لا
la
The English word "no" is translated to Arabic as لا.
لا is primarily used as a particle to show disagreement or to express negation. It can also function as a determiner meaning "not any," or as a noun representing a negating expression.
Meaning: used to show disagreement or negation (particle)
Which one should you use?
Additionally, the form لأ is a common informal version of لا.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When placed before a present tense verb, لا acts as a negative particle that negates the action of that verb.
How do you pronounce it?
la
Did you know?
- In some social contexts, saying 'no' through a gesture like a slight upward tilt of the head and a clicking sound of the tongue is more common than using the word لا.
- The particle لا shares a common ancestor with the Hebrew לֹא, meaning they are linguistic cousins from the Proto-Semitic language family.
- In many Arabic dialects, a person might avoid saying a blunt لا to remain polite, instead using a phrase that implies 'it's not possible' or 'may God not make it so'.
Examples in context
- من سيقول لك لا؟Who would say no to you?This sentence uses لا to show a person saying no.Tatoeba #11986980 by dididodo, translation #10912901 by Amastan
- لا أحد علم بذلك.No one knew it.This sentence uses لا to mean no one.Tatoeba #1593944 by Amastan, translation #703345 by papabear
- لا أتذكر ما حصل.I have no memory of what happened.This sentence uses لا to negate a memory.Tatoeba #2604962 by Samer, translation #2360152 by CK
- 249 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nour and Ziad are discussing their dinner plans.
- نور Nourهل تريد أن تأكل السمك؟Hal turid an ta'kul al-samak?Do you want to eat fish?
- زياد Ziadلا، أنا لا أحب السمك.La, ana la uhibb al-samak.No, I do not like fish.
- نور Nourهل نطلب الدجاج إذاً؟Hal natlub al-dajaj idhan?Shall we order chicken then?
- زياد Ziadلا، لنذهب إلى المطعم الإيطالي.La, linadhhab ila al-mat'am al-italy.No, let's go to the Italian restaurant.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries لا, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
