How to say "Christian" in Arabic
CognateMeaningChristian
Arabic · Modern Standard Arabic
مَسِيحِيّ
masīḥīמסיחי
مسيحي
Hebrew · Modern Hebrew
נוצרי
notsriنُوتْسْرِي
How the two words are related
Cognate
Same Semitic root, same meaning — you already know this word.
Arabic root
م-س-حHebrew root
מ-ש-חMasīḥī 'Christian' is built on al-masīḥ 'the Messiah, Christ' — root م-س-ح 'to anoint', the exact cognate of Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (mashiach) 'anointed one, Messiah' (ש regularly matches س, as in سلام/שלום). Christianity and Judaism both center on 'the Anointed One' in cognate words; Modern Hebrew's everyday word for a Christian, נוצרי, instead points to Nazareth (see that entry).
Related Hebrew word:משיחmashiakhمَاشِيَاخ
Learn it
In a phrase
هُوَ رَجُل مَسِيحِيّ
huwa rajul masīḥīהו רג'ל מסיחיhe is a Christian man
Plural
مَسِيحِيُّون
masīḥiyyūnמסיחיוןsound masculine plural -ūn
Feminine
مَسِيحِيَّة
masīḥiyyaמסיחיה