adj
Uncommon
Arabian
uh-RAY-bee-uhn
Arabian (adj) means relating to Arabia or its people and culture. Example: “The hotel lobby was decorated in an Arabian style, with brass lamps and mosaic tiles.”
adj
1
Relating to Arabia or its people and culture.
"The hotel lobby was decorated in an Arabian style, with brass lamps and mosaic tiles."
"She studied Arabian history at university."
noun
1
A person from Arabia, or an Arabian horse — a breed known for its speed and endurance.
"The stable specialized in breeding Arabians for endurance racing."
How to use Arabian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to Arabia, or a horse of the Arabian breed.
Common mistake
"Arabian" describes people, places, and the horse breed; "Arabic" is reserved for the language and its script and numerals.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
Arabian horse
Arabian peninsula
Arabian nights
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Arabian.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- Arabians
- Comparative
- more Arabian
- Superlative
- most Arabian
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The hotel lobby was decorated in an _____ style, with brass lamps and mosaic tiles.
Etymology
From "Arabia" plus the suffix "-an", meaning "belonging to".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for Arabian
See all rhymes for Arabian →Frequently asked questions
What does “Arabian” mean?
The word “Arabian” means relating to Arabia or its people and culture. In plain terms, relating to Arabia, or a horse of the Arabian breed.
How do you pronounce “Arabian”?
“Arabian” is pronounced uh-RAY-bee-uhn (/əˈɹeɪ.bi.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Arabian” in a sentence?
Here is “Arabian” used in a sentence: “The hotel lobby was decorated in an Arabian style, with brass lamps and mosaic tiles.”
What part of speech is “Arabian”?
Depending on how it is used, “Arabian” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “Arabian” a common word?
“Arabian” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Arabian” have?
“Arabian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to Arabia or its people and culture.
What is the difference between Arabian and Arab?
Arabian relates to Arabia or its people and culture as an adjective, and can also refer to a person from Arabia or an Arabian horse. Arab is more commonly used as both a noun and adjective for people and things connected to Arab identity and the Arabic-speaking world more broadly. In practice, Arabian is often reserved for geographic references, like the Arabian Peninsula or Arabian horse, while Arab is used for people and culture.
Why is an Arabian horse called that?
An Arabian horse is named for its origin in Arabia and is recognized as a distinct breed known for its speed and endurance. The name reflects the breed's regional origin rather than describing an ordinary horse from the area.
Is Arabian capitalized?
Yes, Arabian is capitalized because it functions as a proper adjective and noun relating to Arabia and its people, culture, or the horse breed. Capitalization follows the standard rule for words derived from proper nouns like place names.
