يتكلم
yatakallam
To speak in Arabic is يتكلم (yatakallam).
The verb is used to express the ability to communicate in a language or the general act of talking.
Meaning: to be able to communicate in a language (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form يتكلم is the third-person singular masculine present tense (he speaks / he talks). The form تتكلم is used for both the second-person masculine singular (you speak) and the third-person feminine singular (she speaks). For the third-person plural, use يتكلمون (they speak).
How do you pronounce it?
yatakallam
Did you know?
- The root of يتكلم is ك-ل-م, which is the same root used for the word 'speech' or 'word', but it is also the root for 'wound' or 'to injure'.
- There is a cultural concept called البلاغة (al-balagha), which is the art of 'eloquent speaking'. It is not just about vocabulary, but the ability to speak the right words to the right person in the right context.
- In many Arabic dialects, the formal يتكلم is replaced by بيحكي (bihki). While both mean 'to speak', the latter comes from a root meaning 'to tell a story' or 'to narrate'.
Examples in context
- لم يتكلم دان حتى.Dan didn't even speak.This sentence shows the use of يتكلم in a negative context.Tatoeba #11997432 by dididodo, translation #3989698 by Amastan
- لم يتكلم زيري حتى.Ziri didn't even speak.Tatoeba #11997861 by dididodo, translation #10822094 by Amastan
- هو لا يسمع و لا يتكلم.He doesn't listen and doesn't speak.This sentence shows the use of يتكلم to describe a lack of listening and speaking.Tatoeba #11528156 by dididodo, translation #11545767 by Ibtarabishy
- يجيد الكلام بثلاث لغات بطلاقة.He speaks fluently in three languages.
- الحكي في لغتك الأم يريحني كثيراً.Speaking in your mother tongue makes me feel at ease.
- 31 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Layla and Ahmed are meeting at a language exchange event.
- ليلى Laylaهل يتكلم أحمد اللغة العربية؟Hal yatakallam Ahmad al-lugha al-Arabiyya?Does Ahmed speak Arabic?
- أحمد Ahmedنعم، هو يتكلم العربية بطلاقة.Na'am, huwa yatakallam al-Arabiyya bi-talaqa.Yes, he speaks Arabic fluently.
- ليلى Laylaهذا رائع جداً!Hadha ra'i' jiddan!That is very wonderful!
- أحمد Ahmedشكراً لك يا ليلى.Shukran laki ya Layla.Thank you, Layla.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
