What does it mean word for word?
أعطني is the command give with the ending for me attached, and المال means the money.
Which one should you use?
أرجوك، أمدّني بالمبلغ المطلوب. is a much more formal and polite request, please provide me with the requested amount.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
أعطني المال is the standard, formal way to say give me money and belongs to Modern Standard Arabic. In many spoken dialects, such as Egyptian or Levantine, people are more likely to say هات الفلوس.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In everyday Egyptian and Levantine speech, هات الفلوس is the more natural way to ask for money.
How does it change in a sentence?
أعطني المال is a command to one man. To speak to a group, the verb changes and the phrase becomes أعطوني المال.
How do you pronounce it?
It is read a'tini al-mal.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying أعطني المال on its own to a stranger, since it sounds like a demand. Add من فضلك for a polite request.
Did you know?
- While المال refers to money or wealth, the dialect word فلوس is believed to come from the Latin 'follis', which was a leather bag used to carry coins.
- In many Middle Eastern cultures, the physical act of handing over money involves using the right hand or both hands to show respect, as using only the left hand can be seen as an insult.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, asking for money directly is often avoided in favor of 'indirect' requests to maintain the dignity of both parties.
Examples in context
- أعطني المال الآن.a'tini al-mal al-aan.Give me the money now.
- أعطني المال لكي أشتري الطعام.a'tini al-mal likay ashtari al-ta'am.Give me the money so I can buy food.
- أرجوك، أعطني المال.arjuk, a'tini al-mal.Please, give me the money.
Example conversation
Layla is asking Ahmad for her share of the budget.
- ليلى Laylaأحمد، أعطني المال.Ahmad, a'tini al-mal.Ahmad, give me the money.
- أحمد Ahmedهل تقصدين المال الخاص بالمشروع؟hal taqsideen al-mal al-khass bil-mashru'?Do you mean the money for the project?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، أعطني المال فوراً.na'am, a'tini al-mal fawran.Yes, give me the money immediately.
- أحمد Ahmedحسناً، سأعطيكِ إياه الآن.hasanan, sa-u'tiki iyyahu al-aan.Okay, I will give it to you now.
