'Shams': the Arabic word for sun is steeped in spirituality and poetry

The term is frequently used in the Quran and classical Arabic music

The Arabic word for sun is shams.

In the Arabic language, the word shams is not only used to describe the weather.

While literally meaning sun, it can also describe certain personalities, behaviours and trigger bouts of reflection through its appearance in holy scripture and poetry.

When linked to climate, shams is used in various ways.

A person who sunbathed is tashammasa, while experiencing sunburn or heat-stroke is darbat shams.

Shams is also used to describe various shades of character. A sunny and optimistic person is shamas, while shamasu is applied to those who are headstrong.

Such dynamism makes the word a favourite of songwriters.

In her elegiac 1955 song, Shams Al Aseel, Egyptian songbird Umm Kulthum described the “eventide sun” setting over the Nile River as a moment where "hearts soften and mellow" and where "serenity is within love".

In her powerful 1985 track, Ghabat shams el haq, Lebanese singer Julia Boutrous describes shams as "the sun of justice" and upon its setting, the world can descend into war and chaos.

As for Najwa Karam, the vibrancy of her hit-laden career earned the Lebanese pop star the nickname “shams el ghinniyyeh”, meaning The Sun of Song.

In the Quran, shams is mentioned more than 30 times ― in addition to being the title of the 91st chapter ― to inspire contemplation of various ephemeral concepts, such as the value of time.

This is beautifully encapsulated in the fifth verse from the 39th chapter, Az-Zumar, which states: "He wraps the night over the day and wraps the day over the night and has subjected the sun and the moon, each running [its course] for a specified term."

Big and bold, shams is a word that ultimately sheds light on our internal and external states.

Scroll through the gallery below to see The National's pick of Arabic words of the week

Hob is the Arabic word for love, but can be used in many contexts

The Arabic word helu translates, in English, to sweet

Nashef is the Arabic word for dry, but has many connotations, depending on the context in which you use it

The Arabic word hurriyeh translates to freedom in English

The Arabic word tayeb can mean delicious or good, depending on the context

The Arabic word mustaqbal is best expressed as future in English

Waqaa, the Arabic word for fall, can signify a loss of power, stature, health or grace

Hudood means borders in English

The Arabic word rooh translates to spirit or soul in English

The Arabic word ain means eye in English

Waraq, the Arabic word of the week means paper in English

Bahr, the Arabic for sea, has a poetic lilt

Kareem means generous in English

Bab means door in English

Eid means holiday or festival

Najm means star for the night sky and cosmos, but also has plenty of other meanings, including ambition or fame

Alwan, the Arabic word for colours, has many shades of meaning

Akel can refer to home-cooked meals, embezzlement, fire and rust

Jamal is the Arabic word for beauty, be it literal or figurative

Herfe translates to profession or craft

Tabiaa translates to nature and can frame landscapes and portraits

Sehha is the Arabic word for health

Ijaza is Arabic for holiday and shines in summer but is not stress-free

Aamal is the Arabic word for work

Al dahr translates to time

Qalb is a word for heart, with poetic roots

Lugha in Arabic translates to language in English

Insaan means human being

Na'eeman is an idiomatic expression used when someone has had a shower or bath, a haircut or had their beard trimmed

The Arabic word for life touches on eternity, death and accomplishment

Qamar is the Arabic for moon

The Arabic word for strength or power is quwwa

Burj is Arabic for tower

The Arabic word for sun is shams

Sabr in English can translate to patience

Hayba is the Arabic word for prestige

The Arabic term al shay'e translates as 'the thing' in English

The Arabic word for road is tareeq

The Arabic word for read has mystical and scholarly connotations

Istikan is the Arabic word for a type of tea cup

The Arabic word hanan means affection in English

The Arabic word atlal means ruins in English

Kura is the Arabic word for ball, in all its forms

Janaah in Arabic means wing in English

The Arabic word sana translates to year in English

Qasida is the Arabic for poem, not poetry

Ameer, the Arabic word for prince, which influenced another English title

Nakhla translates to palm tree in English

Al samt is the Arabic for silence

Kalimaat translates to words in English

Markaz is Arabic for centre

Beshara is the Arabic word for good news

Bayt is the Arabic for house or home

Fann is the Arabic word for art, and can be either a verb or an adjective

Isim, which means name, is made up of three letters, alif, seen and meem

Dunya is the Arabic word for world

Nazaafah translates to cleanliness in English

Many traditions revolve around drinking coffee, including weddings, funerals and business meetings

Fajr is the Arabic word for dawn

Maghrib is the Arabic word for sunset

The Arabic language is filled with idioms, quotes and colloquial quips involving the mirror

Raei is the Arabic word for opinion

Wa'ed is a multifaceted word for 'promise', as well as a female name

Qussa is the Arabic word for story

Sadaaka is the Arabic word for friendship

Akhbaar is the Arabic word for news

Rasem is made up of the three Arabic letters Rah, Seen and Meem. While it can simply mean a drawing or a sketch it’s also a malleable word whose definition can change depending on context and dialect – particularly between colloquial and classical Arabic.

As well as finishing a task, khatem denotes a deeper sense of finality

Commonly translated to blessed, mubarak is used as a popular greeting on auspicious days

The Arabic word for lighthouse is also a term that has become closely associated with Islam

Siyaam, the Arabic word for fasting is also connected to silence

Tawbah, the Arabic word for repentance, is also connected to Ramadan

Safar, the Arabic Word for travel can also refer to sunny days, a brighter-blazing fire or exile. The National