‘Jareema’: The Arabic word for crime is deployed in courts and cultural debates
Jareema appears in official police reports and courtrooms, as well as in fierce criticism of songs, films and performances. Our Arabic word of the week means crime and describes an act punishable by law, ranging from theft and fraud to murder. The plural is jaraim, meaning “crimes”. Jareema comes from the root letters jim, ra and mim, which also carry meanings associated with wrongdoing and…
The Arabic term "jareema" is used in both legal proceedings and cultural discussions to refer to criminal acts and offenses. This word, which translates to "crime," encompasses a range of punishable actions, from theft and fraud to murder. Its plural form, "jaraim," signifies "crimes" in general. Derived from the root letters jim, ra, and mim, "jareema" also carries connotations of wrongdoing and guilt.
In Arabic, verbs like "ajrama" (he/she committed a crime) and "mujrim" (criminal) further illustrate the severity of the term. Legal Arabic differentiates between a criminal ("mujrim") and someone accused of an offense ("muttaham"), while figurative usage can include "jareema fi haqq al-fann" or a crime against art. The term extends beyond mere legal definitions, as evidenced by expressions like "al-jareema la tufid," meaning "crime does not pay."
This phrase was even the title of a story in an Egyptian anthology series. Modern applications include "jaraim elektroniyya" for cybercrimes and "jaraim harb" for wartime atrocities. A notable film adaptation is "Al Jareema," set in 1970s Egypt and starring Ahmed Ezz, Menna Shalaby, and Maged El Kedwany.
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