عالم

Arabic

Etymology 1

  • Borrowed from Aramaic עָלְמָא / ܥܳܠܡܳܐ (ʿāləmā) or Hebrew עוֹלָם (ʿōlām), possibly from Akkadian 𒂖𒆷𒈬𒌋𒀀 (/⁠ellamu, illamu⁠/, front, before; both temporally and in location; coming before your time or being currently physically before you now).

    Alternative forms

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ʕaː.lam/

    Noun

    عَالَم • (ʕālamm (plural عَالَمُون (ʕālamūn) or عَوَالِم (ʕawālim))

    1. world
    2. universe, cosmos, existence
    3. (chiefly Christianity) world, hereunder, worldly life
      Synonym: دُنْيَا (dunyā)
      فِي ٱلْعَالَمِ سَيَكُونُ لَكُمْ ضِيقٌ، وَلَكِنْ ثِقُوا: أَنَا قَدْ غَلَبْتُ ٱلْعَالَمَ.
      fī l-ʕālami sayakūnu lakum ḍīqun, walakin ṯiqū: ʔanā qad ḡalabtu l-ʕālama.
      In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
    4. things, creation, that which exists before you
    5. nation, people, group, type, or kind
    Declension
    Declension of noun عَالَم (ʕālam)
    singular basic singular triptote
    indefinite definite construct
    informal عَالَم
    ʕālam
    الْعَالَم
    al-ʕālam
    عَالَم
    ʕālam
    nominative عَالَمٌ
    ʕālamun
    الْعَالَمُ
    al-ʕālamu
    عَالَمُ
    ʕālamu
    accusative عَالَمًا
    ʕālaman
    الْعَالَمَ
    al-ʕālama
    عَالَمَ
    ʕālama
    genitive عَالَمٍ
    ʕālamin
    الْعَالَمِ
    al-ʕālami
    عَالَمِ
    ʕālami
    dual indefinite definite construct
    informal عَالَمَيْن
    ʕālamayn
    الْعَالَمَيْن
    al-ʕālamayn
    عَالَمَيْ
    ʕālamay
    nominative عَالَمَانِ
    ʕālamāni
    الْعَالَمَانِ
    al-ʕālamāni
    عَالَمَا
    ʕālamā
    accusative عَالَمَيْنِ
    ʕālamayni
    الْعَالَمَيْنِ
    al-ʕālamayni
    عَالَمَيْ
    ʕālamay
    genitive عَالَمَيْنِ
    ʕālamayni
    الْعَالَمَيْنِ
    al-ʕālamayni
    عَالَمَيْ
    ʕālamay
    plural sound masculine plural‎;
    basic broken plural diptote
    indefinite definite construct
    informal عَالَمِين‎; عَوَالِم
    ʕālamīn‎; ʕawālim
    الْعَالَمِين‎; الْعَوَالِم
    al-ʕālamīn‎; al-ʕawālim
    عَالَمِي‎; عَوَالِم
    ʕālamī‎; ʕawālim
    nominative عَالَمُونَ‎; عَوَالِمُ
    ʕālamūna‎; ʕawālimu
    الْعَالَمُونَ‎; الْعَوَالِمُ
    al-ʕālamūna‎; al-ʕawālimu
    عَالَمُو‎; عَوَالِمُ
    ʕālamū‎; ʕawālimu
    accusative عَالَمِينَ‎; عَوَالِمَ
    ʕālamīna‎; ʕawālima
    الْعَالَمِينَ‎; الْعَوَالِمَ
    al-ʕālamīna‎; al-ʕawālima
    عَالَمِي‎; عَوَالِمَ
    ʕālamī‎; ʕawālima
    genitive عَالَمِينَ‎; عَوَالِمَ
    ʕālamīna‎; ʕawālima
    الْعَالَمِينَ‎; الْعَوَالِمِ
    al-ʕālamīna‎; al-ʕawālimi
    عَالَمِي‎; عَوَالِمِ
    ʕālamī‎; ʕawālimi
    Descendants
    • Azerbaijani: aləm
    • Bashkir: ғәләм (ğələm)
    • Kazakh: ғалам (ğalam), әлем (älem)
    • Kyrgyz: аалам (aalam)
    • Malay: alam
    • Middle Armenian: ալամ (alam)
    • Ottoman Turkish: عالم (ʿālem)
      > Turkish: âlem (inherited)
    • Persian: عالم ('âlam)
      • Bengali: আলম (alom)
      • Gujarati: આલમ (ālam)
      • Punjabi:
        Gurmukhi script: ਆਲਮ (ālam)
        Shahmukhi script: عالم (ālam)
      • Udi: аьлаьм (äläm)
      • Urdu: عالم (äläm)
    • Tabasaran: аьлам (a̱lam)
    • Uzbek: olam

    Etymology 2

  • Derived from the active participle of the verb عَلِمَ (ʕalima, to know), from the root ع ل م (ʕ l m).

