يتحدث
yatahadath
The English phrase 'speaking' is translated into Arabic as يتحدث (yatahadath).
The term refers to the act of communicating vocally. While it can be used to mean 'to speak', يتحدث often carries a nuance of 'to converse' or 'to engage in speech'.
Meaning: the act of communicating vocally (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Levant region, the informal term بحكي is often used to mean 'speaking'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form يتحدث is the third-person masculine singular present tense, meaning 'he speaks' or 'he is speaking'. To change the subject to a female, use the form تتحدث (she speaks / she is speaking). To say 'I speak' or 'I am speaking', use the form أتحدث.
How do you pronounce it?
yatahadath
Did you know?
- While يتحدث is used for formal conversation, the root word حدث also means 'an event' or 'something that happened'.
- While يتحدث is the standard form, using it in a very casual setting like a coffee shop might make you sound like a news anchor or a formal orator.
- Arabic possesses a vast array of verbs for 'speaking' that describe the specific volume or quality of the voice, such as whispering, shouting or murmuring, as distinct primary verbs.
Examples in context
- زيري يتحدث.Ziri is speaking.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is speaking.Tatoeba #10240475 by Amastan, translation #10221704 by Amastan
- مرحبًا. أوغاوا يتحدث.Hello. This is Ogawa speaking.This sentence is useful for identifying oneself when speaking on the phone.Tatoeba #665692 by Samer, translation #30969 by CN
- إنه يتحدث الأن معها.He is just now speaking with her.This sentence is useful for describing someone currently engaged in speech.Tatoeba #1871986 by Asma, translation #1871987 by Asma
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yousef and Layla are in a meeting.
- يوسف Youssefمن يتحدث الآن؟Man yatahaddath al-aan?Who is speaking now?
- ليلى Laylaالمدير يتحدث يا يوسف.Al-mudir yatahaddath ya Yousef.The manager is speaking, Yousef.
- يوسف Youssefهل يتحدث ببطء؟Hal yatahaddath bi-but'?Is he speaking slowly?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، يتحدث بوضوح شديد.Na'am, yatahaddath bi-wuduh shadid.Yes, he is speaking very clearly.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
