Learn Arabic › B2 › هِمَّة
هِمَّة
ambition, high aspiration, resolve /ˈhim.ma/
nounB2#3048 most common
Also: determination, drive, zeal
Example sentences
هِمَّتُهُ عَالِيَةٌ.
His ambition is high.
هِمَّتُهَا فِي الْعَمَلِ كَبِيرَةٌ.
Her drive at work is great.
يَحْتَاجُ النَّجَاحُ إِلَى هِمَّةٍ وَصَبْرٍ.
Success needs determination and patience.
رَفَعَ الْمُدَرِّبُ هِمَمَ اللَّاعِبِينَ قَبْلَ الْمُبَارَاةِ.
The coach raised the players' spirits before the match.
لَا تَضْعُفُ هِمَّتُهُ مَهْمَا كَثُرَتِ الْعَقَبَاتُ فِي طَرِيقِهِ.
His resolve does not weaken no matter how many obstacles lie in his path.
إِنَّ ذَوِي الْهِمَمِ الْعَالِيَةِ لَا يَقْنَعُونَ بِالْيَسِيرِ وَلَا يَرْضَوْنَ بِدُونِ الْكَمَالِ.
Those of high aspiration are not content with little, nor do they accept anything short of excellence.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | هِمَّةٌ | هِمَمٌ |
| Genitive | هِمَّةٍ | هِمَمٍ |
| Accusative | هِمَّةً | هِمَمًا |
| Vocative | يَا هِمَّةُ | يَا هِمَمُ |
Word family
هَمَّto intend, resolve, concern oneself with
هَمّworry, concern, care
مُهِمّimportantاهتمامinterest, concern, attention
عَالِي الْهِمَّةhigh-spirited, ambitious (set phrase)
Etymology
The word comes from the Semitic root h-m-m, whose base verb hamma means to be occupied with something, to set one's mind on it, or to resolve to do it. Himma is a noun built on the fi'la pattern, and it names the settled outcome of that mental focus: an ambition or drive. The same root gives hamm, a worry or concern, and muhimm, important, since Arabic treats both worry and ambition as things that occupy the mind. As a Semitic root, it has no Indo-European ancestor.
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