Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Arabic term or phrase:
riad (in Morocco)
English translation:
house with an inner courtyard
Added to glossary by
Fuad Yahya
Sep 3, 2002 11:45
21 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Arabic term
Spain
passion des mots
Native in: English 
Works in: Catalan to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 2 more.
riad versus riyad (or riyâd)
Arabic to English
Art/Literary
Architecture
Moroccan houses and gardens
I am translating a text on Moroccan gardens (and houses) from German to English. In this text, numerous references are made to riads and riyâds. I am not 100 % certain of the difference. Am I right in thinking that 'riad' to describe an urban house in a medina with its inner courtyard with a fountain, flowerbeds etc.? And that the 'riyad' or 'riyâd' as the German author has written is simply the inner courtyard? Also, which would be the most correct way of spelling this word in English?
I would be very grateful if someone could confirm this.
Many thanks in advance,
Sheila
I would be very grateful if someone could confirm this.
Many thanks in advance,
Sheila
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +2 | Singular: ROWDHA; plural: RIYADH |
Fuad Yahya
|
| 4 | riad or riyad |
Sami Khamou
|
Change log
Jan 2, 2006 06:56: Fuad Yahya changed "Field" from "Other" to "Art/Literary" , "Field (specific)" from "(none)" to "Architecture"
Proposed translations
+2
1 hr
Selected
Singular: ROWDHA; plural: RIYADH
The singular term ROWDHA means "garden" or "meadow." For instance, a kindergarten is called ROWDHAT ATFAL.
The plural is RIYADH, which also happens to be the name of the capital city in Saudi Arabia. It is interesting that the bank that is named after the city is spelled differently: BANK OF RIYAD (without the final H).
The word RIYADH is also commonly used as a boy's name. My cousin is named Riyadh.
So RIAYDH means "gardens," whether in a front yard, a bckyard, a courtyard, or in any other setting. It does not mean "house," whether urban or not.
Fuad
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Note added at 2002-09-03 13:20:35 (GMT)
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The combination DH is a conventional way for representing a peculiar Arabic consonant that sounds very similar to the letter D. The convention is not universally used. In many scholarly works, where printing techniques allow fancy orthography, the peculiar sound is distinguished from the regular D by placing a dot below or above the letter D, so the extra H would be eliminated.
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Note added at 2002-09-05 14:51:03 (GMT)
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Here is what my Moroccan friends at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center advised:
- The term is applied to the house with an inner courtyard, never to the courtyard itself.
- The spelling is immaterial. Just choose a spelling and stick to it.
- Nobody knows why the plural is used, but it is -- never the singular form ROWDHA.
- For the inner courtyard itself, the term JARDA (from the French term \"jardin\") is used.
The plural is RIYADH, which also happens to be the name of the capital city in Saudi Arabia. It is interesting that the bank that is named after the city is spelled differently: BANK OF RIYAD (without the final H).
The word RIYADH is also commonly used as a boy's name. My cousin is named Riyadh.
So RIAYDH means "gardens," whether in a front yard, a bckyard, a courtyard, or in any other setting. It does not mean "house," whether urban or not.
Fuad
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-09-03 13:20:35 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The combination DH is a conventional way for representing a peculiar Arabic consonant that sounds very similar to the letter D. The convention is not universally used. In many scholarly works, where printing techniques allow fancy orthography, the peculiar sound is distinguished from the regular D by placing a dot below or above the letter D, so the extra H would be eliminated.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-09-05 14:51:03 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Here is what my Moroccan friends at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center advised:
- The term is applied to the house with an inner courtyard, never to the courtyard itself.
- The spelling is immaterial. Just choose a spelling and stick to it.
- Nobody knows why the plural is used, but it is -- never the singular form ROWDHA.
- For the inner courtyard itself, the term JARDA (from the French term \"jardin\") is used.
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Sami Khamou
: Both Fuad and myself are talking about the origin of the word "Riyad" and its use in general. But probably, in Morocco, it has been localized to mean "a house" or "a house" surrounded with a garden. We call be more educated if a Moroccan can respond.
1 hr
|
| agree |
AhmedAMS
7 days
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you both very much, and Fuad in particular for all the efforts he went to. I am really grateful for your help. I have learned a lot! Sheila"
1 hr
Sami Khamou
Native in Arabic
Works in field
Accurate service & fast delivery
Native in: Arabic
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English
riad or riyad
In Arabic "Riad" or "Riyad" is the plural form of "Rawdha" which is defined as "a land rich in green plants"*. Therefore, it is a reference to the "Garden" not the house.
About the spelling "Riyad" is most commonly used. "Riad" is mostly used as a name for a male person.
Reference:
Almunjid in Language and Information - An Arabic-Arabic dictionary
About the spelling "Riyad" is most commonly used. "Riad" is mostly used as a name for a male person.
Reference:
Almunjid in Language and Information - An Arabic-Arabic dictionary
Discussion
http://www.funadventure.com/search/aboutus.cfm?page=coeuren2...
The garden in the house,� or the house built around the garden? The "Riad" hesitates between one or another. No matter what it can be qualified, its a wonderful and mysterious place. Mysterious because its secret garden preserve the intimacy of the family life, intimacy loved by Arabic populations. Wonderful, because at the same time it bring the light and the freshness source under these sometimes torrid climates. What is sure is that these houses with gardens are the heritage of the Moroccan glorious past.
The Arabic traditional house is destined to welcome under a same roof the three, indeed the four generations constituent a family. The house is normally edified around a courtyard bringing the light towards the different rooms. In the patriarchal houses of the big families, the small courtyard becomes a true garden patio with a fountain in his centre. The common element of the " Riads " is the square or rectangular garden ("Riad" in Arab) around of which are built the 3 or 4 wings of the house with a pool or a fountain in his centre.
Sorry!