انظر إلي
unẓur ilayya
To say "look at me" in Arabic, use انظر إلي (unẓur ilayya).
This phrase is used as a request or command for someone to direct their eyes toward the speaker.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative verb unẓur (look) and the prepositional phrase ilayya (at me/to me).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form unẓur ilayya is the Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) version used in formal writing or polite speech. For a more formal way to say "Excuse Me, Look at Me", you can use عفوًا، انظر إليّ.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb changes depending on whom you are addressing: use انظري إلي to address a female, and use the plural form انظروا إلي to address a group of people. The suffix -ī in ilayya refers to the speaker (me) and remains constant regardless of who is being spoken to.
How do you pronounce it?
unẓur ilayya
Did you know?
- The root letters of انظر (n-ẓ-r) are the same for 'look', 'sight' and 'waiting'. In certain contexts, asking someone to 'look' can be a poetic way of asking them to wait or contemplate.
- While انظر إلي is the standard, in many spoken dialects like Egyptian or Levantine, you would more likely use the verb بص (baṣ) to tell someone to 'look', which comes from a different linguistic root than the formal version.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, maintaining prolonged eye contact while saying انظر إلي can be perceived as a sign of intense confrontation or even aggression rather than simple attention.
Examples in context
- انظر إليّ من فضلك.Please look at me.This sentence is useful for saying "Please look at me" using the form انظر إلي.Tatoeba #371620 by saeb, translation #262407 by CK
- انظر إليLook at me.This sentence is useful for the direct command "Look at me" using the form انظر إلي.Tatoeba #6670028 by marhabaan, translation #262412 by CK
- شوفنيIf you want to grab your sibling's attention to secretly share a surprise gift, you can whisper 'شوفني' and beckon them subtly.
- انظر إلي يا يوسف.unzur ilayya ya Yusuf.Look at me, Yusuf.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yousef is trying to get Leila's attention.
- يوسف Youssefليلى، انظر إلي من فضلك.Layla, unzur ilayya min fadlik.Layla, look at me please.
- ليلى Laylaأنا أسمعك يا يوسف.Ana asma'uka ya Yousef.I am listening to you, Yousef.
- يوسف Youssefلكن يجب أن تنظري إلي.Lakin yajib an tanzuri ilayya.But you must look at me.
- ليلى Laylaحسناً، أنا أنظر إليك الآن.Hasanan, ana anzuru ilayka al-an.Okay, I am looking at you now.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
