In short
A kitchen is made of units (base, wall and tall). Each unit has a carcass, the body, and a door, the front. Base units stand on a plinth and carry the worktop. Materials, fittings and services come after that. The tables below follow that order.
Kitchen structure and units
| Term | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet carcass / box | الكبينة (العلبة، البوكس) | The unit body: sides, base, top, back and shelves. It carries the load and faces moisture. |
| Base unit | الوحدة السفلية | A floor-standing unit under the worktop, commonly about 60 cm deep including the top. |
| Wall unit | الوحدة العلوية | A unit hung on the wall above the worktop, shallower than a base unit. |
| Tall unit | الوحدة الطويلة (الدولاب الطويل) | A floor-to-near-ceiling unit for pantry storage or built-in ovens, microwaves or fridges. |
| Door / front | الدرفة (الباب، الواجهة) | The visible opening part of a unit that sets the kitchen's look and color. |
| Profile / extrusion | القطاع | In aluminum kitchens: a shaped aluminum section used to build cabinet or door frames; profiles vary in shape and thickness. |
| Plinth / toe kick | النعلة (القاعدة) | The recessed strip under base units that leaves room for your feet at the worktop. |
| Cornice / crown | الكورنيش | A decorative or finishing strip on top of wall or tall units. |
| Filler | الفيلر | A narrow piece that closes a gap between a unit and a wall or between units so doors open freely. |
| End panel | الجنب (الغطاء الجانبي) | A finishing panel covering the exposed side of a unit at the end of a run or on an island. |
| Island | الجزيرة | A freestanding block of units in the middle of the kitchen you can walk around, sometimes with seating, a sink or a hob. |
| Peninsula | شبه الجزيرة | An extension of a cabinet run attached on one side, doing a similar job to an island in tighter rooms. |
Worktop and wall
| Term | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Worktop / countertop | سطح العمل (الكاونتر، الرخامة) | The horizontal surface over base units where food is prepared and the sink and hob are fitted. |
| Edge apron / drop edge | الشفة (النزول) | The visible front edge of the worktop that drops to cover what is below; its depth and profile vary. |
| Backsplash / splashback | خلفية المطبخ | Wall covering between the worktop and wall units that protects it from water and grease. |
| Solid surface | الرخام الصناعي | Cast sheets of resin and mineral fillers that join with near-invisible seams and can be resanded. Full guide. |
| Quartz (engineered stone) | الكوارتز | An engineered stone with a high quartz content and a resin binder. |
| Porcelain / sintered stone | البورسلان (الأسطح الملبدة) | Pressed ceramic slabs fired at high temperature; relatively thin and heat resistant. |
Front and body materials
| Term | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | ألمنيوم | A light metal that does not swell with water, used for cabinet bodies or door frames depending on the system. |
| Cladding (aluminum composite panel) | كلادينج | Usually composite panels of two thin coated aluminum skins around a core, giving a flat surface with a consistent color. |
| High Pressure Laminate | HPL | Resin-impregnated paper layers pressed under high heat and pressure, used for fronts and surfaces depending on the system, with a wide choice of colors and textures. |
| Medium-density fibreboard | MDF | A board of compressed wood fibres with a smooth face for paint or wrap; its edges need protection from water. |
| Acrylic | أكريليك | A gloss or matt layer bonded to a front panel, giving depth of color and high shine. |
| Powder coat / PVDF coating | طلاء بودرة / PVDF | Coating types used on aluminum to protect the color and keep it stable. |
Hinges, drawers and fittings
| Term | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hinge | المفصلة | Connects the door to the cabinet and controls opening, closing and adjustment. |
| Clip-on hinge | مفصلة كليب | A hinge that clips on and off without unscrewing, making doors easy to remove. |
| Soft-close | إغلاق هادئ | A mechanism that slows a door or drawer at the end of its travel so it closes quietly. |
| Drawer runner / slide | سكة الدرج | The track a drawer moves on; side-mounted or concealed undermount types. |
| Lift-up mechanism / stay | رافعة الباب | A fitting that opens a wall-unit door upward and holds it open. |
| Handle-less channel (J-pull) | الجولا (بدون مقابض) | A recessed channel at the top of a door or between drawers used instead of a handle. |
| Pull-out / larder pull-out | الكارغو (السحّاب) | A pull-out with shelves or baskets inside a narrow or tall unit. |
| Corner fitting | إكسسوار الزاوية | Fittings that bring the contents of a deep corner out to you, such as carousels or sliding shelves. |
Sink, plumbing and ventilation
| Term | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Sink | المجلى (الحوض) | The washing basin in the worktop, single or double bowl, with or without a drainer. |
| Undermount sink | حوض أسفل السطح | A sink fixed below the worktop so the edge stays clean and water can be wiped straight in. |
| Inset / top-mount sink | حوض فوق السطح | A sink whose rim sits on top of the worktop. |
| P-trap | المصيدة (كوع الريحة) | A bend in the drain pipe that holds water to block sewer smells. Causes of sink smells. |
| Tap / mixer | الخلاط | A faucet that mixes hot and cold water, mounted on the worktop, sink or wall. |
| Range hood / extractor | الشفاط | An appliance over the hob that extracts steam, grease and smells. Hood guide. |
| Duct | الدكت | The pipe that carries hood air to an outside opening. |
Planning and measuring
| Term | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Linear meter | المتر الطولي | The length of a cabinet run measured along the wall, often used as a pricing basis. How it is calculated. |
| Work triangle | مثلث العمل | The relationship between sink, hob and fridge; comfortable distances make cooking easier. |
| Clearance | الخلوص | The free space needed to move, open doors or keep around appliances. |
| L-shaped / U-shaped kitchen | مطبخ حرف L / U | Cabinets on two walls (L) or three walls (U). Kitchen layout types. |
| Open-plan kitchen | مطبخ مفتوح (أمريكي) | A kitchen without a dividing wall to the living or dining area. |
| Prep / scullery kitchen | مطبخ تحضيري (ديرتي كتشن) | A second kitchen for heavy cooking beside a show kitchen, common in Saudi homes. |
Use the terms at the showroom
Write a list of what you want using these names, for example: "a tall unit for the oven and microwave, soft-close drawers beside the hob, handle-less channels instead of handles". It shortens the discussion and avoids misunderstandings. See examples in Nano kitchen designs, or visit the nearest Nano Kitchens showroom.
Kitchen terms FAQ
What is the difference between a cabinet carcass and a door?
The carcass is the unit body that carries the load and holds the shelves; the door is the visible front that opens.
What is a plinth in a kitchen?
The plinth, or toe kick, is the recessed strip under base units that leaves room for your feet at the worktop. In Arabic it is called «النعلة».
What is a profile in an aluminum kitchen?
A profile is a shaped aluminum section used to build cabinet or door frames; profiles vary in shape and thickness.
What is a handle-less channel (J-pull)?
A recessed channel at the top of a door or between drawers used to open units instead of handles, giving a handle-free look. In Saudi showrooms it is often called «جولا».