Today I received another request for a translation of a few English phrases into Arabic for the purpose of an Arabic tattoo:
Hi Max,
I have been reading your blog from australia and its fantastic, i really enjoy it. I noticed that you did a translation for one of your readers. I was wondering whether you could do the same for me. I would really love to learn Arabic but am a bit flat out right now, but its something i would love to learn one day. I have been through a rough time lately and i want to get a tattoo (in my favourite language Arabic) to symbolise this.
The words i would love you to translate are;
From strength comes courage
Never give up
Unbreakable
My family, my heart, whom I love and cherish, I will protect foreverI hope thats not too much to ask
Millie
Unfortunately I’m rather busy currently, so I can only translate a selection this time. Hope you understand Millie.
Never give up
There are a few ways of saying this. I’ll try to make the nuances as clear as possible.
1. لا تستسلم (pronounced la tastaslim)
Literally, this translates as “no (you-)surrender”, i.e. “don’t surrender”. Coincidentally, the verb استسلم(istaslama) has the same root as the word Islam.
Here is the Arabic phrase in three different fonts:
"Don't surrender" in Arabic
2. لا تستسلم أبداً (pronounced la tastaslim ’abadan)
This is essentially the same version as in (1), with the addition of the word أبدا (abadan) which means “never”. So this would translate as “never surrender”.
3. لا تتخلى عن حلمك (pronounced la tatakhalla 3an Hilmik; the “3” sounds like a high-pitched version of the English <a> sound, but from the back of the throat; the “H” is similar to our <h> sound, but with more air and also further back from the throat; the “kh” is the sound in the English “loch” or in the German “ch” in “Sprache”)
This literally means “no (you-)give up on dream(-your)”, i.e. “don’t give up on your dream” or “don’t abandon your dream”.
Below is this sentence formatted in three different fonts and saved as a picture in case your PC mixes up the Arabic letters:
"Don't abandon your dream" in Arabic
4. لا تيأس (pronounced la taya’as)
Literally, “no (you-)despair, or, more elegantly, “don’t despair”.
"Don't despair" in Arabic
5. لا تيأس أبداً (pronounced la taya’as)
The same as in (4), but with the addition of the word word أبدا (abadan) which means “never”. So this would translate as “never despair”.
Unbreakable
In Arabic this concept cannot be captured in one word. The best approximation would be لا ينكسر (la yankasir), which literally translates as “no (it-)break”, or “it doesn’t break”.
It would certainly look odd to just have لا ينكسر (la yankasir) on its own as a tattoo, since everyone would ask themselves just what doesn’t break. So you’d have to think of a slightly longer phrase. For example, الحب الصادق لا ينكسر (al-Hubb aS-Saadiq la yankasir), which would be translated as “true love doesn’t break” or “true love is unbreakable”.
"True love is unbreakable" in Arabic
Strength And Courage
Strength: قوة (qoowa). This can refer to both physical strength and mental strength (e.g. قوة الارادة [quuwat ul-iraada] means “will power”).
Courage: شجاعة (shajaa3a).
If the two words are chosen as a tattoo it would be best to precede them with the article ال (al), so that would result in القوة (al-quuwa) and الشجاعة (ash-shajaa3a).
"Courage" in Arabic
"Strength" in Arabic
I hope this helps you Millie!
Related posts:
Wow thank you so much, it looks just great.
Hope to keep in contact as i start my lessons!!
Thanks again
Millie
CAN U TRANSLATE GUARDIAN ANGEL IN ARABIC FOR ME PLEASE?!
hello, you wouldnt happen to know what ‘lion hearted girl’ would look like in arabic? thank you!
@Vanessa
I’ve translated your request and posted it on my blog. You can find the tattoo design here
@Vicky
See my blog post here.
Hey, I work like to know what is BLessed in Arabic? could you please let me kno?
Thanks.
hey my name is safiya .. i was hoping i can find someone who can help me translate, “love is my life”, ” live for love” . I’d really appriciate it.
Thank you so much
hi I am Liz I would really like translating if you would be so kind , determination and strength ( i have that from above actually so just determination , thanks Liz
@Liz:
The Arabic for “determination” is العزيمة . Below is the tattoo design for this as an image in three different styles. By the way, this is Angelina Jolie’s tattoo too.
From reading up above I got what unbreakable is in arabic but I was wondering if it changes at all if I want the tattoo to read “I am Unbreakable”? I would appreciate any help thank you in advance.
~julissa
hellloo – could you translate “love the life in which you live” in arabic for me please. thanks.
I would like to get my 4 childrens names on my forearm but am afraid of non-trustworthy sites to translate. Their names are Dylan, Devon, Lexi, and Taeler. Any chance you could help? Thanks a million! i just think the Arabic font is beautiful!
