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Great
#13
عظيم (azeem) is an adjective meaning 'great,' 'magnificent,' or 'tremendous.' It describes something of significant importance, scale, or quality, and is commonly used in both formal and colloquial Arabic to express admiration or emphasis. The word carries connotations of grandeur, majesty, and impressive magnitude.
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هذا إنجاز عظيم في تاريخ البشرية.
Hadha injaaz azeem fee taareekh al-bashariyyah.
This is a great achievement in the history of humanity.
عندي احترام عظيم لمعلمي.
Indi ihtiraam azeem li-moalimmi.
I have great respect for my teacher.
الله عظيم وقوي.
Allah azeem wa qawi.
God is great and mighty.
هذا الفيلم له تأثير عظيم على الجمهور.
Hadha al-film lahu ta'theer azeem ala al-jumhoor.
This film has a great impact on the audience.
قدمت جهداً عظيماً في إكمال المشروع.
Qaddamt juhdan azeeaman fee ikmal al-mashro.
I made a great effort in completing the project.
The word عظيم is deeply embedded in Arabic culture and religious discourse, particularly in Islamic contexts where it's used to describe God's attributes and greatness. It appears frequently in the Quran and classical Arabic poetry, reflecting the Arabic tradition of using superlatives to convey reverence and admiration. In modern Arabic media and everyday conversation, it's a popular word for expressing enthusiasm and respect.
Remember that عظيم agrees with the noun it modifies in gender and number—use عظيم for masculine singular, عظيمة for feminine singular, عظيمان for masculine dual, and عظيمين/عظيمات for plurals. The word can be used both literally (describing physical size) and figuratively (describing importance or quality), so context is crucial. When expressing admiration, it's often paired with prepositions like 'لـ' (for/to) to show what the greatness refers to.
The Arabic word عظيم (azeem) is a fundamental adjective in the Arabic language that translates to 'great,' 'magnificent,' 'tremendous,' or 'grand.' This versatile word is used to describe things of significant importance, impressive scale, or outstanding quality. Whether in formal literary contexts or everyday conversation, عظيم serves as a powerful descriptor that conveys admiration, respect, and emphasis.
عظيم (azeem) functions as an adjective that can modify both animate and inanimate nouns. The word carries layers of meaning depending on context: it can refer to physical size and magnitude, but more commonly expresses qualitative greatness such as importance, impact, or excellence. When something is described as عظيم, it is being elevated above the ordinary, marked as exceptional or noteworthy.
The root of this word, ع-ظ-م, appears in related terms like عظمة (azamah, 'greatness' or 'grandeur') and عظام (izaam, 'bones'), which share the concept of solidity and strength.
As an adjective, عظيم must agree with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. The masculine singular form is عظيم, while the feminine singular is عظيمة. For dual forms, you would use عظيمان (masculine) or عظيمتان (feminine). In the plural, masculine uses عظيمون or عظيمين, while feminine uses عظيمات. This grammatical flexibility allows the word to be applied to virtually any noun in Arabic.
عظيم is frequently used in religious and spiritual discourse within Arabic-speaking cultures. It appears prominently in Islamic contexts to describe God's attributes, particularly in phrases like 'الله عظيم' (Allah azeem - 'God is great'). This phrase is a common expression of praise and reverence used in daily Muslim practice.
Beyond religious contexts, عظيم is widely used in literature, journalism, and everyday speech. You might hear it describing historical figures ('عظيم من عظماء التاريخ' - a great among the greats of history), artistic works, scientific discoveries, or personal achievements. In contemporary media and social platforms, it serves as an enthusiastic way to express admiration or appreciation.
While several Arabic words share similar meanings, each has subtle distinctions:
عظيم encompasses all these meanings to some degree, making it the most comprehensive term for 'great' in Arabic.
In Arab and Islamic culture, the concept of greatness expressed by عظيم is deeply rooted in values of honor, respect, and transcendence. The word reflects a cultural appreciation for excellence and the extraordinary. In classical Arabic poetry, عظيم was frequently employed to elevate subjects and convey their significance to the audience.
Today, عظيم remains a cornerstone adjective in formal Arabic, appearing in speeches, literature, and media to emphasize importance and inspire admiration. Its prevalence in religious texts and daily Islamic practice has given it additional weight and reverence in Arabic-speaking communities.
For English speakers learning Arabic, عظيم is essential vocabulary that appears regularly in texts, conversations, and media. Practice using it with different nouns to become comfortable with its grammatical forms. Pay attention to how native speakers use it—often with emphasis and genuine admiration. Remember that while it can be used literally to describe size, it's more powerful when used figuratively to convey importance or excellence.
When you encounter عظيم in reading material, note how it's used contextually. This will help you understand not just the word's definition, but its cultural connotations and appropriate usage in different situations.