ruh

Ruh is a term used in several languages to denote the immaterial principle commonly rendered in English as spirit or soul. In Arabic, the word روح is transliterated as ruḥ and conveys meanings ranging from the breath of life to the incorporeal soul. In Turkish, Persian, Urdu, and other languages influenced by Arabic, ruh carries a similar core meaning, often referring to the inner life, character, or vitality of a person.

Etymology and related terms: Ruh comes from a Semitic root associated with breath and life. Related terms appear in Hebrew as ruach (spirit or wind), in Syriac, and in other languages sharing the Semitic heritage. Transliterations vary, including ruh in Turkish and ruḥ in Arabic transliteration conventions. In many contexts the distinction between breath and soul is fluid, and ruh can denote both the life-giving breath and the immaterial essence.

Cultural and religious usage: In Islamic theology, ruḥ is the divine Spirit breathed into Adam; the exact nature of ruḥ is considered by scholars to be beyond full human comprehension. The phrase Ruh al-Qudus, often rendered as the Holy Spirit, appears in Islamic and Christian traditions with varying nuance. In everyday usage, ruh also appears in poetry and philosophy to denote inner life, mood, or spiritual welfare.

See also: ruḥ, ruach, soul, breath.