تعال هنا
ta'al huna
The English phrase 'come here' is translated into Arabic as تعال هنا (ta'al huna).
This phrase is used as a command to tell someone to move toward the speaker's current location.
Which one should you use?
If you are using a more formal register, you might use جِئْ إِلَى هُنَا.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Sudan, you can say تَعَالْ هُنِي to invite someone to come here.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the command changes depending on who you are addressing. Use تعال هنا when addressing a male, تعالي هنا when addressing a female and تعالوا هنا when addressing a group of people.
How do you pronounce it?
ta'al huna
Did you know?
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, people may gesture for someone to تعال by waving their hand in a downward motion, which is the opposite of the upward beckoning gesture common in the West.
- The command تعال is a linguistic shortcut. Because the standard imperative forms of the verb 'to come' are too phonetically difficult to pronounce, Arabic uses this special, separate word instead.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, calling someone to 'come here' using only the command تعال can sound quite blunt or even rude. To be more polite, speakers often add a term of endearment like 'my dear' or 'my brother' immediately after the verb.
Examples in context
- تعال هنا.Come here.This sentence demonstrates the use of تعال هنا.Tatoeba #372138 by saeb, translation #39944 by Swift
- تَعَالْ هُنَا يَا صَاحِبِيCome here, my friend.
- تعال هنا بسرعة.ta'al huna bi-sur'a.Come here quickly.
- يا يوسف، تعال هنا.ya Yusuf, ta'al huna.Yusuf, come here.
Example conversation
Layla is calling Yusuf to show him something in the kitchen.
- ليلى Laylaيوسف، تعال هنا من فضلك.Yusuf, ta'al huna min fadlak.Yusuf, come here please.
- يوسف Youssefأنا قادم، ماذا هناك؟Ana qadim, madha hunak?I'm coming, what is it?
- ليلى Laylaتعال هنا وانظر إلى هذا.Ta'al huna wa unzur ila hadha.Come here and look at this.
- يوسف Youssefهذا رائع حقاً!Hadha ra'i' haqqan!This is really wonderful!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries تعال, هنا, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
