English translation: house with an inner courtyard
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Arabic to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Architecture / Moroccan houses and gardens
Arabic term or phrase:riad versus riyad (or riyâd)
I am translating a text on Moroccan gardens (and houses) from German to English. In this text, numerous references are made to riads and riyâds. I am not 100 % certain of the difference. Am I right in thinking that 'riad' to describe an urban house in a medina with its inner courtyard with a fountain, flowerbeds etc.? And that the 'riyad' or 'riyâd' as the German author has written is simply the inner courtyard? Also, which would be the most correct way of spelling this word in English?
I would be very grateful if someone could confirm this.
Explanation: The singular term ROWDHA means "garden" or "meadow." For instance, a kindergarten is called ROWDHAT ATFAL.
The plural is RIYADH, which also happens to be the name of the capital city in Saudi Arabia. It is interesting that the bank that is named after the city is spelled differently: BANK OF RIYAD (without the final H).
The word RIYADH is also commonly used as a boy's name. My cousin is named Riyadh.
So RIAYDH means "gardens," whether in a front yard, a bckyard, a courtyard, or in any other setting. It does not mean "house," whether urban or not.
Fuad
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2002-09-03 13:20:35 (GMT) --------------------------------------------------
The combination DH is a conventional way for representing a peculiar Arabic consonant that sounds very similar to the letter D. The convention is not universally used. In many scholarly works, where printing techniques allow fancy orthography, the peculiar sound is distinguished from the regular D by placing a dot below or above the letter D, so the extra H would be eliminated.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2002-09-05 14:51:03 (GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Here is what my Moroccan friends at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center advised:
- The term is applied to the house with an inner courtyard, never to the courtyard itself.
- The spelling is immaterial. Just choose a spelling and stick to it.
- Nobody knows why the plural is used, but it is -- never the singular form ROWDHA.
- For the inner courtyard itself, the term JARDA (from the French term \"jardin\") is used.
Thank you both very much, and Fuad in particular for all the efforts he went to. I am really grateful for your help. I have learned a lot! Sheila 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
What I meant to say was 'Am I right in thinking that the word 'riad' is used to describe an urban house...'
Sorry!
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Answers
1 hr confidence:
riad or riyad
Explanation: In Arabic "Riad" or "Riyad" is the plural form of "Rawdha" which is defined as "a land rich in green plants"*. Therefore, it is a reference to the "Garden" not the house.
About the spelling "Riyad" is most commonly used. "Riad" is mostly used as a name for a male person.
Reference:
Almunjid in Language and Information - An Arabic-Arabic dictionary
Sami Khamou Local time: 23:09 Native speaker of: Arabic
Explanation: The singular term ROWDHA means "garden" or "meadow." For instance, a kindergarten is called ROWDHAT ATFAL.
The plural is RIYADH, which also happens to be the name of the capital city in Saudi Arabia. It is interesting that the bank that is named after the city is spelled differently: BANK OF RIYAD (without the final H).
The word RIYADH is also commonly used as a boy's name. My cousin is named Riyadh.
So RIAYDH means "gardens," whether in a front yard, a bckyard, a courtyard, or in any other setting. It does not mean "house," whether urban or not.
Fuad
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2002-09-03 13:20:35 (GMT) --------------------------------------------------
The combination DH is a conventional way for representing a peculiar Arabic consonant that sounds very similar to the letter D. The convention is not universally used. In many scholarly works, where printing techniques allow fancy orthography, the peculiar sound is distinguished from the regular D by placing a dot below or above the letter D, so the extra H would be eliminated.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2002-09-05 14:51:03 (GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Here is what my Moroccan friends at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center advised:
- The term is applied to the house with an inner courtyard, never to the courtyard itself.
- The spelling is immaterial. Just choose a spelling and stick to it.
- Nobody knows why the plural is used, but it is -- never the singular form ROWDHA.
- For the inner courtyard itself, the term JARDA (from the French term \"jardin\") is used.
Al-Mawrid
Fuad Yahya Native speaker of: Arabic, English PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you both very much, and Fuad in particular for all the efforts he went to. I am really grateful for your help. I have learned a lot! Sheila
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +2
