اصطفاف
iṣṭifāf
The Arabic phrase for 'line up' is اصطفاف (iṣṭifāf).
This term is used to describe the act of getting into a line.
Meaning: get into a line (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
iṣṭifāf
Did you know?
- The root of اصطفاف is the letter 'ṣād' and 'fā', which relates to the concept of 'selection' or 'choosing the best'.
- In some regional dialects, if someone 'breaks' the line, they are accused of تجاوز, which literally means 'transgressing' or 'crossing a boundary'.
- The word صف is used both for a physical line of people and to describe a school classroom in several dialects.
Example conversation
Yousef and Maryam are organizing a group at an event.
- يوسف Youssefمريم، نحتاج إلى اصطفاف الجميع هنا.Maryam, nahtaj ila istifaf al-jami' huna.Maryam, we need everyone to line up here.
- مريم Maryamسأخبرهم أن يصطفوا الآن.Sa-ukhbiruhum an yastaffu al-an.I will tell them to line up now.
- يوسف Youssefهل تم اصطفاف الفريق بالكامل؟Hal tamma istifaf al-fariq bi-l-kamil?Is the whole team lined up?
- مريم Maryamنعم، الجميع جاهز الآن.Na'am, al-jami' jahiz al-an.Yes, everyone is ready now.
