POST 5: Na’if, the Handyman

How Do You Say “Handyman” in Arabic?

Quick answer: A handyman is عامل صيانة (ʿāmil ṣiyāna), literally “maintenance worker,” pronounced AA-mil si-YAA-na. A more technical term is فنّي صيانة (fannī ṣiyāna), “maintenance technician.”

Meet Na’if, the Handyman from Southern Saudi Arabia

If something’s broken, Na’if is already reaching for his tools. He’s one of the [Southern Shabby Little Fellas → Hub link]. [Personality line.]

How Do You Pronounce ʿĀmil Ṣiyāna?

Say AA-mil si-YAA-na. The ʿ is the deep throat ʿayn sound, and the ṣ is a heavier, deeper “s.”

Where Do the Words Come From?

ʿĀmil comes from the root ع-م-ل (to work). ʿAmal (عمل) is work, so a ʿāmil is “one who works.” Ṣiyāna comes from ص-و-ن (to protect or keep in good condition), so ṣiyāna means upkeep or maintenance. A handyman is literally “a worker of upkeep.” ʿĀmil uses the same “AA-i” pattern as ṣāʾigh (silversmith) and ʿālim (scholar). → [Meet Hawdah the Silversmith]

How Do You Say “He Is a Handyman” in Arabic?

هو عامل صيانة (Huwa ʿāmil ṣiyāna).

FAQ

• How do you say “do it yourself” (DIY) in Arabic? افعلها بنفسك (ifʿalhā bi-nafsik) to a man, and افعليها بنفسكِ (ifʿalīhā bi-nafsiki) to a woman. Ifʿal means “do!” and bi-nafsik means “by yourself.”
• What is the Arabic word for tool? أداة (adāt), plural أدوات (adawāt).
• How do you say repair in Arabic? إصلاح (iṣlāḥ), from ص-ل-ح, “to set right.”
• What is the Arabic word for maintenance? صيانة (ṣiyāna).

Take Na’if home: [Personalised Profession Mug] Next: [Meet Layan the Potter →]