    Noun

    عَالِم • (ʕālimm (plural عَالِمُون (ʕālimūn) or عُلَمَاء (ʕulamāʔ), feminine عَالِمَة (ʕālima))

    1. scholar, man of letters, scientist
    2. knowledgeable person, savant
    Declension
    Declension of noun عَالِم (ʕālim)
    singular masculine feminine
    basic singular triptote singular triptote in ـَة (-a)
    indefinite definite construct indefinite definite construct
    informal عَالِم
    ʕālim
    الْعَالِم
    al-ʕālim
    عَالِم
    ʕālim
    عَالِمَة
    ʕālima
    الْعَالِمَة
    al-ʕālima
    عَالِمَة
    ʕālimat
    nominative عَالِمٌ
    ʕālimun
    الْعَالِمُ
    al-ʕālimu
    عَالِمُ
    ʕālimu
    عَالِمَةٌ
    ʕālimatun
    الْعَالِمَةُ
    al-ʕālimatu
    عَالِمَةُ
    ʕālimatu
    accusative عَالِمًا
    ʕāliman
    الْعَالِمَ
    al-ʕālima
    عَالِمَ
    ʕālima
    عَالِمَةً
    ʕālimatan
    الْعَالِمَةَ
    al-ʕālimata
    عَالِمَةَ
    ʕālimata
    genitive عَالِمٍ
    ʕālimin
    الْعَالِمِ
    al-ʕālimi
    عَالِمِ
    ʕālimi
    عَالِمَةٍ
    ʕālimatin
    الْعَالِمَةِ
    al-ʕālimati
    عَالِمَةِ
    ʕālimati
    dual masculine feminine
    indefinite definite construct indefinite definite construct
    informal عَالِمَيْن
    ʕālimayn
    الْعَالِمَيْن
    al-ʕālimayn
    عَالِمَيْ
    ʕālimay
    عَالِمَتَيْن
    ʕālimatayn
    الْعَالِمَتَيْن
    al-ʕālimatayn
    عَالِمَتَيْ
    ʕālimatay
    nominative عَالِمَانِ
    ʕālimāni
    الْعَالِمَانِ
    al-ʕālimāni
    عَالِمَا
    ʕālimā
    عَالِمَتَانِ
    ʕālimatāni
    الْعَالِمَتَانِ
    al-ʕālimatāni
    عَالِمَتَا
    ʕālimatā
    accusative عَالِمَيْنِ
    ʕālimayni
    الْعَالِمَيْنِ
    al-ʕālimayni
    عَالِمَيْ
    ʕālimay
    عَالِمَتَيْنِ
    ʕālimatayni
    الْعَالِمَتَيْنِ
    al-ʕālimatayni
    عَالِمَتَيْ
    ʕālimatay
    genitive عَالِمَيْنِ
    ʕālimayni
    الْعَالِمَيْنِ
    al-ʕālimayni
    عَالِمَيْ
    ʕālimay
    عَالِمَتَيْنِ
    ʕālimatayni
    الْعَالِمَتَيْنِ
    al-ʕālimatayni
    عَالِمَتَيْ
    ʕālimatay
    plural masculine feminine
    sound masculine plural‎;
    basic broken plural diptote
    sound feminine plural
    indefinite definite construct indefinite definite construct
    informal عَالِمِين‎; عُلَمَاء
    ʕālimīn‎; ʕulamāʔ
    الْعَالِمِين‎; الْعُلَمَاء
    al-ʕālimīn‎; al-ʕulamāʔ
    عَالِمِي‎; عُلَمَاء
    ʕālimī‎; ʕulamāʔ
    عَالِمَات
    ʕālimāt
    الْعَالِمَات
    al-ʕālimāt
    عَالِمَات
    ʕālimāt
    nominative عَالِمُونَ‎; عُلَمَاءُ
    ʕālimūna‎; ʕulamāʔu
    الْعَالِمُونَ‎; الْعُلَمَاءُ
    al-ʕālimūna‎; al-ʕulamāʔu
    عَالِمُو‎; عُلَمَاءُ
    ʕālimū‎; ʕulamāʔu
    عَالِمَاتٌ
    ʕālimātun
    الْعَالِمَاتُ
    al-ʕālimātu
    عَالِمَاتُ
    ʕālimātu
    accusative عَالِمِينَ‎; عُلَمَاءَ
    ʕālimīna‎; ʕulamāʔa
    الْعَالِمِينَ‎; الْعُلَمَاءَ
    al-ʕālimīna‎; al-ʕulamāʔa
    عَالِمِي‎; عُلَمَاءَ
    ʕālimī‎; ʕulamāʔa
    عَالِمَاتٍ
    ʕālimātin
    الْعَالِمَاتِ
    al-ʕālimāti
    عَالِمَاتِ
    ʕālimāti
    genitive عَالِمِينَ‎; عُلَمَاءَ
    ʕālimīna‎; ʕulamāʔa
    الْعَالِمِينَ‎; الْعُلَمَاءِ
    al-ʕālimīna‎; al-ʕulamāʔi
    عَالِمِي‎; عُلَمَاءِ
    ʕālimī‎; ʕulamāʔi
    عَالِمَاتٍ
    ʕālimātin
    الْعَالِمَاتِ
    al-ʕālimāti
    عَالِمَاتِ
    ʕālimāti
    Descendants

