The meaning of the Arabic word halawa encompasses the heart, soul and body.
Literally translating as sweets or sweetness, it is used to describe not only flavour, but also speech, behaviour, affection and a much-sought-after state of faith.
The word comes from the trilateral Arabic root letters ha-lam-waw, which produces the verb hala, meaning “to be sweet”, and the adjective helw, meaning “sweet” or “pleasant”.
Halawa is the noun, referring to the state of sweetness itself, whether literal or expressed. As such, its most direct application is in reference to food, when describing sugar, honey or dessert.
Arabic sweets can be described generically as halawa. Photo: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
The word is also used to describe a person’s character rather than looks. Someone with pleasant, humane qualities, whether it is the tone of their voice, the contents of their speech or their genuine charm, is said to have a certain “halawa” to their personality.
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