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Arabic vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "north" in Arabic?
شمال
Shamael
In Arabic, "north" is شمال.
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Pronunciation
Say shah-MAHL, stress on the second syllable. The 'sh' is clear, and shamael rhymes with 'pal'.
Writing and usage
شمال has four letters starting with ش (sha). In Egyptian, shamael is also used for 'left' in some contexts, showing regional word flexibility.
Example sentence
المدينة شمال هنا.
The city is north of here.
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How to remember شمال
Shamael is north, the direction of the Mediterranean from Egypt. It can also mean left, so visualize looking north to the left.
Related words
- above فوق Foo'
- below تحت Taht
- forwards لقدام Liuddaem
- inside جوه Guwwa
- left شمال Shimal
- next to جنب Ganb
- north-east شمال شرق Shamael Shar'
- north-west شمال غرب Shamael Gharb
- south-east جنوب شرق Ganoob Shar'
Browse all Arabic words in the glossary.
Questions about شمال
How do you say "north" in Arabic?
In Arabic, "north" is شمال. It is a noun.
How is شمال written in Arabic?
شمال has four letters starting with ش (sha). In Egyptian, shamael is also used for 'left' in some contexts, showing regional word flexibility.
How is شمال used in a sentence?
Use شمال as you would use the equivalent noun in English. For example: المدينة شمال هنا. (The city is north of here.).
Where can I practice Arabic words for free?
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"North" in other languages
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