What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb ihtamm (care for/attend to), the preposition bi (with/in) and shu'unika al-khassa (your private affairs).
Which one should you use?
The default form اهتم بشؤونك الخاصة is Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), which sounds formal and may be used in literature or formal settings, whereas dialect versions are used in daily speech.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You might also use the formal phrase لا تدخل في أموري to mean "Don't interfere in my matters."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Arabic dialects, the phrase خليك في حالك is a much more common and natural way to say "mind your own business" than the formal version.
How does it change in a sentence?
To address a female, the verb changes from ihtamm to ihtammi and the possessive suffix changes from -ka to -ki (forming اهتمي بشؤونك الخاصة). To address a group of people, the verb changes to ihtammu and the possessive suffix changes to -kum (forming اهتموا بشؤونكم الخاصة).
How do you pronounce it?
ihtamm bishu'unika al-khassa
Did you know?
- Because of the cultural emphasis on communal support and hospitality, telling someone to mind their business can be perceived as far more aggressive and shocking than it is in English.
- Using the grammatically correct formal version اهتم بشؤونك الخاصة in a casual street argument can make a person sound like a character from a dubbed historical drama.
- The formal word شؤون is so versatile that the same word used to tell someone to mind their 'affairs' is used for the 'Ministry of Foreign Affairs' in almost every Arabic-speaking country.
Examples in context
- اهتم بشؤونك الخاصة.Mind your own business!The sentence is useful for practicing the phrase اهتم بشؤونك الخاصة.Tatoeba #394023 by saeb, translation #16996 by CK
- خلّيني في حالي.Leave me alone.
- اهتم بشؤونك الخاصة ولا تتدخل في حياتي.ihtam bi-shu'unika al-khassa wa la tatadakhal fi hayati.Mind your own business and do not interfere in my life.
Example conversation
Ahmed is asking Sara too many personal questions.
- سارة Saraلماذا تسأل عن راتبي كل يوم؟limadha tas'al 'an ratibi kulla yawm?Why do you ask about my salary every day?
- أحمد Ahmedأنا فقط أريد أن أعرف.ana faqat uridu an a'rif.I just want to know.
- سارة Saraاهتم بشؤونك الخاصة يا أحمد.ihtam bi-shu'unika al-khassa ya Ahmed.Mind your own business, Ahmed.
- أحمد Ahmedحسناً، أنا آسف.hasanan, ana asif.Okay, I am sorry.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
