والله
wallah
In Arabic, the phrase 'swear to God' is expressed as والله (wallah).
It is used both to swear an oath and as an intensive particle to express sincerity or surprise, similar to 'I swear' or 'Really?' in English.
Meaning: interjection (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a contraction of the preposition 'wa' (by/and) and 'Allah' (God).
Which one should you use?
You may encounter أقسم بالله, which means 'I swear by God,' and the informal expression بالله, which means 'by God.'
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While the phrase is religiously rooted, its use as a conversational filler or interjection is very common in informal, everyday speech. For a more formal way to say 'I swear by God,' use أقسم بالله. The form بالله is considered informal.
How do you pronounce it?
wallah
Did you know?
- While والله is a common interjection, some conservative religious scholars discourage its frequent use to avoid 'trivializing' the name of God in everyday speech.
- The word والله begins with the prefix و, which in Proto-Semitic languages served specifically as a marker for taking oaths.
- While والله is nearly universal, using the more formal أقسم بالله in a casual coffee shop might make you sound like a character in a historical drama or a formal news broadcast.
Examples in context
- والله، أنا لم أفعل ذلك.Wallahi, ana lam af'al dhalik.I swear to God, I didn't do that.
- والله، الجو جميل اليوم.Wallahi, al-jawu jamil al-yawm.I swear to God, the weather is beautiful today.
Example conversation
Mariam is trying to convince Yusuf that she finished her work.
- مريم Maryamوالله، لقد أنهيت كل العمل.Wallahi, laqad anhaytu kull al-'amal.I swear to God, I finished all the work.
- يوسف Youssefهل أنتِ متأكدة يا مريم؟Hal anti muta'akkida ya Mariam?Are you sure, Mariam?
- مريم Maryamنعم، والله أنا صادقة.Na'am, wallahi ana sadiqa.Yes, I swear to God I am being honest.
- يوسف Youssefحسناً، أنا أصدقكِ.Hasanan, ana usaddiquki.Okay, I believe you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries والله, CC BY-SA 4.0.
