POST 2: Salman, the Mat Weaver

How Do You Say “Mat Weaver” in Arabic?

Quick answer: A mat weaver is نسّاج حصير (nassāj ḥaṣīr), pronounced nas-SAAJ ha-SEER. Nassāj means weaver, and ḥaṣīr means mat.

Meet Salman, the Mat Weaver from Southern Saudi Arabia

Salman weaves mats as one of the [Southern Shabby Little Fellas → Hub link]. Traditional Arabian mats were woven from palm leaves or reeds.

How Do You Pronounce Nassāj Ḥaṣīr?

Say nas-SAAJ ha-SEER. The ḥ is a soft, breathy “h” from the throat, and the ṣ is a heavier, deeper “s.”

Where Do the Words Come From?

Nassāj comes from the root ن-س-ج (to weave), the same word as Samar’s nassāja in the north. → [Meet Samar the Al-Sadu Weaver] Ḥaṣīr (حصير) is the word for a woven mat.

How Do You Say “Salman Is a Mat Weaver” in Arabic?

سلمان نسّاج حصير (Salmān nassāj ḥaṣīr).

FAQ

• What is the Arabic word for mat? حصير (ḥaṣīr).
• What is a prayer mat in Arabic? سجّادة (sajjāda), from the root س-ج-د (to prostrate).
• What are palm leaves in Arabic? سعف النخيل (saʿaf an-nakhīl).

Take Salman home: [Keychain] Next: [Meet Ibrahim the Basket Weaver →]