mutarjim

Mutarjim is an Arabic term meaning translator, referring to a person who translates written texts from one language into another, or, by extension, to the translation itself in Arabic usage. The word derives from the verb tarjama (to translate) and the agent noun pattern formed as مُترجِم (mutarjim). The feminine form is مُترجِمة (mutarjima); the plural masculine is مترجمون (mutarjumoon) and the feminine plural is مترجِمات (mutarjimāt).

Historically, mutarjimun played a pivotal role in the Islamic Golden Age, translating Greek, Persian, and Indian works into Arabic. Translators and scholars associated with centers such as the House of Wisdom in Baghdad contributed to the preservation and expansion of classical knowledge. Figures such as Hunayn ibn Ishaq and his circle were instrumental in producing Arabic translations that shaped later science and philosophy.

In contemporary use, mutarjim remains a common job title for professionals who translate written material, including books, websites, and documents. The term is widely used across media, publishing, diplomacy, and localization industries. While mutarjim generally refers to written translation, contexts involving live interpretation may employ different terms, and modern usage often distinguishes between translation (written) and interpretation (spoken).

Related concepts include tarjama (the act of translating) and the noun translation itself, tarjama. Cognates appear in related languages, such as Persian tarjomā, Urdu tarjuma, and Turkish tercüman, reflecting shared semantic roots across the region.