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Boastful
متفاخر (mutafākhir) is an adjective meaning 'boastful' or 'arrogant,' describing someone who excessively praises themselves or boasts about their accomplishments, wealth, or abilities. It carries a negative connotation in Arabic culture and refers to someone who displays excessive pride or self-importance. This word is commonly used to criticize behavior that violates the cultural value of modesty.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11
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هذا الرجل متفاخر جداً بسيارته الجديدة.
Hādhā ar-rajul mutafākhir jiddan bi-sayyāratih al-jadīdah.
This man is very boastful about his new car.
لا تكن متفاخراً بنجاحاتك أمام الآخرين.
Lā takun mutafākhran bi-najāḥātik amāma al-ākhirīn.
Don't be boastful about your successes in front of others.
إنه يتحدث بطريقة متفاخرة عن مرتبه الكبير.
Innahu yatakallamu bi-ṭarīqah mutafākhirah ʿan murtabihi al-kabīr.
He speaks in a boastful manner about his high salary.
الشخص المتفاخر لا يحظى بحب الناس.
Ash-shakhṣ al-mutafākhir lā yaḥẓā bi-ḥubb an-nās.
A boastful person does not earn the love of people.
تجنب أن تكون متفاخراً بثروتك.
Tajannab an takūn mutafākhran bi-thawatik.
Avoid being boastful about your wealth.
In Arab and Islamic culture, modesty (تواضع - tawādu') is highly valued, making boastfulness a socially criticized trait. The concept of a 'boastful person' is often associated with negative character traits and is discouraged in religious teachings, which emphasize humility and gratitude. Being called متفاخر is considered a serious insult in social contexts, as it suggests someone lacks the moral quality of humility that is essential in Arab societies.
This word is typically used as an adjective to describe someone's behavior or character. It can be used both in formal and informal contexts, but carries a strong negative judgment. When describing someone's actions as boastful, use the adverbial form 'بطريقة متفاخرة' (bi-ṭarīqah mutafākhirah - in a boastful manner). Remember that this word directly criticizes the person, so use it carefully in social situations as it can be offensive.
The Arabic word متفاخر (mutafākhir) is an adjective that describes someone who is boastful, arrogant, or vainglorious. It comes from the root خ-ف-ر (kh-f-r), which relates to pride and boasting. This word is used to characterize individuals who excessively praise themselves, their possessions, or their accomplishments in ways that others find annoying or offensive. The term carries a distinctly negative connotation in Arabic and is used as a form of criticism or disapproval.
متفاخر follows the pattern of participles derived from Form V verbs (تفعل). The root تفاخر (tafākhara) means "to boast" or "to brag with one another." The word can function as:
The feminine form is متفاخرة (mutafākhirah), and the plural forms are متفاخرون or متفاخرين (mutafākhirūn/mutafākhirīn) for masculine and متفاخرات (mutafākhirāt) for feminine.
In modern Arabic, متفاخر is commonly used in everyday conversations to describe someone's behavior or attitude. For example:
The word is frequently heard in Egyptian, Levantine, and Gulf Arabic dialects, often with slight variations in pronunciation but maintaining the same meaning and negative connotation.
In Arab and Islamic culture, humility (تواضع - tawādu') is considered a fundamental virtue. The Quran and Islamic teachings emphasize modesty, gratitude, and the dangers of arrogance (كبرياء - kibriyā'). Therefore, being called متفاخر is not merely a neutral descriptor but a serious moral criticism. Parents teach their children to avoid boastful behavior, and social norms strongly discourage displaying pride or self-admiration publicly.
The concept of متفاخر is often contrasted with متواضع (humble), which is praised as an admirable quality. In traditional Arab societies, a person who boasts risks losing respect and social standing, as boastfulness is viewed as a character flaw that betrays spiritual and moral weakness.
Several words share similar meanings with متفاخر:
While these words overlap in meaning, each carries slightly different nuances. For instance, متكبر emphasizes arrogance and haughtiness, while مغرور suggests delusion or vanity.
The word متفاخر appears in various contextual phrases:
When learning to use متفاخر correctly:
In different Arabic dialects, متفاخر may be pronounced or modified slightly:
Despite these phonetic variations, the meaning and cultural implications remain consistent across all major Arabic-speaking regions.
متفاخر is an important adjective in Arabic that goes beyond mere descriptive language to carry cultural and moral weight. Understanding this word and its implications is essential for learners who want to grasp not just the language but also the cultural values that underpin it. The word reflects the Arab emphasis on humility and the social criticism directed toward those who deviate from this virtue. By mastering متفاخر and its related concepts, learners gain insight into what Arab societies value and criticize in human character.