‘Rass’: Arabic word for head is also connected to mind and pride

Ras Al Khaimah is named after a variation of the word

'Rass' comes from the verb ra’asa, which refers to the action of leading a group of people

“Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye," the famed author and disability rights advocate Helen Keller once said.

Through this quote, the idea that a person’s head is associated with self-worth and pride is a universally acknowledged one.

This week’s Arabic word of the week is rass, which means head. The word has many associations, one of which is the concept of pride in a positive light.

Rass is a noun that typically means the highest point of any object. For example, the peak of a mountain, the tip of a pencil or the top of a skyscraper.

It can also mean the ruler or leader of any group or community. For example, a king or queen, a tribe chieftain or the head of a department. Another meaning for rass is the most important element in any non-tangible concept. For example, rass al shahir refers to the first day of the month, or rass al sana, which can mean the beginning period of the new year or the first day of the new year.

Rass is derived from the three Arabic letters, Rah, Alif and Seen and comes from the verb ra’asa, which refers to the action of leading a group of people. Often this person is referred to as raasseen or raees and they are given this position of leadership due to their rank or social position.

Most commonly and across all colloquial Arabic dialects, rass refers to the physical head. Specifically in this context, rass is described as the highest point of the human body and holds the human brain inside. It’s also the part of the human anatomy in which thoughts and the emotions of one’s mind can be expressed and experienced by others.

In other contexts, rass has varied meanings, but they are also connected.

Rass al maal, which translates to "head of money", refers to the initial amount of money that's used as an investment in a specific project.

The phrase ala rass aamalah, which translates to "head of his own work", refers to someone who is deeply involved and in control of a project in his work.

Rafaa rasina, which translates to "he/she who lifted our heads", refers to a situation where someone has made his or her friends, family or country proud through their conduct or achievements. There is also aalee al rass, which translates to "high of head", which refers to a confident person.

Ala al aain wa al rass and variations of this phrase, which translates to "on my eyes and one on my head", are used when expressing someone’s openness and pleasure to perform a task or favour for someone. Rakeeba rassaho, which loosely translates to "he who has locked his head", refers to someone who is egotistical, stubborn and forces his opinion on others.

Aada la maskate rassi, which translates to "he returned to the fall of his head", is a phrase which refers to when someone returns to the place of their birth.

The name of the emirate of Ras al Khaimah translates to the headland of the tent or the tip of the palmy huts and refers to the traditional palm frond houses that were common in the region.

While often referent to the physical head or tip of something, across all its variations, rass can also describe not only the physical head of an individual but also the motions of their mind.