Hi my name is Ambreen and I really would appreciate it if you could translate the following words into arabic for me…I really would like to get them tattooed but am afraid of getting the wrong translation. Thankyou kindly in advance.
LIVE LOVE LAUGH.
Hi Ambreen! Here is my translation of the words “live, love, laugh”. Note that this translation is only applicable for women, as the imperative is directed at someone female. In Arabic verbs change according to the gender. There are three different fonts to choose from:
عيشي أحبّي اضحكي is pronounced ‘aeeshi aHibbi iDHaki
Hi ArabicGenie,
my name is Benny, i’m from Indonesia, but I’m non Muslim..but i’m interested in doing tattoo in Arabic words, could u please help me write ‘ i love my family’ in arabic… thanks a lot Genie…
best of luck in everything..you seem like a sweet person as u take the time and effort to have phrases translated accurately and free!..keep good..i’ll let u know when i need your help
hey genie, gr8 work. was wondering if you could help me. my husband and i are getting tattoos of each other name. His name is zainul and as a tribute to his ancestry i would like to get it in arabic, i would also like to have “eternal love” underneath his name. Could you please possibly help me? Thnx!!!
hi. a great site by the way. i would like to get a tattoo saying ‘inshallah’. although you would think it would be easy to find this, it’s proving quite difficult. any chance that you could help out please?! many thanks……
Hi my name is Rachel, i really want and aribic tattoo and would be very grateful if you could translate ” determination strength and creativity” I have been searching everywhere but i am scared i may get the wrong translation!
Hi ArabicGenie,firstly I would like to say I have been looking through all of your pages, I think it is so fantastic of you to be spending your time translating and helping everyone. I can see this must keep you busy, if you have time please could you translate something for me? I would like the words RIDE OR DIE. Hope this message finds you well. Thank you for your time
Toni
Hi,
I wanted to get the words ’strong will’ or ‘firm will tattooed, but I was wondering whether there was another translation other than Al Azeema, as I don’t want to have the same tattoo as Angelina Jolie
Thank you so much!
Nadine
hi,could you translate the word protect in arabic for me?id love to get a tattoo on the back of my neck…thanks cecily
hi im helal i wanted 2 get a tattoo saying (forgive me mum) could you please translate in arabic writing for me ?
@Helal
Welcome to the blog!
I’ve posted a new blog post where I discuss your request.
Hi I just wanted to know to know how you would put Insha’Allah I’ve seen many different ways and I want to see how you would show it before I get some other style tattooed. Thanks
“God willing” or inshallah in Arabic is:
إن شاء الله
(in shaa’ allaah)
There are 4 different designs for this phrase in the Arabic Tattoos ebook on p.36.
Mate this website is awesome. Could you please translate or find an equal meaning of the phrase “virtue never dies” please
hey your transaltions are amazing ! was woundering if you could translate ” Beautiful ” for me please . Thanks
Hi, my name is Tammy, please help me!
I´d like to know how should i say “Change is the only constant in life”, or just “change”
How about “strength and honor”?
And “live long and prosper” ?
What about “Wake me up”?
Hi I’m trying to get an Arabic tattoo but want to get the correct translation and word for it. How do you translate ” In God I Trust ” I also want my last name in Arabic ” Sevilla” I would appreciate if you help me on this….also not sure if it make a difference in translation if i’m a female.
Thank you,
Gigi
Hi
Can you pleas let me know how you would write ‘Love is my weakness’ In Arabic for a tattoo. It’s so hard to find his alphabet.
Thank you
I would like to have a wedding ring designed saying “My Love”.
How would you spell that? Thank you
could you tell me what ‘heart of the ocean’ would translate into please?
and also what ‘Gemma’ would be in Arabic please
hi i have been muslim for 3 years but i dont speak arabic or write could i get some words in arabic writing for my friend??
Live, Love Laugh
Leanne, I assume that you are looking for the feminine version? In Arabic the verbs change according to whether they are directed at someone male or female. I have already translated the female version here. If you want the designs in higher qaulity, then I recommend that you take a look at my Arabic Tattoos eBook. It contains 3 high resolution designs for the male and female versions each.
Gemma, I have made a calligraphic design for “Heart of the Ocean” for you here.
ok… maybe you can help me how would it be for ” forever love” i would like it get this as a tattop please help me.. thanx
hello, i really want to to get a tatto in Arabic, and i honestly do not want something spelled wrong on my body FOREVER. i’d love to be help , and have
” There is a light that never goes out”
- translated in a Arabic ; pleaseee ?, i’ll appreciate it with all my heart
.
Hello what is angel in arabic i want is as a tattoo. Also could you please write Donald in arabic as this is another tattoo i want.
thanks