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Male
ذكر (dhakara) is an Arabic noun meaning 'male' or 'man,' used to denote biological sex or gender distinction. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe males across various contexts, from animals to humans. The word carries straightforward, neutral connotations and is a fundamental vocabulary term for gender differentiation in Arabic.
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الطفل الذكر يلعب في الحديقة.
Al-tifl adh-dhakaru yalʻabu fi al-hadiqah.
The male child is playing in the park.
هذا الكلب ذكر وليس أنثى.
Hadha al-kalb dhakaru wa laysa untha.
This dog is male, not female.
في العائلة ثلاثة ذكور وبنتان.
Fi al-ʻailah thalathatu dhukur wa bintān.
In the family, there are three males and two girls.
الذكر والأنثى متساويان في الحقوق.
Adh-dhakaru wa-al-untha mutasāwiyān fi al-huquq.
Male and female are equal in rights.
هل المولود الجديد ذكر أم أنثى؟
Hal al-mawlud al-jadid dhakaru am untha?
Is the newborn baby male or female?
In Arabic-speaking cultures, gender distinction is deeply embedded in the language itself, with grammatical gender applying to nearly all nouns and adjectives. The term ذكر is used neutrally in medical, biological, and demographic contexts, such as birth certificates and census data. Understanding this word is essential for learners as Arabic distinguishes gender in ways that English does not, affecting verb conjugation, adjective agreement, and pronoun usage.
Remember that ذكر can function as both a noun (male person/animal) and as part of descriptive phrases. When used with plurals, the plural form is 'ذكور' (dhukur). Be aware that Arabic grammar requires gender agreement, so adjectives describing a male subject will take masculine forms. This word appears frequently in formal documentation, medical terminology, and everyday conversation about family members.
The Arabic word ذكر (dhakr) literally translates to "male" in English and is used to denote biological sex and gender distinction. This fundamental vocabulary term appears in medical contexts, daily conversations, family discussions, and formal documentation. Unlike English, which primarily distinguishes gender through pronouns and specific nouns, Arabic embeds gender throughout its grammar system, making words like ذكر essential for proper communication.
The word ذكر functions as a masculine noun. Its plural form is ذكور (dhukur), which means "males." In Arabic, when ذكر is used as a descriptor or in phrases, it maintains masculine grammatical agreement with articles and adjectives. For example:
The word combines easily with other nouns to create descriptive phrases. When describing a male child, Arabs say طفل ذكر (tifl dhakr), literally "male child." Similarly, حيوان ذكر (haywan dhakr) means "male animal."
The word ذكر appears frequently in:
Medical and Demographic Contexts: Birth certificates, medical forms, and census data consistently use ذكر to indicate biological sex. Healthcare professionals and administrators use this term in clinical settings.
Family and Social Discussions: When discussing family composition, Arabs use ذكر to specify male family members. The phrase الذكور والإناث (adh-dhukur wa-al-ināth) meaning "males and females" is common when discussing groups containing both genders.
Educational and Institutional Settings: Schools, universities, and formal organizations use ذكر in official records and announcements.
Biological and Zoological Contexts: When distinguishing male animals from females, ذكر is the standard term used alongside its antonym أنثى (untha) meaning female.
In Arabic-speaking cultures, gender distinction is woven throughout language and society. The emphasis on grammatical gender reflects cultural values and linguistic precision. Understanding ذكر is crucial not only for vocabulary but also for grasping how Arabic grammar functions as a whole. Every adjective, verb, and pronoun related to a male subject must agree in gender, making gender-specific vocabulary like ذكر foundational to language learning.
While ذكر means "male," it differs slightly from related words:
The word ذكر is the most neutral and scientifically appropriate term, often used when biological sex needs precise identification.
When learning ذكر, remember that Arabic maintains gender agreement across sentences. If a sentence uses ذكر as its subject, all modifying adjectives and verbs must be in the masculine form. Practice using ذكر in simple statements like هذا ذكر (hadha dhakr = "this is male") to build familiarity.
Expose yourself to the phrase ذكر أم أنثى (dhakr am untha = "male or female"), which appears frequently in Arabic media, conversations, and official documents. This binary choice is fundamental to how Arabic speakers discuss gender distinctions.
The word ذكر represents more than just a translation for "male"—it embodies Arabic's systematic approach to gender distinction. Mastering this vocabulary opens doors to understanding Arabic grammar's gendered nature and prepares learners for the broader linguistic landscape of the Arabic language.