Bahr hade is a calm sea. Getty
Bahr hade is a calm sea. Getty
Bahr hade is a calm sea. Getty
Bahr hade is a calm sea. Getty

'Bahr': Arabic for 'sea' has a poetic lilt but can be treacherous and sardonic


Razmig Bedirian
  • English
  • Arabic

A calm sea is bahr hade. A sea with thrashing waves can be described as mad or bahr majnoon. The sea’s unpredictable nature has also given it a reputation for treachery in bahr elghadar.

Albihar alsabaa are the seven seas, an ancient expression used to signify the waters of the world.

The Mediterranean Sea is Al Bahr Al Abyad Al Mutawassit. The Red Sea is Al Bahr Al Ahmar. The Dead Sea is Al Bahr Al Mayyet.

Bahrain gets its name from the dual form of bahr, or two seas, referring to the waters east and west of the island. Aaali ilbihar is high waters.

A sailor is a bahar. Alquaat albahria are the naval forces.

A lake is a buhaira. Mowj il bahar is a wave in the sea. The lilt of the sea has also inspired Arabic poetry, as bahr also refers to specific poetic meters. There are a total of 16 buhur in classical Arabic poetry, each with a unique rhythmic structure.

A fun, and sardonic, way to tell someone to get lost is rooh ishrab min al baher, which literally translates as “go and drink from the sea".

The sea can also symbolise greed, especially in the expression balaa il baher, which translates as “he swallowed the sea".

A more palatable saying is ateeni haz u irmeeni bil bahr, which translates as “wish me luck and throw me to sea”. You can say it to people whose support you value, and can make you feel like you can do anything.

Iemol kheir u kibbo bilbahr is another good one. The expression literally translates as “do good and throw it out to sea”, and implies you shouldn't expect you'll be rewarded for doing good deeds and that the sea will return the favour.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Types of bank fraud

1) Phishing

Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.

2) Smishing

The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.

3) Vishing

The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.

4) SIM swap

Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.

5) Identity theft

Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.

6) Prize scams

Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.

If you go

The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.

Cherry

Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo

Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo

1/5

Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: April 08, 2022, 6:02 PM