تفضل
tafaddal
The English phrase "help yourself" is translated into Arabic as تفضل (tafaddal).
تفضل is a polite invitation used to tell someone to take something or make themselves comfortable. This phrase is used both to invite someone to eat and to invite them to enter a room or sit down.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the phrase changes depending on whom you are addressing. Use the masculine form تفضل when speaking to a man, the feminine form تفضلي when speaking to a woman and the plural form تفضلوا when addressing a group of people.
How do you pronounce it?
tafaddal
When do people say it?
It is common to offer food or drinks by extending them with an open palm, using the right hand as a sign of politeness.
Did you know?
- While you might say تفضل to mean 'help yourself', the verb itself literally translates to 'to favor' or 'to bestow favor'.
- In some Arab cultures, if you use تفضل to offer food, the guest may politely refuse several times before finally accepting.
- While تفضل means 'help yourself' or 'please come in', it is also the standard way to say 'here you go' when physically handing an object to someone.
Examples in context
- تفضل، كُل هذا الطعام.Tafaddal, kul hadha al-ta'am.Help yourself, eat this food.
- تفضل، اجلس هنا.Tafaddal, ijlis huna.Help yourself, sit here.
- تفضل، خذ قطعة من الكعك.Tafaddal, khudh qit'a min al-ka'k.Help yourself, take a piece of cake.
Example conversation
Nour is offering Omar some juice at her house.
- نور Nourعمر، تفضل، اشرب العصير.Omar, tafaddal, ishrab al-'asir.Omar, help yourself, drink the juice.
- عمر Omarشكراً لكِ يا نور.Shukran laki ya Nour.Thank you, Nour.
- نور Nourهل تريد المزيد؟Hal turid al-mazid?Do you want more?
- عمر Omarلا، شكراً، هذا رائع.La, shukran, hadha ra'i'.No, thanks, this is great.
