شفة

See also: سقة, شقة, and شفه

Arabic

Etymology

Probably a biconsonantal word, or from ش ف ه (š-f-h) with elision of the -h-. Cognate with Hebrew שָׂפָה (śāp̄ā), Egyptian spt.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃa.fa/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

شَفَة • (šafa) f (dual شَفَتَانِ (šafatāni), plural شِفَاه (šifāh) or شَفَوَات (šafawāt))

1. lip
   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 90:8-10:

     أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُ عَيْنَيْنِ وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ وَهَدَيْنَاهُ النَّجْدَيْنِ

     ʔalam najʕal llahu ʕaynayni walisānan wašafatayni wahadaynāhu n-najdayni

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. rim, edge

Declension

Declension of noun شَفَة (šafa)

Singular	singular triptote in ـَة (-a)
	Indefinite	Definite	Construct
Informal	شَفَة šafa	الشَّفَة aš-šafa	شَفَة šafat
Nominative	شَفَةٌ šafatun	الشَّفَةُ aš-šafatu	شَفَةُ šafatu
Accusative	شَفَةً šafatan	الشَّفَةَ aš-šafata	شَفَةَ šafata
Genitive	شَفَةٍ šafatin	الشَّفَةِ aš-šafati	شَفَةِ šafati
Dual	Indefinite	Definite	Construct
Informal	شَفَتَيْن šafatayn	الشَّفَتَيْن aš-šafatayn	شَفَتَيْ šafatay
Nominative	شَفَتَانِ šafatāni	الشَّفَتَانِ aš-šafatāni	شَفَتَا šafatā
Accusative	شَفَتَيْنِ šafatayni	الشَّفَتَيْنِ aš-šafatayni	شَفَتَيْ šafatay
Genitive	شَفَتَيْنِ šafatayni	الشَّفَتَيْنِ aš-šafatayni	شَفَتَيْ šafatay
Plural	basic broken plural triptote‎; sound feminine plural
	Indefinite	Definite	Construct
Informal	شِفَاه‎; شَفَوَات šifāh‎; šafawāt	الشِّفَاه‎; الشَّفَوَات aš-šifāh‎; aš-šafawāt	شِفَاه‎; شَفَوَات šifāh‎; šafawāt
Nominative	شِفَاهٌ‎; شَفَوَاتٌ šifāhun‎; šafawātun	الشِّفَاهُ‎; الشَّفَوَاتُ aš-šifāhu‎; aš-šafawātu	شِفَاهُ‎; شَفَوَاتُ šifāhu‎; šafawātu
Accusative	شِفَاهًا‎; شَفَوَاتٍ šifāhan‎; šafawātin	الشِّفَاهَ‎; الشَّفَوَاتِ aš-šifāha‎; aš-šafawāti	شِفَاهَ‎; شَفَوَاتِ šifāha‎; šafawāti
Genitive	شِفَاهٍ‎; شَفَوَاتٍ šifāhin‎; šafawātin	الشِّفَاهِ‎; الشَّفَوَاتِ aš-šifāhi‎; aš-šafawāti	شِفَاهِ‎; شَفَوَاتِ šifāhi‎; šafawāti

Related terms

• شفاها
• شِفَاهِيّ (šifāhiyy, “oral, verbal”)
• شَفَهِيّ (šafahiyy, “oral”)
• شَفَوِيّ (šafawiyy, “oral”)
• مشافهَة

Descendants

• Maltese: xoffa

Egyptian Arabic

Etymology

From Arabic شَفة (šafa) with gemination of the -f- in order to create a standard triconsonantal root.

Noun

شفة • (šiffa) f (plural شفايف (šafāyif))

1. (anatomy) lip

North Levantine Arabic

Etymology

From Arabic شَفة (šafa) with gemination of the -f- in order to create a standard triconsonantal root.

Noun

شفة • (šiffi) f (plural شفاف (šfāf))

1. (anatomy) lip

South Levantine Arabic

Etymology

From Arabic شَفة (šafa) with gemination of the -f- in order to create a standard triconsonantal root.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃif.fe/, [ˈʃɪf.fe]
• IPA^(key): /ʃif.fa/, [ˈʃɪf.fa]

• Audio (Ramallah)

  (file)

Noun

شفّة • (šiffe) f (plural شفايف (šafāyef))

1. lip