لا عليك
la alayk
In Arabic, nevermind is expressed as لا عليك (la alayk).
The phrase لا عليك is used to reassure someone that a mistake they made is not a cause for concern and that they should not worry about it.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of لا meaning 'no' and عليك meaning 'upon you', literally translating to 'no [harm] upon you'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Depending on the context, there are several ways to express this. لا يهم (It doesn't matter) is more formal. For informal situations, you can use مش مهم (It's not important) or خليها كده (Just leave it like that). In casual spoken Arabic, ما في مشكلة (no problem) is a more common way to say 'nevermind' or 'no problem' than the more formal لا عليك.
How do you pronounce it?
la alayk
Did you know?
- If you want to tell someone 'nevermind' in an Egyptian context, you might say حصل خير, which literally translates to 'good has happened'.
- The word لا in the phrase لا عليك shares a common root with the Hebrew word לֹא, meaning the two languages are part of the same ancient linguistic family.
- In many Arabic dialects, if you use the formal لا عليك in a very casual setting like a cafe, you might sound like a character from a historical drama rather than a local.
Examples in context
- لا عليك، الأمر بسيط.la 'alayka, al-amru basīt.Nevermind, it is a simple matter.
- لا عليك، سأقوم بذلك بنفسي.la 'alayka, sa-aqūmu bi-dhālika bi-nafsī.Nevermind, I will do it myself.
- لا عليك، لا داعي للاعتذار.la 'alayka, lā dā'iya lil-i'tidhār.Nevermind, there is no need to apologize.
Example conversation
Omar dropped a glass in the kitchen and apologized to Sarah.
- عمر Omarأنا آسف جداً يا سارة، لقد كسرته.anā āsi-fu jiddan yā Sāra, laqad kasartuhu.I am very sorry, Sarah, I broke it.
- سارة Saraلا عليك يا عمر، يمكننا تنظيفه.la 'alayka yā 'Umar, yumkinunā tanẓīfuhu.Nevermind Omar, we can clean it up.
- عمر Omarهل أنتِ منزعجة مني؟hal anti mun-za'ija minnī?Are you upset with me?
- سارة Saraلا، لا تقلق أبداً.lā, lā taqlaq abadan.No, do not worry at all.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries لا, CC BY-SA 4.0.
