POST 3: Miss Al-Khatib, the Language Teacher

How Do You Say “Language Teacher” in Arabic?

Quick answer: A female language teacher is معلّمة لغة (muʿallimat lugha), and a male one is معلّم لغة (muʿallim lugha). An Arabic-language teacher is معلّمة اللغة العربية (muʿallimat al-lugha al-ʿarabiyya). To address a teacher as “Miss,” say أستاذة (ustādha).

Meet Miss Al-Khatib, the Language Teacher from Central Saudi Arabia

Miss Al-Khatib is one of the [Central Shabby Little Fellas → Hub link]. Her surname, الخطيب (Al-Khaṭīb), means “the orator,” a fitting name for a language teacher.

How Do You Pronounce Muʿallimat Lugha?

Say mu-ʿAL-li-mat LU-gha. The ʿ is the deep throat ʿayn sound, and the gh is a gargled sound like the French “r.”

Where Do the Words Come From?

Muʿallima comes from the root ع-ل-م (to know): ʿilm (علم) is knowledge, ʿallama means “he taught,” and taʿallama means “he learned.” The mu- at the start marks “the one who does the action,” as in munajjid (upholsterer). → [Meet Faris the Upholsterer] A ʿālim (scholar) shares the same root. → [Meet Talib the Archaeologist]

How Do You Say “Miss Al-Khatib Is a Language Teacher” in Arabic?

الأستاذة الخطيب معلّمة لغة (Al-ustādha al-Khaṭīb muʿallimat lugha).

FAQ

• What is the Arabic word for language? لغة (lugha), plural لغات (lughāt).
• What is the Arabic word for student? طالب (ṭālib) for a boy or man, and طالبة (ṭāliba) for a girl or woman.
• What is the Arabic word for school? مدرسة (madrasa).
• What is the Arabic word for lesson? درس (dars).

Take Miss Al-Khatib home: [Eid Cards] Next: [Meet Mr. Al-Mubdi the Calligraphy Teacher →]