Geography Terms In Arabic Language

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When most people hear the word geography, they immediately begin to think of maps, but it’s so much more than that. To understand why studying geography is relevant, people must first understand what it means. So, before providing our examples of Geography terms in Arabic, we’ll explain just that. The word comes to us from the ancient Greeks, who needed a word to describe the writings and maps that were helping them make sense of the world in which they lived. Hence, in Greek, geo means “earth” and –graphy means “to write.”  

Using geography, Greeks developed an understanding of where their homeland was located in relation to other places, what their own and other places were like, and how people and environments were distributed. These concerns have been central to geography terms In Arabic ever since. Of course, the Greeks were not the only people interested in geography. Throughout human history, most societies have sought to understand something about their place in the world, and the people and environments around them. 

Fun fact: Did you know that advances in geography were mainly made by scientists of the Muslim world, based around the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa. Geographers of this Islamic Golden Age created the world’s first rectangular map based on a grid, a map system that is still familiar today. Islamic scholars also applied their study of people and places to agriculture, determining which crops and livestock were most suited to specific habitats or environments. We believe it is important to know the Arabic words for such terms. It might help you in your travels and also enhance your Arabic vocabulary. 

Here are our examples:

English Transliteration Arabic
Country in Arabic Balad بلد
State in Arabic Wlayeh ولاية
City in Arabic Madenah مدينة
Town in Arabic Baldah بلدة
Village in Arabic Qaryah قرية
Capital in Arabic Asemah عاصمة
Hill in Arabic Tal تل
Valley in Arabic Wadi وادي
Plain in Arabic Sahel سهل
Desert in Arabic Sahra’ صحراء
Oasis in Arabic Waha واحة
Forest in Arabic Ghaba غابة
Rainforest in Arabic Ghaba estwa’yah غابة استوائية
Mountain in Arabic Jabal جبل
Mountain range in Arabic Silselat jibal سلسلة جبال
Plateau in Arabic Hadaba هضبة
Continent in Arabic Qarra قارة
Ocean in Arabic Moheet محيط
Sea in Arabic Bahar بحر
Lake in Arabic Buhaira بحيرة
River in Arabic Nahr نهر
Spring in Arabic (flowing water) Nab’ نبع
Beach in Arabic shaati’ شاطيء
Canyon in Arabic waadee وادي
Geography in Arabic jughraafiaa جغرافيا
Well in Arabic Bi’r بئر
Location or place in Arabic Makaan مكان
Suburb in Arabic Dawahin ضاحية
Governorate in Arabic Muhafaza محافظة

Whether geography is thought of as a discipline or as a basic feature of our world, developing an understanding of the subject is important. It helps us have a better understanding of society and why we live in the places we do. It also helps us understand How urbanization has changed the world and its societies and why certain areas flourish while others don’t. Geography terms in Arabic help us understand why certain locations are ideal for living and why others are not.

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