The 2022 FIFA World Cup is not only unique because it kicks off in the Northern Hemisphere winter for the first time in the competition’s 92 years of existence, but also because it will take place in an Arabic speaking country for the first time. So it’s a good time to brush up on your knowledge of the language as it relates to soccer.
While exploring the rich football terminology of the Arabic language, it is worth noting that this is a language that is spoken by people from across 26 nations, spreading from Oman on the Indian Ocean to Morocco on the Atlantic, meaning there exists some significant variation in dialects that should be kept in mind when conversing with the locals. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the most weird and wonderful Arabic football terms.
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Koora
Let’s start with the basics: Koora is the most common name for the football itself in Arabic. The word is driven from the standard Arabic “Kura” meaning ball, but often refers to the game of football. And while the word is universally understood for Arabic speakers, other terms for a football exist. In Lebanon, you are more likely to hear Tabeh, from the Turkish “Top” (“ball”), while should you find yourself speaking to a Kuwaiti, Timbakhiyah is the word for a football unique to the small gulf nation.
Kobri
Another remnant of Ottoman legacy, adopted from the Turkish “Köprü“, the word Kobri is colloquial Arabic for bridge, and the word is commonly used across the Arab World to refer to football’s most prized dribbling skill; the “nutmeg.” The term is a nod to the conceding player’s legs resembling a bridge, under which the ball passes. Another common term for the skill is Beidha (“egg”), with the player at the humiliating end of it being seen to have laid an egg.
Jahfala
A fairly recent introduction into the lexicon of football in the region, the term Jahfala was born in Saudi Arabia in 2015 when Riyadh rivals Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr locked horns in the King’s Cup final. After tense but goalless 90 minutes, Al-Nassr took the lead and looked destined for victory when Al-Hilal defender Mohammed Jahfali rose to head home an equaliser in the 120th minute of the game, forcing a penalty shootout which Al-Hilal won, and a new term for a dramatic late twist was born. Jahfala has since extended to other walks of life, growing to mean any last-moment turn of events.
Balanti (also Balan)
Arabic language has some unique letters not found in other alphabets, but one sound it lacks is the letter “P.” An Arab would typically ask for “Bibsi” when ordering the soft drink Pepsi. Similarly, the term “Penalty kick” has over the years transformed into “Benalty”, then Balanti and now at times abbreviated to Balan. An Arab fan could be spotted screaming “Balan ya Hakam!” (“Penalty, referee!”) at the sight of a player going down inside the box in Qatar.
Inbirash
The origins of this word are unclear, but the term has existed for decades, denoting a sliding tackle, often a reckless double-footed one that leaves an opponent rolling on the floor. Inbirash is another term that found its way into daily life, referring to the act of jumping into an ongoing conversation without first fully understanding the topic of discussion.
