Bushra
Good news — from the root that also gives bashar, 'humankind', by way of the skin that shows it.
- Root
- b-sh-r (ب-ش-ر)
- Gender
- Female
- Meaning
- Glad tidings
- Origin
- Arabic
Meaning and root
From b-sh-r (ب-ش-ر). *Bushrā* is glad tidings — news that shows on the face before it is spoken.
The root's reach
The same consonants give *bashara*, the skin, and *bashar*, humankind — named, the lexicographers say, for the exposed skin that distinguishes people from furred and feathered creatures. Joy is called *bushrā* because it appears there first.
Related
*Mubashshir*, the bearer of good news, and *tabshīr*, the act of bringing it, come from the same place.
Frequently asked questions
How is Bushra related to the word bashar?
Both come from b-sh-r. Bashara is the skin, and bashar ('humankind') is named for it; glad tidings are bushrā because joy shows on the face first.
Sources
- ابن منظور، لسان العرب، 711هـ — مادة: بشر
Last reviewed: 2026-07-27