أخبرني
akhbirnī
In Arabic, "tell me" is translated as أخبرني (akhbirnī).
The phrase is used as a request for someone to provide information or a story.
Which one should you use?
While أخبرني is used for the sense of "tell me" to inform someone or provide news, the related phrase قل لي is used for "say to me", specifically meaning to utter certain words.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the verb changes depending on who you are addressing. Use أخبرني when addressing a male, أخبريني when addressing a female and أخبروني when addressing a group of people.
How do you pronounce it?
akhbirnī
Did you know?
- In highly formal or poetic Arabic, asking someone to 'tell' you something can be phrased as asking them to 'unveil' or 'reveal' it, as if the information were a hidden treasure.
- The verb in أخبرني comes from the root خبر, which is the same root used for the word 'news' or ' خبر'. Therefore, when you ask someone to 'tell' you something, you are literally asking them to 'give you news'.
- In many Arabic dialects, the formal أخبرني is often replaced by the much shorter, more casual قول لي in daily conversation, even though قول technically means 'say'.
Examples in context
- أخبرني بذلك يا جمال.Tell me about it, Jamal.This sentence is useful for practicing how to use أخبرني to ask about a specific topic.Tatoeba #6966069 by OsoHombre, translation #5828482 by OsoHombre
- أخبرني لم لا تحبّها.Tell me why you don't like her.This sentence shows how to use أخبرني to ask for a reason.Tatoeba #7970592 by OsoHombre, translation #3912887 by CH
- أخبرني ، ما الذي حدث؟Tell me what happened.This sentence demonstrates using أخبرني to ask about an event.Tatoeba #375589 by saeb, translation #2444 by CK
- قل لي عن نفسك؟Tell me about yourself?
- 33 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yousef and Sarah are talking about a new movie.
- يوسف Youssefهل شاهدتِ الفيلم الجديد يا سارة؟Hal shahadti al-film al-jadid ya Sarah?Did you watch the new movie, Sarah?
- سارة Saraنعم، لقد كان مذهلاً حقاً.Na'am, laqad kana mudhilan haqqan.Yes, it was truly amazing.
- يوسف Youssefأخبرني عن النهاية، هل كانت مفاجئة؟Akhbirni 'an al-nihaya, hal kanat mufaji'a?Tell me about the ending, was it surprising?
- سارة Saraلا أستطيع، سوف أحرق عليكِ القصة.La astati', sawfa ahriq 'alayki al-qissa.I can't, I will spoil the story for you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
