Arabic word sheet
إِنْسٌ
Humankind, humans
- Type
- noun
- Root
- ء ن س
Meaning and usage
Humankind, humans
Names human beings taken together, as a kind, as opposed to other creatures, wild animals for instance.
هَذِهِ الْجَزِيرَةُ خَالِيَةٌ مِنَ الْإِنْسِ.
This island is empty of humans.
Close friend, chosen companion
By a figure of speech, in the old language: the person one has made one’s favourite companion, the friend one feels at ease with.
كَانَ الْجَارُ إِنْسَ سَامِي فِي السَّفَرِ.
The neighbour was Sami’s chosen companion on the journey.
Word family
What the root means ء ن س
The basic verb means to be at ease with someone, to enjoy his company and feel at home in it: the contrary of wildness and loneliness. To this family belong the name of humankind, “the human being”, “people”, “the comfort of company” and “to become tame”.
to be at ease with, to enjoy the company of
أَنِسَ
comfort of company, familiarity
أُنْسٌ
human being
human, a human being
إِنْسِيٌّ
people
أُنَاسٌ
to become tame, to grow familiar
اِسْتَأْنَسَ
Synonyms
humans, humanity
بَشَرٌ
It names humans by their nature of flesh and blood, whereas the headword sets them apart from other kinds of beings.
Opposites
the jinn of Arabic tradition
جِنٌّ