Learn Arabic › B2 › سَنَى
سَنَى
brilliance, glow (especially of light such as lightning or moonlight) /sa.'naː/
nounB2#3401 most common
Also: splendor, radiance, eminence, high rank (figurative)
Example sentences
سَنَى القَمَرِ جَمِيلٌ.
The moon's glow is beautiful.
رَأَيْتُ سَنَى البَرْقِ فِي اللَّيْلِ.
I saw the flash of the lightning at night.
أَضَاءَ سَنَى الشَّمْسِ الغُرْفَةَ عِنْدَ الفَجْرِ.
The sun's glow lit the room at dawn.
كَانَ سَنَى وَجْهِهَا يَخْطَفُ الأَبْصَارَ.
The radiance of her face dazzled onlookers.
تَحَدَّثَ الشَّاعِرُ عَنْ سَنَى المَجْدِ الَّذِي يَنْتَظِرُ الأَبْطَالَ.
The poet spoke of the glow of glory awaiting the heroes.
يَزْدَادُ سَنَى الحِكْمَةِ إِشْرَاقًا كُلَّمَا ازْدَادَ المَرْءُ تَجْرِبَةً فِي الحَيَاةِ.
The glow of wisdom grows brighter as a person gains more experience in life.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | سَنًى | None |
| Genitive | سَنًى | None |
| Accusative | سَنًى | None |
| Vocative | يَا سَنَى | None |
Word family
سَنِيّexalted, brilliant
أَسْنَىmore splendid, higher in rank (elative)
أَسْنَىto raise, to elevate in rank
سَنَاءglory, eminence
Etymology
Sanā comes from the Arabic triliteral root s-n-w/y, which carries the sense of rising high and shining. Classical dictionaries such as Lane's Lexicon list it as an old term for light or brightness, especially the glow of lightning or the moon. Over time poets extended it to mean glory or high standing, since brightness and elevation were linked ideas in early Arabic thought.
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