# I need help with an arabic word **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 2, 2006, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-an-arabic-word/359177 "2006-06-02T18:19:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2006, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-an-arabic-word/359177/1 "2006-06-02T18:19:45Z")
And this is really too frivolous for GQ. I am working toward my goal of starting a belly dance troupe (most of which is trying to shut up the gremlins that tell me no one will want to join). For the name, I would like the arabic word _ifrit_ , which is basically another word for djinn. However, I want the plural form of this word, so it translates to “a group of genies”, not just one genie. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-an-arabic-word/359177/2 "2006-06-02T18:31:24Z")
great…now I have to locate my Arabic/English dictionary. And then I have to remember how to read it! If I recall correctly, however, _ifreet_ is also the plural. So you might say, _aljumhoor alifreet_ meaning “the (group/gathering/crowd/rabble/plethora/bunch) of genies.” I’ll check on that plural, however, and get back here if nobody else does. ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2006, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-an-arabic-word/359177/3 "2006-06-02T18:55:48Z")
Afarit (singular [male] 'ifrit, or [female] 'ifritah or 'ifriteh Don’t ask how I know this, it’s just one of the bits of usually useless information floating in my brain. Please go forward with your dance troupe. And post pictures. My mom had a dance troupe for several years. One of my sisters still dances occasionally and has incorporated some dancing into her percussion group. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2006, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-an-arabic-word/359177/4 "2006-06-02T19:01:52Z")
Please don’t take this wrong, but why do you want to link your dance group to an evil being. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-an-arabic-word/359177/5 "2006-06-02T19:07:48Z")
[QUOTE=Inigo Montoya] So you might say, _aljumhoor alifreet_ meaning “the (group/gathering/crowd/rabble/plethora/bunch) of genies.” [QUOTE] I think we may have to avoid anything referring to hoors. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-an-arabic-word/359177/6 "2006-06-02T19:58:17Z")
> [@Harmonious Discord](#): > > Please don’t take this wrong, but why do you want to link your dance group to an evil being. Good question. First, I don’t want to use djinn, which is too close phonetically to genie as in “I Dream of…” I don’t want to invoke that sort of imagery. Your question did lead me to learn a bit more about the ifrit, or arafeet. Although the ifrit may be “evil” in some arenas, it’s a bit more complex than that. From [wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ifrit) > [@](#): > > Ifrits in common mythology are jinn spirits that embody fire. They consider themselves superior to all races because they supposedly “came first,” and they resent deeply that humans have found magical ways to take control over them. Even when tasked, they show an ironic and malicious attitude, tending to subvert their masters’ orders every time they can. > > They often appear as individuals of superhuman beauty and strength, but are very difficult to deal with. Also, from the [Encyclopedia Brittanica online](http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9042048) > [@](#): > > The rare appearance of the term ifrit in the Qur’an (the sacred scripture of Islam) and in Hadith (eyewitness narratives recounting Muhammad’s words, actions, or approbations) is always in the phrase “the ifrit of the jinn” and probably means “rebellious.” So… a group of people with superhuman beauty, fiery, rebellious and with a twisted subversive sense of humor? Sounds just like my dance style! 😃