Arabs is a plural noun referring to people who are native to or identify with the Arab world, typically Arabic-speaking. In most contexts it denotes an ethnic or cultural group rather than a nationality. The pronunciation can signal whether you mean individuals broadly or in a historical/political sense, so accuracy is important for precise communication.
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"The Arаbs have a rich linguistic and cultural heritage."
"Arabs from different regions may speak distinct dialects of Arabic."
"Scholars discussed the migration patterns of Arabs across the Middle East."
"In the classroom, we invited Arab students to share their cultural traditions."
The term Arabs derives from the Arabic word عرب (Arab) which refers to the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula and, more broadly, to Arabic-speaking populations. The English usage expanded in the medieval period, especially through translations and colonial-era scholarship, to denote people who identify as Arab—often in relation to language, culture, and geography. The root عرب (Arab) is linked to the Semitic triliteral root ع-ر-ب (a-r-b), which some hypotheses tie to concepts of “descent,” “mixed,” or “to bend,” though exact semantic evolution is debated and context-dependent. Early Western writings adopted Arab as a descriptor for people of the Near East who spoke Arabic or adhered to Arab cultural norms. By the 19th and 20th centuries, “Arab” and “Arabs” became standard in political and ethnographic discourse, used in academic treatises, encyclopedias, and nation-building narratives. In modern usage, “Arab” functions primarily as an ethnic or linguistic identifier, rather than a strictly national category, with self-identification varying across individuals and communities. First known English uses appear in medieval travelogues and geographies, with more systematic census and ethnographic usage emerging in the 18th and 19th centuries. The term continues to carry political and cultural weighting, influenced by contemporary discussions of identity, language, and regional alliances.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "arabs" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "arabs" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "arabs"
-rab sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Phonetically, it is pronounced as /ˈær.æbz/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a short open-front vowel /æ/ as in 'cat', then glide into /ɹ/ with a rolling or tap-like American r if comfortable, and end with /æbz/ where /b/ is a typical stop and /z/ a voiced sibilant. Mouth position: lips unrounded, jaw moderately open for the first vowel; keep the second syllable lax but clear, and finish with a gentle z-voicing. Listen for a crisp final /z/ rather than a de-voiced or extra vowel. Audio references: consult native pronunciation demos from Pronounce or Forvo to hear regional variations.
Two frequent errors: misplacing the stress (shifting it to the second syllable) and softening the final /z/ to /s/ or omitting the final /z/. Another trap is conflating /æ/ with /ɑ/ in the first syllable, creating /ˈɑː.ræbz/. Correction tips: keep the primary stress on the first syllable, use a clear /æ/ in both vowels, and voice the final consonant /z/. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘arabs’ vs. ‘Arab’s’ to emphasize the plural form. Record yourself and compare to a reference to ensure both syllables are evenly weighted and the z is voiced.
In American English, you’ll hear a rhotic /ɹ/ and a clear /æ/ in the first syllable, with final /z/. In many British accents, the /ɹ/ is less prominent and vowels can be more centralized, but /ˈær.æbz/ remains recognizable; some speakers may have a slightly shortened second /æ/ and a crisper /z/. Australian English follows a similar pattern to General UK but with a flatter vowel in /æ/ and possibly a less pronounced rhoticity. Overall, vowels can shift subtly, but the core /ˈær.æbz/ skeleton remains consistent.
The challenge lies in achieving two distinct open-front vowels /æ/ in sequence and maintaining a voiced end /z/ without letting it assimilate to a voiceless /s/. Some speakers reduce the second vowel or compress the syllables, causing a diphthongal or clipped ending. Practicing with slow, precise articulation on /æ/ in both syllables and ensuring the final /z/ is fully voiced—like a soft buzz—helps anchoring the word in fluent speech.
There are no silent letters in arabs. All letters contribute to the pronunciation: the first syllable carries the strong /æ/ sound, the second syllable uses /æ/ with a voiced /b/ and a final /z/. The key is to keep the /z/ voiced and not drop the final consonant, which is a common omission when speaking quickly. Listen for the audible end and ensure you finish with a soft, resonant /z/ sound.
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