شوية
shwayya
The English phrase "a little bit" is expressed in Arabic as شوية (shwayya).
This phrase is used to denote a small amount of something or a short period of time.
Which one should you use?
While شوية and شوي are both informal ways to say "a little bit", you may also encounter the formal terms قليل, بعض الشيء or قليلاً in Modern Standard Arabic.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
شوية is an informal term used in everyday spoken Arabic dialects. In contrast, قليل, بعض الشيء and قليلاً are formal expressions used in Modern Standard Arabic.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word شوية can function as a noun to indicate a small quantity of a thing, or as an adverb to modify a verb or an adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
shwayya
Did you know?
- Speakers often repeat the word as شوية شوية to describe a process that happens gradually or step by step.
- If you are eating and someone offers you more, saying شوية بس (only a little bit) is a standard way to politely decline without being rude.
- The formal term قليل shares a root with words related to 'fewness' and 'scarcity' that appear in the Quran, giving it a more spiritual or absolute weight than the casual شوية.
Examples in context
- معذرة، أعرف القليل من العربية.Excuse me, I know a little bit of Arabic.
- أستطيع أن أتحدث بعض الشيء من اللغة العربية.I can speak a little bit of Arabic.
- ممكن تعطيني شوية وقت؟Can you give me a little bit of time?
- هل تتكلم الإنجليزية قليلًا؟Do you speak English a little bit?
- أعرف بعض المفردات فقط.I only know some vocabulary.
- أتفهم العربية قليلًا.I understand Arabic a little bit.
- أنا تعبان شوية.Ana ta'ban shwayya.I am a little bit tired.
- استنى شوية من فضلك.Istanna shwayya min fadlak.Wait a little bit, please.
- السعر غالي شوية.As-si'r ghali shwayya.The price is a little bit expensive.
Example conversation
Ahmed and Nour are talking at a coffee shop.
- أحمد Ahmedنور، هل أنتِ جاهزة؟Nour, hal anti jahiza?Nour, are you ready?
- نور Nourلا، محتاجة شوية وقت.La, muhtaja shwayya waqt.No, I need a little bit of time.
- أحمد Ahmedلا مشكلة، أنا هانتظر.La mushkila, ana ha-ntazir.No problem, I will wait.
- نور Nourشكراً يا أحمد.Shukran ya Ahmed.Thank you, Ahmed.
