Definition
The front part of a person's head, where the eyes, nose, and mouth are. Can also mean "face" in the sense of appearance or direction.
Example
رَأَيْتُ وَجْهَهُ وَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ سَعِيد.
Show translation
I saw his face and knew that he was happy.
Etymology
From the Arabic root و-ج-ه (w-j-h), conveying the idea of direction and facing. Related to the verb وَجَّهَ (wajjaha, "to direct/orient") and the noun اتِّجَاه (ittijāh, "direction"). The root appears across Semitic languages, including Hebrew פָּנִים (panim, "face/before"), reflecting the ancient concept of "that which faces forward."
Cultural note
In Arabic culture, وَجْه carries rich metaphorical weight beyond the literal face. "Saving face" (حِفْظ الوَجْه, ḥifẓ al-wajh) is a deeply important social concept — protecting one's dignity and reputation in public. Phrases like وَجْه النَّهار ("the face of the day," meaning daytime) and على وَجْه السُّرعة ("on the face of speed," meaning quickly) show how this word permeates everyday idiom. In Classical Arabic, وَجْه can also mean "reason" or "manner," as in وَجْه النَّظَر ("point of view").