أنا ذاهب
'anā dhāhib
The English phrase 'I am going' is translated into Arabic as أنا ذاهب ('anā dhāhib).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the pronoun أنا (I) and the active participle ذاهب (going or one who goes).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Levantine Arabic, an informal way to say 'I am going' is Ana rayyeh.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase can change based on the gender of the speaker: use the feminine active participle to say أنا ذاهبة if you are female. When specifying a destination, the preposition إلى (to) must follow the phrase, resulting in أنا ذاهب إلى.
How do you pronounce it?
'anā dhāhib
Did you know?
- In Arabic, أنا ذاهب is a nominal sentence that lacks a verb for 'to be', meaning it literally translates to 'I going'.
- The Arabic word for 'I' أنا is a distant relative of the Hebrew word אני 'aní' and the Amharic word እኔ 'enē'.
- Depending on the context, أنا ذاهب can be used as a polite way to excuse oneself from a gathering without needing to state a destination.
Examples in context
- أنا ذاهب.I am going.Tatoeba #392781 by saeb, translation #1575864 by CM
- أنا ذاهب لأدرس.I am going to study.Tatoeba #6679699 by marhabaan, translation #261650 by CK
- أنا ذاهب الآن.Ana dhahib al-an.I am going now.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Omar is leaving the house and meets Noor.
- نور Nourإلى أين أنت ذاهب يا عمر؟Ila ayn anta dhahib ya Omar?Where are you going, Omar?
- عمر Omarأنا ذاهب إلى السوق.Ana dhahib ila al-suq.I am going to the market.
- نور Nourهل ستتأخر؟Hal satata'akhar?Will you be late?
- عمر Omarلا، سأعود بسرعة.La, sa-a'ood bi-sur'a.No, I will return quickly.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries أنا, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
