Definition

A state of sudden surprise, disbelief, or emotional distress caused by an unexpected event.

Arabicصَدْمَة
TranslitertionṢadmah

Pronunciation

Grammatical Information

  • Part of Speech: Noun (اسم – Ism)
  • Gender: Feminine (مُؤَنَّث – Mu’annath)
  • Adjective Forms:
    • Masculine Singular: مَصْدُوم (maṣdūm) or مُصْدَم (muṣdam)
    • Feminine Singular: مَصْدُومَة (maṣdūmah) or مُصْدَمَة (muṣdamah)
  • Plural: مَصْدُومُون (maṣdūmūn) [M] / مَصْدُومَات (maṣdūmāt) [F]

Example Sentences

ArabicTransliterationEnglish TranslationPronunciation
كَانَتْ صَدْمَةً كَبِيرَةKānat ṣadmatan kabīrahIt was a big shock
أَنَا مَصْدُومٌ مِنَ الأَخْبَارAnā maṣdūm min al-akhbārI am shocked by the news (m)
هِيَ مَصْدُومَةٌ مِنْ تَصَرُّفِهِHiya maṣdūmah min taṣarrufihShe is shocked by his behavior
الْخَبَرُ صَدَمَنِيAl-khabar ṣadamaniThe news shocked me
  • Verbs: صَدَمَ (ṣadama) – To shock; أَصَابَهُ صَدْمَة (ʾaṣābahu ṣadmah) – He experienced a shock.
  • Exclamations of Surprise:
    • يَا إِلَهِي! (Yā ʾilāhī!) – Oh my God!
    • لَا أُصَدِّق! (Lā uṣaddiq!) – I don’t believe it!
    • مُسْتَحِيل! (Mustaḥīl!) – Impossible!
    • عَجِيب! (ʿAjīb!) – Strange! / Amazing!
  • Expressing Dismay:
    • يَا لَلْعَار! (Yā lal-ʿār!) – What a shame!
    • لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ (Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāh) – There is no power or strength except with Allah.

Cultural Context

In Arab culture, expressions of shock are often intertwined with spiritual or religious phrases. For instance, “Subḥāna Allāh” (Glory be to Allah) is frequently used to express wonder or awe at the unexpected. When shock is met with tragedy or helplessness, the phrase “Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāh” is a standard way to seek patience and strength. Non-verbal cues, such as a sharp gasp or a hand to the chest, often accompany these verbal exclamations to emphasize the intensity of the emotion.