Confusion Arabic word of "Sitt" being a word and number.
Asalam Malikum to all, guys, I decided to post on this confusing topic. I need your help to solve this problem of understanding the Arabic word "Sitt" which can be applied both to identify the statue of a woman and to say a decimal number of six or 6.
Do you agree that the Arabic word "Sitt" (ستّ) is a word pronounced to identify an adult woman in Arabic, its use as a title for women is derived from the classical Arabic word "Sayyidah" (سيدة), which means "lady" or "mistress, woman". At the same time, it also happens to be considered a decimal number of "Six or 6" "Sitt" comes from the Arabic word "Sittah" (ستّة) which means "six".
Apparently, the word "Sitt" (ستّ) is not exclusively Levantine, though it is commonly used in Lebanon, Palestine, and other parts of the Levant. The term actually has broader historical and linguistic roots in Arabic. The term was historically used as an honorific for noblewomen, particularly in Egypt and the wider Arabic-speaking world. In Egypt, "Sitt" has been widely used for centuries to refer to respected women, especially older women or those of high status.
The famous Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum was often called "Al-Sitt" as a sign of respect https://www.egyptindependent.com/mona-zaki-to-portray-legendary-singer-umm-kulthum-in-upcoming-biopic-film/
What do you guys think? What is your opinion and thought on this? Do you agree or not?
Great topic!
Yes, "Sitt" (ستّ) is commonly used as a respectful title for women, especially in Levantine and Egyptian Arabic, and it does originate from "Sayyidah" (سيدة).
However, when it comes to numbers, "Sitt" is actually a shortened form of "Sittah" (ستّة), which is the proper word for six in standard Arabic.
While "Sitt" is sometimes used in spoken dialects to mean six, it is not the standard form. So it's interesting how one word carries both meanings, depending on context! I am not a native Arabic speaker, so if anyone with deeper linguistic knowledge has further insights, I’d love to hear them!