عَنَى
ʕanā
In Arabic, the verb 'to mean' in the sense of signifying something is expressed by عَنَى (ʕanā). Wiktionary also lists قَصَدَ (qaṣada).
Meaning: of a word: to signify (verb)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| عَنَى | ʕanā |
| قَصَدَ | qaṣada |
The primary meaning of these forms is to signify or denote a concept or a word. In many Arabic dialects, the form يَعْنِي also functions colloquially as a filler word, similar to how English speakers use 'I mean', 'you know' or 'like' to bridge thoughts.
Which one should you use?
While both عَنَى and قَصَدَ can translate to mean, عَنَى is more frequently used when discussing what a specific word or a concept signifies or implies.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egypt, the adjective for 'mean' is often expressed as قاسي.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The present tense form يَعْنِي is the most common way to express 'it means' or 'he means' during daily conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
ʕanā
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the verb عَنَى to describe a person's character as 'mean'. To describe a person who is unkind, malicious or vile, use the adjective لَئِيم.
Did you know?
- The use of يَعْنِي as a filler is so pervasive across different Arab countries that it is one of the few colloquialisms understood from Morocco to Iraq.
- The adjective for a mean person, لَئِيم, historically describes someone who is not just unkind but lacks nobility or generosity of spirit.
- In many dialects, يَعْنِي can be used to express hesitation or a polite 'maybe' when a speaker does not want to give a direct 'yes' or 'no' answer.
Examples in context
- أنه غادر بطبيعته.He is mean by nature.
- لم يشتر هدية عيد الميلاد لأنه بخيل جدا.He didn't buy a birthday gift because he is extremely mean.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mean” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
