Kalmar 'An-Nahdah' kalma ce ta Larabci da ake samo ta daga fi'ilin Nahada (نَهَضََ), wanda ma'anarsa a harshe ita ce Qaama (tashi tsaye). Sai dai an fara amfani da ita da ma'anar Istilaahi (ma'anar ilimi ta musamman) wadda ke nuna wata hakika ta musamman. Wannan ma'ana da aka ba ta a zamanin nan ba ta kasance Larabawa suna amfani da ita a baya ba. Wannan ya faru ne saboda ma'anarta ta harshe bisa abin da Larabawa suka tsara ta bambanta da wannan ma'anar ta Istilaahi. Saboda haka, bai kamata a mayar da kalmar zuwa ma'anarta ta harshe ba tare da Qareenah (alamar nuni ko alaka) ba, domin sabuwar ma'anarta ta ilimi ta yadu, ta zama mafi rinjaye, kuma ita ce ma'anar da ke zuwa kai tsaye a zuciya idan an ambace ta ko aka ji ta a wurin masana ilimin zamantakewa, mafi yawan mutane masu ilimi, har ma da talakawa.

The word ‘An-Nahdah’ is an Arabic word derived from the verb Nahada (نَهَضََ ) which means Qaama (to stand) however it has begun to be used with an Istilaahi (terminological definition) meaning which indicates a specific reality. This meaning that has been provided in the modern time was not used by the Arabs previously. This is because its linguistic meaning according to what the Arabs laid down differs from this terminological meaning. Therefore the word should not return to its linguistic meaning without a Qareenah (indication/linkage) as its new terminological meaning has become widespread, dominant and it represents the meaning that comes straight to the mind when it is mentioned or heard by social scientists, the majority of educated people and even the general masses.

Dangane da ma'anarsa ta harshe, an bayyana a cikin ƙamus ɗin 'Lisaan Al-‘Arab' cewa:

As for its linguistic meaning then the following was stated in the dictionary ‘Lisaan Al-‘Arab’:

Nahada: Tashi daga wuri ko matsayi da tsayawa daga gare shi.

Nahada: The departing/rising from a position/placement and standing from it.

Nahada, YanHadu, Nahdan, Nuhoodan, watau: Ya tashi tsaye. Intahada Al-Qawm (mutanen suka tashi), ma'ana: Sun tashi tsaye don yaki.

Nahada, YanHadu, Nahdan, Nuhoodan i.e. Stood up. Intahada Al-Qawm (the people raised up) meaning: They stood up for battle.

An-Nahdah: Ƙarfi da ƙuzari (ɗumbin kuzari) (Ta'aqah da Quwwah). Wurin Naahid yana nufin: wuri mai tudu (wuri mai ɗaukaka).

An-Nahdah: The strength (energy) and power (Taaqah and Quwwah). A Naahid place means: Elevated (place).

Saboda haka a bayyane yake cewa ma'anar istilahi da ke wakiltar maudu'in binciken mu ba za a same ta a cikin ma'anonin harshe da aka ambata a sama ba.

It is therefore evident that the terminological meaning representing the subject of our study cannot be found within the linguistic meanings mentioned above.