مِفتاح، مَفاتيح — meaning in English: Key, keys

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Guess the translation for key (door

عَلِقَ، يَعلَقُ، العُلوق

مِفتاح، مَفاتيح

تَبَنٍّ/التَّبَنّي

كُرديّ، أكراد

تَوَصُّل

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neutral very common

Usage

Native speakers use the word مِفتاح / مَفاتيح in everyday conversation when discussing security or access, such as when talking about house keys, car keys, or even metaphorical keys to success. For example, you might hear someone say, 'I forgot my مِفتاح to the house,' when they are locked out.

Synonyms & nuances

A close synonym for مِفتاح is 'قفل' (qafl), which means 'lock.' While مِفتاح specifically denotes the object that opens a lock, قفل refers to the mechanism that secures it. You would choose مِفتاح when referring to the object needed to gain entry.

Culture

The word مِفتاح has its roots in the Arabic verb 'فَتَحَ' (fataha), meaning 'to open.' In many Arab cultures, keys symbolize access and control, often associated with hospitality. In some traditions, giving someone a key is a sign of trust and friendship, reflecting the importance of relationships in Arab societies.

FAQ

Q.What is the plural form of مِفتاح in Arabic?

The plural form of مِفتاح is مَفاتيح (mafaatiih). This is a common rule in Arabic where many nouns have specific plural forms that may not be intuitive to learners.

Q.How do you use مِفتاح in a sentence?

You can use مِفتاح in a sentence like, 'أحتاج إلى مِفتاح السيارة' (I need the car key). It's a straightforward word that fits naturally into everyday conversations.

Q.Are there any common mistakes with using مِفتاح?

A common mistake is confusing the gender of the word. مِفتاح is masculine, so ensure to use masculine adjectives with it, like 'مِفتاح كبير' (big key), as opposed to referring to it with feminine forms.

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