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Cabbage
#11
الملفوف (al-malfouf) is the Arabic word for cabbage, a leafy green vegetable commonly used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. It refers specifically to the head of the cabbage plant with its tightly packed leaves. The word is widely used across Arabic-speaking regions to describe this cruciferous vegetable in cooking, shopping, and everyday conversation.
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اشتريت الملفوف من السوق لتحضير السلطة.
Ishtarayt al-malfouf min as-suq li-tahdir as-salata.
I bought cabbage from the market to prepare the salad.
الملفوف غني بالفيتامينات والألياف الغذائية.
Al-malfouf ghaniyy bil-vitameenat wa-al-alyaf al-ghidhaiyya.
Cabbage is rich in vitamins and dietary fiber.
تطهو أمي الملفوف المحشو بكل مهارة.
Tathoo ummi al-malfouf al-mahsho bi-kull mahara.
My mother cooks stuffed cabbage with great skill.
الملفوف الأخضر أرخص من الملفوف الأحمر في السوق.
Al-malfouf al-akhdar arkhas min al-malfouf al-ahmar fi as-suq.
Green cabbage is cheaper than red cabbage in the market.
نضيف الملفوف المقطع إلى الحساء.
Nadif al-malfouf al-muqatta ilaa al-hasaa.
We add chopped cabbage to the soup.
Cabbage is a staple vegetable in Arab cuisine, particularly in Levantine, Egyptian, and Iraqi cooking. It's commonly used in traditional dishes like mahshi (stuffed vegetables), coleslaw variations, and soups. The vegetable is appreciated for its affordability, nutritional value, and versatility in both raw and cooked preparations, making it a year-round ingredient in Middle Eastern households and markets.
الملفوف is a masculine noun (al-malfouf) and should be paired with masculine adjectives and verbs. When describing types of cabbage, you can use color adjectives like 'أخضر' (green) or 'أحمر' (red). In cooking contexts, you'll frequently hear it with verbs like 'يطهو' (to cook) or 'يحشو' (to stuff). Pay attention to the form 'ورق الملفوف' (cabbage leaves) when referring to individual leaves.
الملفوف (al-malfouf) is the Arabic term for cabbage, a cruciferous vegetable known for its compact head of layered leaves. The word literally suggests something that is "wrapped" or "rolled up," which describes the natural formation of cabbage heads. In Standard Modern Arabic and throughout the dialects of the Arab world, this word is consistently used to refer to this essential vegetable.
الملفوف is a masculine noun in Arabic, following the pattern of most vegetable names. When used in sentences, it requires masculine adjectives and verb agreements. For example:
Cabbage appears extensively in Middle Eastern cuisine, making it a practical vocabulary word for anyone learning Arabic in food-related contexts. The most famous dish featuring cabbage is ملفوف محشو (malfouf mahsho), where cabbage leaves are stuffed with a mixture of rice, meat, and spices. This dish is particularly popular in Levantine, Egyptian, and Iraqi cooking traditions.
Other common preparations include:
In Arab markets and supermarkets, cabbage holds an important place as an affordable, nutritious vegetable available year-round. Its accessibility and versatility make it a dietary staple across different economic backgrounds. The vegetable is particularly valued during winter months and is often featured in traditional home cooking rather than exclusively in restaurant settings.
When discussing cabbage in Arabic, you'll encounter related terms:
To master this vocabulary, practice using الملفوف in shopping and cooking contexts. Try describing different types of cabbage using color and freshness adjectives. Listen to Arabic cooking shows and recipes where this word appears frequently. Additionally, learning how to conjugate verbs used with cabbage—such as يقطع (to cut), يطهو (to cook), and يحشو (to stuff)—will improve your conversational ability.
While الملفوف is understood throughout the Arab world, some regions have alternative terms. In certain dialects, you might hear الكرنب (al-karnab), though الملفوف remains the most widely recognized term. Understanding both variants can help you communicate effectively across different Arabic-speaking regions.