Al-Sahah

Al-Sahah (Arabic: الصحاح), also known as Taj al-Lugha wa Sahah al-Arabiya (تاج اللغة وصحاح العربية), is a comprehensive Arabic dictionary compiled by Abu Nasr Ismail ibn Hammad al-Jawhari. It is considered a highly influential and authoritative source on the Arabic language and is one of the most important dictionaries in the history of Arabic lexicography.

Al-Jawhari reportedly spent many years compiling Al-Sahah, organizing it alphabetically by the last radical of the word, a system known as the reverse alphabetical order. This method aimed to facilitate rhyme schemes for poets and made it easier to find rhyming words. The dictionary not only defines words but also provides information about their etymology, morphology, and usage. It includes poetic examples to illustrate the meanings of words and often discusses variant readings and pronunciations.

The dictionary is divided into six main sections, each covering a range of letters in the Arabic alphabet. Within each section, words are arranged based on their roots and derivatives.

Al-Sahah has been widely studied and used by scholars and students of Arabic for centuries. It has also been the subject of numerous commentaries and abridgements. Its impact on Arabic lexicography is undeniable, and it remains a valuable resource for understanding the nuances of the Arabic language.