[rawcatslyentist]

Yeah, the arab word for black and slave is one and the same abul.

Don't know if they were too lazy to invent two different words or they just didn't seem to find any need to.

[annieokie]

Thanks, but now I’m confused. Is it Abdul or Abul? You used both in two differant posts. Sorry, I have to know these things if I am to be proper. lol

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Yeah, the arab word for black and slave is one and the same abul.

Actually, the word "abd" means "servant" or "slave" in Arabic. "Abdul" is actually a construction meaning "servant (or slave) of". So, Abdul Rahman would be "Servant of Rahman." I have some Egyptian Christian friends with the name Abdulmassih, which translates into "servant of the Messiah."

It is sometimes used colloquially to designate a black person. "Abd" is singular; "abeed" is plural.

Now in some Arab societies it is viewed as a derogatory word, carrying some of the same connotations as the n-word in ours. I met a few young doctors from Syria some years ago. In conversation, I used the word "abd" to refer to a black person--not in a negative way, but I was used to hearing my Syrian parents use it when I was growing up. The young doctors winced. "I HATE that word" one of them said. The accepted/politically correct term now is "sood," which literally means the color black.