Arabic word sheet
كَرِيمٌ
noble, worthy of esteem
- Type
- adjective
- Root
- ك ر م
Meaning and usage
Noble, honourable
Said of a person whose qualities, conduct or birth make him worthy of respect. It is the reverse of someone base and mean.
الْجَارُ رَجُلٌ كَرِيمٌ يَحْتَرِمُهُ الْجَمِيعُ.
The neighbour is an honourable man whom everyone respects.
Generous
Said of someone who gives willingly and freely, who treats his guests well and does not count what he offers.
سَامِي كَرِيمٌ مَعَ ضُيُوفِهِ.
Sami is generous with his guests.
Precious, of high quality
Said of a thing that is highly prized, excellent or rare of its kind: a stone, a mount, land that yields well.
اِشْتَرَتْ لَيْلَى حَجَرًا كَرِيمًا.
Layla bought a precious stone.
Plural
كُرَمَاءُ / كِرَامٌ
Word family
What the root means ك ر م
The root carries the idea of high worth: a thing or a person held in high esteem, excellent of its kind. From it come the words for nobility and generosity, for honouring someone and for a noble deed.
to be noble, generous; to be precious
كَرُمَ
generosity, nobility
كَرَمٌ
honour, dignity
كَرَامَةٌ
honouring, treating well
إِكْرَامٌ
honouring, tribute
تَكْرِيمٌ
noble deed
مَكْرُمَةٌ
Synonyms
noble, of high standing
شَرِيفٌ
It matches the sense “noble” only, and stresses rank and lineage more than qualities of the heart.
generous, open-handed
سَخِيٌّ
It matches the sense “generous” only: one who gives easily of what he owns, without the idea of nobility.
Opposites
base, mean
لَئِيمٌ
miserly
بَخِيلٌ