Arsalt al-risālah bi-al-barīd al-jawwiyyah litasil bisur'ah ilā al-wilāyāt al-muttahidah.
I sent the letter by airmail so it would arrive quickly to the United States.
البريد الجوّيّ أغلى من البريد العادي لكنه أسرع.
Al-barīd al-jawwiyyah aghla min al-barīd al-'ādī lākin-hu asra'.
Airmail is more expensive than regular mail, but it is faster.
هل يمكنك إرسال هذا الطرد بالبريد الجوّيّ؟
Hal yumkin-uka irsāl hādhā al-tard bi-al-barīd al-jawwiyyah?
Can you send this package by airmail?
استخدمت البريد الجوّيّ لأن الوثائق كانت مهمة جداً.
Istakhdamt al-barīd al-jawwiyyah li-anna al-wathā'iq kānat muhimmah jiddan.
I used airmail because the documents were very important.
يستغرق البريد الجوّيّ عادة من أسبوع إلى عشرة أيام للدول البعيدة.
Yastghriqu al-barīd al-jawwiyyah 'ādatan min usbū' ilā 'asharat ayyām li-al-duwal al-ba'īdah.
Airmail typically takes about one to two weeks to distant countries.
In the Arab world, airmail became particularly important during the mid-20th century as international trade and communication expanded. Today, with the prevalence of digital communication, physical airmail is less common but remains essential for legal documents, official correspondence, and parcels. The term البريد الجوّيّ represents a blend of traditional postal services with modern transportation technology, reflecting the region's connection to global commerce.
The phrase البريد الجوّيّ is a compound noun that requires the definite article (ال) on both words when used specifically. When requesting airmail service at a post office, you would say 'أريد أن أرسل هذا بالبريد الجوّيّ' (I want to send this by airmail). Be aware that costs and delivery times vary significantly between Arab countries and international destinations, so it's useful to ask about these details when shipping.
البريد الجوّيّ (al-barīd al-jawwiyyah) is the Arabic term for airmail, a postal service that uses aircraft to transport mail and packages. The term is composed of two words: البريد (al-barīd), meaning "mail" or "post," and الجوّيّ (al-jawwiyyah), an adjective derived from الجو (al-jaww), meaning "air" or "atmosphere." Together, they create a compound noun that literally translates to "air mail."
Airmail is commonly used for international correspondence, especially when speed is a priority. In modern Arabic-speaking countries, البريد الجوّيّ remains an important service for sending documents, legal papers, and parcels across borders. While email and digital communication have reduced the volume of physical airmail, it continues to be essential for official communications and physical goods that cannot be transmitted digitally.
When using this service, Arabic speakers typically say "أريد أن أرسل هذا بالبريد الجوّيّ" (I want to send this by airmail) or "أرجو إرسال هذه الرسالة بالبريد الجوّيّ" (Please send this letter by airmail).
البريد الجوّيّ is a masculine noun phrase in Arabic. Both words take the definite article (ال), making it "the airmail" in its literal form. In prepositional phrases, it appears as بالبريد الجوّيّ (bi-al-barīd al-jawwiyyah), meaning "by airmail."
The adjective الجوّيّ (al-jawwiyyah) can be modified to agree with different nouns. For example:
Understanding البريد الجوّيّ becomes easier when you know related postal terms:
In the Arab world, the introduction of airmail services during the 20th century marked a significant advancement in international communication. Countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates developed robust airmail systems as their economies grew and international trade increased.
Historically, airmail stamps from Arab countries became sought-after by collectors worldwide. Today, although digital communication dominates, الخدمة البريدية الجوّيّة (airmail service) remains important for maintaining official channels of communication and shipping valuable items that require guaranteed delivery.
When at a post office in an Arabic-speaking country, you should know that airmail costs more than regular mail but is significantly faster. Delivery times typically range from one to two weeks for international destinations, depending on the country.
To inquire about airmail services, you can ask:
While البريد الجوّيّ is still used today, modern Arabic-speaking business environments increasingly rely on digital alternatives like email and international courier services such as FedEx and DHL (which have Arabic-language websites and services throughout the Arab world).
However, understanding this term remains important for legal documents, official government correspondence, and situations where physical mail is required. Learning such terminology enhances your ability to navigate real-world bureaucratic processes in Arabic-speaking countries.