How to say "many, a lot" in Arabic
New wordMeaningmany, a lot
Arabic · Modern Standard Arabic
كَثِير
kathīrכת'יר
كثير
Hebrew · Modern Hebrew
הרבה
harbeهَارْبِي
How the two words are related
New word
No Hebrew relative — learn it fresh.
Arabic root
ك-ث-رLearn it
On the street
How people actually say it in the spoken dialects, where it differs from the standard word.
Levantine · Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria
كْتِير
ktīrכתירThe short first vowel drops in fast speech, and dialect writing reflects it: ktīr.
Egyptian · Cairo and the Nile Delta
كِتِير
kitīrכתירWith Cairo's kasra: kitīr — and ʾawi for 'very'.
Moroccan · Morocco — Casablanca, Rabat, Fes
بزَّاف
bezzāfבזאףA different word entirely: bezzāf is the Darija 'a lot, very much'.
In a phrase
نَاس كَثِير
nās kathīrנאס כת'ירmany people
Feminine
كَثِيرَة
kathīraכת'ירה