Home UK English al-Nakba

Meaning of al-Nakba in English:

al-Nakba

Pronunciation /alˈnakbə/

noun

  • The Palestinian term for the events of 1948, when many Palestinians were displaced by the creation of the new state of Israel.

    ‘For Arabs generally, the war is al-Nakba - the catastrophe.’
    • ‘May 15, 1948 is the day of independence for the Jews, but the same day is al-Nakba, the catastrophe, for the Palestinians.’
    • ‘Independence Day for Israel is known as al-Nakba, or the "catastrophe," for Arabs.’
    • ‘He talked a great deal about al-Nakba (the "Catastrophe") and its devastating continual effect.’
    • ‘This history includes al-Nakba ("the Catastrophe") of 1948 and Israel's expansion in 1967.’

Origin

Arabic, literally ‘the disaster’.