    References

    • ˁlm”, in The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon Project, Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College, 1986–
    • Fischer, Wolfdietrich (2006), Grammatik des Klassischen Arabisch (in German), 4th edition, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, →ISBN, § 62 Anm. 5, page 36
    • Fraenkel, Siegmund (1880), De vocabulis in antiquis Arabum carminibus et in Corano peregrinis[1] (in Latin), Leiden: E. J. Brill, →DOI, page 17
    • Fraenkel, Siegmund (1880), De vocabulis in antiquis Arabum carminibus et in Corano peregrinis[2] (in Latin), Leiden: E. J. Brill, →DOI, page 21
    • Jeffery, Arthur (1938), The Foreign Vocabulary of the Qurʾān (Gaekwad’s Oriental Series; 79), Baroda: Oriental Institute, pages 208–209
    • Nöldeke, Theodor (1875), Mandäische Grammatik[3] (in German), Halle: Verlag der Buchhandlung des Waisenhauses, →DOI, page 112

    Kohistani Shina

    Noun

    عالم ('alim)

    1. teacher

    North Levantine Arabic

    Etymology

    From Arabic عَالَم (ʕālam).

    Noun

    عالم • (ʕālamm (plural عوالم (ʕwālim))

    1. world
      Synonym: دني (dini)
    2. people, folk
      Synonym: ناس (nās)
      كان في كتير عالم هنيك.
      kān fi ktīr ʕālam hunīk.
      There were a lot of people there.

    Usage notes

    • When meaning “people” it is often construed with a feminine or plural verb, like ناس.

    Ottoman Turkish

    Etymology 1

  • Borrowed from Arabic عَالَم (ʕālam).

    Noun

    عالم • (alem) (plural عالمون (alemun), and عوالم (ewalim))

    1. world, universe, everything except God
    2. age, time, period
    Descendants

    Etymology 2

  • Borrowed from Arabic عَالِم (ʕālim).

    Noun

    عالم • (alim) (plural علما (ulema), and علام (ullam))

    1. learned man, scholar, man of letters
    2. particularly, a member of a certain class of men with a state-sponsored tenure, as distinguished from a mufti, being part of the askeri class, alim [since Mehmed II]

    Adjective

    عالم • (alim)

    1. learned, educated
      عالم بر خاتونalim bir hatuna learned lady

    Descendants

    Further reading

    Persian

    Etymology 1

  • Borrowed from Arabic عَالَم (ʕālam).

