Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| قَدَرَ | qadara | |
| اِسْتَطَاعَ | istaṭāʕa | |
| أَمْكَنَ | ʔamkana | |
| قدر | ʔadar | Egyptian Arabic |
In Arabic, 'can' can be expressed through several different verbs or constructions. A very common way to express 'can' in Modern Standard Arabic is by using the construction بإمكان, which literally translates to 'it is in the power of'.
Which one should you use?
While all these forms express the concept of 'can', they carry different nuances. اِسْتَطَاعَ is the most common standard way to express physical or situational ability in Modern Standard Arabic. In contrast, أَمْكَنَ is used to express that something is possible or feasible, often functioning as an impersonal verb to mean 'it is possible to'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the verb قدر is frequently used, often in shortened or modified forms, to express ability.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun form derived from the root of قَدَرَ is قُدْرَة, which means 'ability' or 'power'.
How do you pronounce it?
qadara
Did you know?
- The root of قَدَرَ is also connected to the concept of 'destiny' or 'fate' in Arabic. While it means 'to be able' in one context, the related noun قَدَر refers to what is predetermined by God.
- The word قَدَرَ shares a common ancestral root with the Hebrew word קְדֵרָה (q'derá).
- The construction بإمكان (it is in the power of) shifts the focus from the person's skill to the existence of an opportunity. This allows Arabic speakers to distinguish between having the skill to do something and having the permission or chance to do it.
Examples in context
- قدرة رامبو على هزم جيش بأكمله مجرد خرافة.It's just a myth that Rambo can defeat an army alone.This sentence illustrates the use of قدر to express the ability to defeat an army.Tatoeba #10795045 by Amghar, translation #1782805 by Amastan
- هناك الكثير من الأشياء التي بإمكانها التّأثير على قدرة المرأ على السّياقة.There are many things that can affect a person's ability to drive.This sentence shows how something can affect the قدرة (ability) to drive.Tatoeba #11479934 by Amastan, translation #10893222 by megamanenm
- واسمحوا لي انطلاقا من هذه الروح أن أتطرق بمنتهى الصراحة وأكبر قدر ممكن من البساطة إلى بعض الأمور المحددة التي أعتقد أنه يتعين علينا مواجهتها في نهاية المطاف بجهد مشتركAnd so in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.This sentence demonstrates expressing the ability to speak clearly and plainly.Tatoeba #377071 by saeb, translation #377070 by saeb
- هل يمكنك المساعدة؟Can you help?
- يستطيع الجميع الانضمام إلى الحفلة.Everyone can join the party.
- ممكن تجيب لي كوبة ماء؟Can you bring me a glass of water?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “can” translations and entries قدر, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries قدر, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
