Art, creativity and talent are all separate parts of the same whole, the arts.
Each is an integral part of society, contributing to the identity of a city, country and culture through a range of creative mediums. And all encompass the meaning of one word in Arabic, fann or al fann.
This week’s Arabic word of the week is made up of two letters, fah and noon. However, the noon in this case, which in English translates to the letter N, would be considered a double noon. Meaning that when pronounced, a stronger emphasis is placed on the N sound at the end of the word.
Fann can act as a noun and a verb.
As a noun it means any piece of work that stands out because it embodies or displays a high calibre of taste and skill, and can evoke a range of emotional responses from an audience. In its verb form it means the act of being creative or making something more decorative in appearance.
Whether painting, sculpture, music or film, fann is not considered to be of a high standard if the artist is not passionate and dedicated in creating that work.
If the work stirs emotions, then it’s considered fann. It sounds simple, but it isn’t — an emotional response to any work of art is universally subjective.
Which makes the universal as relevant in Arabic — what is fann and what is the value of fann?
Fann is an umbrella term for many versions of artistic practices.
These include fann al tashkeeli, which is another umbrella term for all visual arts such as painting, photography, sculpture and architecture, art that is often displayed in a gallery.
There is also fann al ta’abeeri, which is an expressive art form referring to the art of rendering the real world exactly as it is through the medium of drawing or painting. Fann al tagreedi is art that relies on abstract shapes and forms while fann al me’emaari is the art form of architecture and construction.
There is fann al ida’a, or performing arts, which includes dance, drama and music when performed before an audience. Fann al adab refers to the art form of writing novels, articles and poetry, while fan lil fan, is art free of any political, social, emotional narratives or elements and focuses simply on the form and process of art making.
Funnon sha'abiyya, refers to the art forms that come from folklore, indigenous communities or reflect the common man’s culture or belief system. Fann lil moujtama is any art form including novels or films, that make statements or point to prevalent issues in society.
One of the most powerful forms of fann is funoon al saba, the cinematic arts such as films, TV shows or documentaries.
There are also other words that derive from the word fann.
Fannan, a noun deriving from fann, whose verb is tafannana, means a highly skilled or knowledgeable expert in any topic. This expertise or knowledge doesn’t only apply in the sphere of the arts, but can be used in other contexts. For example, someone who always delivers speeches in an exceptional manner would be referred to as fann of reciting speeches.
Fananat is a verb that refers to the act of changing or interrupting one’s opinion, thought process or belief system about a particular topic.
The word fanna has more negative connotations than the word fann when used in fus'ha or classic Arabic. It means not acting in a straightforward manner or not making your intentions transparent in the context of an exchange.
Most interestingly is the word fenan. In classic Arabic it’s a noun meaning a straight branch growing on a tree. Its plural, afnan. refers to many aesthetically pleasing straight branches on a tree. In many ways this meaning reflects the many forms of fann that exist that derive from the idea of art or art making.
Scroll through the gallery below to see The National's pick of Arabic words of the week
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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
