The usual Arabic word for ten-pin bowling is a loanword from English: البولينج (al-bawlinj or al-bōling), often written without the article as بولينج. You'll also see the spelling بولينغ, which is common in the Levant and North Africa, where the English "g" sound is written with غ.
Pronunciation
Most speakers say it close to the English: BOH-ling, with a light "g" or "j" at the end depending on the spelling and dialect. In Egypt the final ج is pronounced as a hard "g," so bowling sounds almost exactly like the English word.
Useful bowling words
| English | Arabic | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bowling | بولينج / بولينغ | Loanword |
| Ball | كرة (kura) | "Bowling ball" is كرة بولينج |
| Pins | بنز | Usually the English word "pins" |
| Lane | مسار (masār) | Literally "track" or "path" |
| Strike | سترايك | Used as is |
| Spare | سبير | Used as is |
In practice, Arabic-speaking bowlers use the English terms for most of the game, the same way bowlers in many countries do. The bowling terms glossary explains them.
"Bowling" in cricket
In cricket, popular in the Gulf states, bowling (delivering the ball) is usually also referred to with the English loanword, or described with the verb رمى (rama), to throw.
Bowling in the Arab world
Ten-pin bowling is popular in the Gulf, with large centers in shopping malls and entertainment complexes, and national teams from the region take part in Asian and world championships.