نهاية
nihāya
The usual word for end in Arabic is نهاية (nihāya), as in the end of a story or the end of a sentence.
نهاية is commonly used for the end of something, such as the conclusion of a book or the close of an event. It works for the end of a period of time and for the end of a line, a road or a sentence.
Meaning: intransitive: be finished, be terminated (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
نهاية المطاف is a common expression meaning at the end of the road, used like eventually or in the end.
Which one should you use?
نهاية refers to the end of a sequence or a stretch of time. غَايَة (ghāya) is used when end means a purpose or a final goal. انقضاء stresses the completion or expiry of something with a formal tone and appears in legal language.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
نهاية is a feminine noun. Its plural is نِهَايَات (nihāyāt). It often comes before another noun, as in نهاية القصة, the end of the story.
How do you pronounce it?
It is read nihāya, with a long a in the middle syllable.
When do people say it?
In casual speech many Arabic speakers say خلص to mean it is over or that is finished.
Did you know?
- The root of نهاية is shared with the word for 'prohibition' or 'stopping someone'. This links the concept of an 'end' to the act of preventing further movement.
- The casual word خلص is used not just to say something is finished, but as a command to stop an argument or a behavior. It functions similarly to saying 'enough' or 'drop it' in English.
- While نهاية is a standard noun, the verb انتهى ('intahā') is often used to describe a person reaching a breaking point or losing their patience.
Examples in context
- هذه هي نهاية القصة.That's the end of the story.نهاية القصة means the end of the story.Tatoeba #5830173 by OsoHombre, translation #5828820 by OsoHombre
- ستهلك في نهاية المطاف.You're going to end up dead.في نهاية المطاف means in the end, here used for you will end up.Tatoeba #11683587 by dididodo, translation #3268359 by Amastan
- أضف نقطة في نهاية جملتك، رجاءا.Please add a full stop at the end of your sentence.في نهاية جملتك means at the end of your sentence.Tatoeba #11677643 by dididodo, translation #1673027 by Amastan
- انتهت محاضرتنا بهذه النهاية الرائعة.Our lecture ended with this wonderful conclusion.
- سيتم انقضاء الوقت المخصص بعد ثلاث ساعات.The allocated time will come to an end after three hours.
- بعد ساعات طويلة من العمل، خلصت الأمور أخيرًا.After long hours of work, things are finally over.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yousef and Layla are talking about a movie they just watched.
- يوسف Youssefهل أعجبتك نهاية الفيلم؟Hal a'jabatka nihayat al-film?Did you like the end of the movie?
- ليلى Laylaلا، كانت نهاية حزينة جداً.La, kanat nihaya hazina jiddan.No, it was a very sad end.
- يوسف Youssefأنا أيضاً لم أتوقع هذه النهاية.Ana aidan lam atawaqqa' hadhihi al-nihaya.I also did not expect this end.
- ليلى Laylaنعم، كانت مفاجئة في النهاية.Na'am, kanat mufaji'a fi al-nihaya.Yes, it was surprising in the end.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
