يتوقع
yatawaqqa'
The English verb 'expect' is translated into Arabic as يتوقع (yatawaqqa').
The verb is used to express looking for, looking forward to or anticipating something.
Meaning: to look for, look forward to, anticipate (verb)
Which one should you use?
While يتوقع is the standard form, ترقب is used to emphasize the act of anticipation or waiting and بتوقع is used in informal contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Gulf Arabic, the formal way to say expect is يتوقع.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular noun for 'expectation' is توقع, while the plural noun 'expectations' is توقعات. To say 'I expect' in the present tense, use أتوقع and to say 'I expected' in the past tense, use توقعتُ.
How do you pronounce it?
yatawaqqa'
Did you know?
- The root of يتوقع relates to the concept of 'falling' or 'happening'. In classical Arabic, the word originally carried a sense of anticipating something that might unexpectedly fall upon you.
- When expressing a strong expectation of a miracle or divine intervention, Arabic speakers often pivot from يتوقع to words rooted in 'hope' أمل or 'trust' توكل.
- The root structure of توقع allows it to be used in a way that suggests 'calculating' or 'estimating' a value, not just a future event.
Examples in context
- هو لا يتوقع شيئا.He doesn't expect anything.This sentence is useful for showing a negative statement with يتوقع.Tatoeba #12000454 by dididodo, translation #8173713 by Amastan
- أكيد أنه لم يتوقع ذلك.He certainly didn't expect that.Tatoeba #12827591 by dididodo, translation #12824053 by Ussis
- لم يتوقع زيري أن يكون هناك الكثير من الناس.Ziri didn't expect that many people to be there.This sentence is useful for showing how to use يتوقع in a sentence describing a lack of expectation regarding a crowd.Tatoeba #11665754 by dididodo, translation #10240764 by Amastan
- أتوقع وصول الضيف في وقت متأخر.I expect the guest to arrive late.
- توقعت فوز فريقنا في المباراة.I expected our team to win the game.
- نترقب بفارغ الصبر القرار النهائي من مجلس الإدارة.We are eagerly awaiting the final decision from the board of directors.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maryam and Ziad are discussing the weather before a trip.
- مريم Maryamهل يتوقع خبير الأرصاد مطراً اليوم؟hal yatawaqqa' khabir al-arṣād maṭaran al-yawm?Does the weather expert expect rain today?
- زياد Ziadلا، هو لا يتوقع أي عواصف.lā, huwa lā yatawaqqa' ayya 'awāṣif.No, he does not expect any storms.
- مريم Maryamأنا أتوقع جواً جميلاً لرحلتنا.anā atawaqqa' jawwan jamīlan li-riḥlatinā.I expect beautiful weather for our trip.
- زياد Ziadهذا جيد، أنا أيضاً أتوقع ذلك.hādhā jayyid, anā ayḍan atawaqqa' dhālik.That is good, I expect that too.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
