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عامّ

general /ˈʕaːmm/

adjectiveA1#444 most common

Also: public, common, universal

Example sentences

هذا مكان عامّ.
This is a public place.
النقل العامّ سريع ورخيص.
Public transport is fast and cheap.
بدأ إضراب عامّ في المدينة هذا الصباح.
A general strike began in the city this morning.
الرأي العامّ يدعم الإصلاح الجديد.
Public opinion supports the new reform.
أعلنت السلطات تعبئة عامّة لمواجهة الفيضان.
The authorities declared a general mobilization to face the flood.
يسري هذا المبدأ بشكلٍ عامّ ما لم ينصّ القانون على استثناءٍ صريح.
This principle applies generally unless the law stipulates an explicit exception.

Declension

CaseSingularPlural
Nominativeعامٌّعامّونَ
Genitiveعامٍّعامّينَ
Accusativeعامًّاعامّينَ
Vocativeيا عامُّيا عامّونَ

Word family

عَمَّto be general, to spread to all
عُمومgenerality, the public at large
عامّةthe common people, the masses
تعميمgeneralization; an official circular
بشكل عامّgenerally, in general

Etymology

The word comes from the Semitic root ع-م-م (ʿ-m-m), whose core sense is to encompass or spread to all. The verb عَمَّ means to be general or to reach everyone. عامّ is the active participle of that verb, so it describes something that covers all, hence general, public, or common.

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