Mar 8, 2002 21:01
22 yrs ago
Arabic term
Desert Road vs. Sahara Road (Egypt)
Arabic to English
Other
Place names, geography
The above expressions are used in an engineering study to refer to the same road, which I know (it appears in my "Lonely Planet" guide) as the Desert Road. Searching in Google, I only find "Sahara Road" as an old caravan route that hardly anyone drives on. Can anyone confirm or belie the information?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | Perhaps: Saharawi |
Alaa Zeineldine
|
| 4 +1 | As follows: |
AhmedAMS
|
Proposed translations
+1
38 mins
Alaa Zeineldine
Egypt
Egypt
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Egypt
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Perhaps: Saharawi
There are two main highways between Cairo and Alexandria:
Al-Tariq Al-Zira'i, literally The Farming Highway or the Country Highway. This one passes through the major towns and villages along the countryside between Cairo and Alexandria.
The other highway is probably what you're looking for. It is called Al-Tariq Al-Saharawi, i.e. The Desert Highway.
This highway avoids the congestion and obstructions of the Zira'i Highway by taking a route West of Alexandria then South through the desert, entering Cairo from Gizah (with a view of the Pyramids as you reach the outskirts).
Confusion often arises because the name of the desert mass in North Africa is Sahara, which in Arabic is simply the word for desert (actually SaHara` with a hamza at the end). The Sahara desert in Arabic is called Al-Sahara` Al-Kubra (The Great Desert). The part of the Sahara inside Egypt and west of Alexandria is also called "Al-Sahara' Al-Gharbiyeh" (The Western Desert).
Saharawi is the adjective from Sahara'. So Al-Tariq Al-Saharawi means the desert highway. Someone not familiar with the language may take it to mean "The Sahara desert Highway" and call it the Sahara Highway or road.
Hope this helps,
Alaa Zeineldine
Al-Tariq Al-Zira'i, literally The Farming Highway or the Country Highway. This one passes through the major towns and villages along the countryside between Cairo and Alexandria.
The other highway is probably what you're looking for. It is called Al-Tariq Al-Saharawi, i.e. The Desert Highway.
This highway avoids the congestion and obstructions of the Zira'i Highway by taking a route West of Alexandria then South through the desert, entering Cairo from Gizah (with a view of the Pyramids as you reach the outskirts).
Confusion often arises because the name of the desert mass in North Africa is Sahara, which in Arabic is simply the word for desert (actually SaHara` with a hamza at the end). The Sahara desert in Arabic is called Al-Sahara` Al-Kubra (The Great Desert). The part of the Sahara inside Egypt and west of Alexandria is also called "Al-Sahara' Al-Gharbiyeh" (The Western Desert).
Saharawi is the adjective from Sahara'. So Al-Tariq Al-Saharawi means the desert highway. Someone not familiar with the language may take it to mean "The Sahara desert Highway" and call it the Sahara Highway or road.
Hope this helps,
Alaa Zeineldine
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much. Yes, it runs from the west of Alexandria southwards."
+1
2 hrs
As follows:
The Desert Highway is the one connecting Cairo and Alexandria. It goes through the desert west of the Nile.
The Egyptians call this desert “the Western Desert” and it is a part of the Sahara which covers North Africa.
”The Sahara Road” has nothing to do with “the Desert highway”. “The Sahara Road” which is better called “Sahara route” is used by old caravans. This route is just a passage throughout the desert and it is not suitable for vehicles except jeeps or 4-wheel drives.
The Egyptians call this desert “the Western Desert” and it is a part of the Sahara which covers North Africa.
”The Sahara Road” has nothing to do with “the Desert highway”. “The Sahara Road” which is better called “Sahara route” is used by old caravans. This route is just a passage throughout the desert and it is not suitable for vehicles except jeeps or 4-wheel drives.
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