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Academy of the Arabic Language in Cairo

マジュマア・アル＝ルガハ・アル＝アラビーヤ・ビル＝カーヒラ

Majma' al-Lughah al-'Arabīyah bi-al-Qāhira

Profile

Gender
Unknown
Born
1932-12-31 （Giza, Egypt）
Nationality
Egypt
Languages
Arabic, English
Residence History
Hussayn Riad palace, Giza (initial headquarters) → 26 Murad St, Giza (later headquarters) → 110 El Qasr El Einy Street, Cairo (temporary headquarters)

Career

Occupations
language academy, lexicography
Active Years
1932-2025
Influenced By
Académie Française (institutional model and constitution), Egyptian scholarly and translation traditions (e.g. Madrasat al-Alsun)
Influenced
Modernization and standardization of Arabic vocabulary (scientific and technical terminology), Language institutions and scholarly communities across the Arab world

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir (The Great Dictionary)

dictionary / lexicon

A large-scale dictionary organizing Arabic vocabulary historically and contemporarily; one of the academy's principal published works.

lexical standardizationhistorical semantic change

Al-Mu'jam al-Wasīt (The Intermediary Dictionary)

dictionary / lexicon

A medium-sized dictionary intended for general use; widely referenced in education and publishing.

standardizationeducational dissemination

Bibliography

  • Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir
  • Al-Mu'jam al-Wasit
  • Academy journals and research publications

Style & Themes

Literary Style
scholarly, descriptive styleprecision and systematization in lexicography
Recurring Motifs
lexical standardizationtranslation and development of modern terminology

Legacy

Since its founding in 1932, the Academy of the Arabic Language in Cairo has played a key role in modernizing and standardizing Arabic through dictionary compilation and terminology development. Its scholarly publications and lexical work have supported the use of Arabic in education, translation, and science and technology.

Academic Societies

  • Arab linguistic societies
  • regional linguistic associations

Archives

  • Academy publications archive (journals and dictionary manuscripts)

Quotes

  • The modernization and preservation of the Arabic language is our mission.
    Source: Founding decree (Abdeen Palace, 1932) (1932)

Trivia

  • Founded by royal decree of Fuad I on 31 December 1932.
  • Born out of intellectual movements of the Nahda and pan-Arab/pan-Islamic currents in late-19th/early-20th century Egypt.
  • Publishes Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir and Al-Mu'jam al-Wasit, major Arabic dictionaries.
  • Wafaa' Kamil was the academy's first female member.