    Pronunciation

     

    Readings
    Classical reading? ālam
    Dari reading? ālam
    Iranian reading? âlam
    Tajik reading? olam

    Noun

    Dari عالم
    Iranian Persian
    Tajik олам

    عالَم • ('âlam)

    1. world; universe
      Synonyms: جهان (jahân), دنیا (donyâ)
    Descendants
    • Bengali: আলম (alom)
    • Gujarati: આલમ (ālam)
    • Punjabi:
      Gurmukhi script: ਆਲਮ (ālam)
      Shahmukhi script: عالم (ālam)
    • Udi: аьлаьм (äläm)
    • Urdu: عالم (äläm)

    Etymology 2

  • Borrowed from Arabic عَالِم (ʕālim), from عَلِمَ (ʕalima).

    Pronunciation

     

    Readings
    Classical reading? ālim
    Dari reading? ālim
    Iranian reading? âlem
    Tajik reading? olim

    Adjective

    Dari عالم
    Iranian Persian
    Tajik олим

    عالِم • ('âlem)

    1. learned; knowledgeable
    • علم ('elm, knowledge)
    Descendants
    • Gujarati: આલિમ (ālim)

    Punjabi

    Etymology 1

  • Borrowed from Classical Persian عَالَم (ālam), borrowed from Arabic عَالَم (ʕālam), borrowed from Aramaic עָלְמָא + Classical Syriac ܥܳܠܡܳܐ.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ɑː.lə.mᵊ/

    Noun

    عالَم • (ʻālamm (Gurmukhi spelling ਆਲਮ)

    1. world
    2. universe
    3. kingdom
    4. state, condition

    Etymology 2

  • Borrowed from Classical Persian عَالِم (ālim), borrowed from Arabic عَالِم (ʕālim), from عَلِمَ (ʕalima).

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ɑː.lə.mᵊ/

    Adjective

    عالَم • (ʻālam) (Gurmukhi spelling ਆਲਮ)

    1. learned
    2. knowledgeable
    3. intelligent
    4. wise
    Usage notes
    • Many Arabic loanwords, such as عالَم (ʻālam), can have multiple meanings in Punjabi, where in this case, one is related to the noun, while the latter meaning is used to refer to the adjective. Both are borrowed from different Arabic words, yet have the same pronunciation in Punjabi, unlike in, the sister language, Urdu عالِم ('ālim), (and rarely in Hindi आलिम (ālim)), where there is a distinction in pronunciation between the adjective and the noun. This can cause ambiguity as generally Punjabi speakers, who tend to also speak Hindi and Urdu, might actually mix words from either languages and not emphasise on the difference in pronunciation.

    South Levantine Arabic

    Root
    ع ل م
    7 terms

    Etymology 1

    From Arabic عَالَم (ʕālam).

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ʕaː.lam/, [ˈʕæː.lam]
    • Audio (Ramallah):(file)

    Noun

    عالم • (ʕālamm

    1. world
      Synonym: دنيا (dinya)

    Etymology 2

    From Arabic عَالِم (ʕālim).

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ʕaː.lim/, [ˈʕæː.lɪm]
    • Audio (Ramallah):(file)

    Adjective

    عالم • (ʕālem) (feminine عالمة (ʕālme), elative أعلم (ʔaʕlam))

    1. aware
    2. (formal) knowing

    Noun

    عالم • (ʕālemm (plural علماء (ʕulamāʔ), feminine عالمة (ʕālme))

    1. scholar, scientist
      Synonym: باحث (bāḥes)

    Urdu

    Etymology 1

  • Borrowed from Classical Persian عَالَم (ālam), borrowed from Arabic عَالَم (ʕālam), borrowed from Aramaic עָלְמָא + Classical Syriac ܥܳܠܡܳܐ.

    Pronunciation

    Noun

    عالَم • ('ālamm (Hindi spelling आलम)

    1. world
    2. universe
    3. mankind
    4. kingdom
    5. season
    6. state, condition
    7. age, period

    Etymology 2

  • Borrowed from Classical Persian عَالِم (ālim), borrowed from Arabic عَالِم (ʕālim), from عَلِمَ (ʕalima).

    Pronunciation

    Adjective

    عالِم • ('ālim) (Hindi spelling आलिम)

    1. learned
    2. knowledgeable
    3. intelligent
    4. wise

    Noun

    عالم • ('ālimm (Hindi spelling आलिम)

    1. doctor
    2. scientist
      Synonyms: دانش مند (dāniś-mand), سائنسدان (sāinsdān)
    3. scholar
      Synonym: دانشور (dāniśvar)