Definition
A very young child, particularly one that has not yet learned to walk or talk; an infant.
| Arabic | طِفْل |
| Translitertion | Ṭifl |
| Pronunciation | |
Grammatical Information
- Part of Speech: Noun (اسم – Ism)
- Gender: Masculine (مُذَكَّر – Mudhakkar)
- Number: Singular (مُفْرَد – Mufrad)
- Note: The plural form is أَطْفَال (‘aṭfāl).
Example Sentences
| Arabic | Transliteration | English Translation | Pronunciation |
| !هُوَ طِفْلٌ جَمِيلٌ جِدًّا | Huwa ṭiflun jamīlun jiddan! | He is a very beautiful baby! | |
| الطِّفْلُ نَائِمٌ الآنَ | Aṭ-ṭiflu nā’imun al-ʾān | The baby is sleeping now. | |
| !مَبْرُوك عَلَى الْمَوْلُود الْجَدِيد | Mabrūk ʿalā al-mawlūd al-jadīd! | Congratulations on the new baby! |
Related Words and Phrases
- Synonym (مُرَادِف):
- مَوْلُود (mawlūd): Newborn (literally: “one who is born”).
- رَضِيع (raḍīʿ): Infant/Suckling (specifically a baby that is still breastfeeding).
- بِيبِي (bībī): A common loanword for “baby.”
- Words from the Same Root:
- طُفُولَة (ṭufūlah): Childhood (Noun).
- طُفَيْلِيّ (ṭufayliyy): Parasitic (Adjective – used scientifically, or colloquially for someone who “babies” off others).
- تَطَفُّل (taṭafful): Intrusiveness/Meddling (Noun – acting like a child who doesn’t know boundaries).
Cultural Context
Welcoming a new baby (مَوْلُود جَدِيد) is one of the most joyous occasions in Arab culture, deeply centered on family and community support. It is common for extended family and neighbors to visit the new mother, often bringing gifts and traditional sweets.