توقف عن الكذب
tawaqqaf 'an al-kadhib
The English phrase "stop lying" is translated into Arabic as توقف عن الكذب (tawaqqaf 'an al-kadhib).
This phrase is a command used to tell someone to stop telling falsehoods.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb tawaqqaf (stop), the preposition an (from/about) and the gerund al-kadhib (the lying).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
توقف عن الكذب is a formal way to say "cease lying" in Arabic. In daily speech, many speakers use the colloquial version بطل كذب instead.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The colloquial phrase بطل كذب is common in many Arabic dialects, such as Levantine or Egyptian.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb changes depending on who you are addressing. To address a female, use توقفي عن الكذب. To address a group of people, use توقفوا عن الكذب.
How do you pronounce it?
tawaqqaf 'an al-kadhib
Did you know?
- The colloquial verb بطل used in بطل كذب literally means 'to become a hero' or 'to be a champion' in other contexts.
- While توقف عن الكذب is used in formal writing or news, using it in a heated argument might make you sound like a character in a dubbed cartoon rather than a real person.
- The root و ق ف found in توقف is also used to describe the 'waqf', an Islamic charitable endowment that is 'stopped' or held in perpetuity.
Examples in context
- توقف عن الكذب!Stop lying!This sentence is useful for expressing the command "Stop lying!" using توقف عن الكذب.Tatoeba #13134935 by atitarev, translation #11555815 by GewoonLeonYT
- توقف عن الكذب الآن.tawaqqaf 'an al-kadhib al-aan.Stop lying now.
- أرجوك، توقف عن الكذب.arjouk, tawaqqaf 'an al-kadhib.Please, stop lying.
Example conversation
Sarah confronts Omar about a story he told.
- سارة Saraأعرف أن هذا ليس حقيقياً، توقف عن الكذب.a'rifu anna hadha laysa haqiqiyan, tawaqqaf 'an al-kadhib.I know this is not true, stop lying.
- عمر Omarأنا أقول الحقيقة يا سارة.ana aqulu al-haqiqa ya sara.I am telling the truth, Sarah.
- سارة Saraتوقف عن الكذب، لقد رأيت كل شيء.tawaqqaf 'an al-kadhib, laqad ra'aytu kull shay.Stop lying, I saw everything.
- عمر Omarحسناً، سأقول الحقيقة.hasanan, sa'aqulu al-haqiqa.Fine, I will tell the truth.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
