أكل
akala
To eat in Arabic is أكل (akala).
The phrase refers to the act of putting food in the mouth, chewing and swallowing it.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Levantine dialects, the form بأكل (b'a'kul) is common.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form أكل (akala) is the past tense meaning 'he ate', while the present tense form is يأكل (ya'kulu).
How do you pronounce it?
akala
When do people say it?
When someone is eating, you can say بالعافية (bil-3āfiyah), which means 'bon appétit!'
Did you know?
- In many Arabic cultures, it is customary to eat with the right hand only, as the left hand is traditionally reserved for hygiene and considered unsuitable for أكل.
- The word أكل (akala) can also be used metaphorically in Arabic to mean 'to consume' or 'to devour', such as when discussing how a person 'devours' their money through spending.
- When someone finishes eating, it is common to say الحمد لله (Alhamdulillah), which credits God for the meal, rather than just saying 'I am full'.
Examples in context
- أعطني ما يمكنني أكله.Give me something to eat.This sentence is useful for asking for something to eat using أكل.Tatoeba #1245481 by saeb, translation #25070 by CK
- نعجة زيري تحب أكل الذرة.Ziri's ewe likes to eat corn.This sentence shows how to describe what an animal likes to eat using أكل.Tatoeba #11252817 by Amghar, translation #11169367 by Amastan
- يريد ياني أكل التين فورا.Yanni wants to eat the figs right now.This sentence demonstrates expressing a desire to eat something immediately using أكل.Tatoeba #11683960 by dididodo, translation #9768818 by Amastan
- أنا آكل الفطور كل يوم.I eat breakfast every day.
- هو يحب أن يأكل العشاء في المطعم.He likes to eat dinner at the restaurant.
- نحن يجب أن نأكل بشكل صحي.We should eat healthily.
- سوف أتناول الغداء مع زملائي.I will have lunch with my colleagues.
- تناولت العشاء في المطعم الفاخر.I had dinner at the fancy restaurant.
- هو يروح يأكل برة مع أصحابه.He goes out to eat with his friends.
- معلش، عايز أكل عشا سريع عشان عندي برنامج.Sorry, I want to grab a quick dinner because I have a program.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a restaurant.
- عمر Omarأريد أن آكل الآن.urīdu an ākula al-āna.I want to eat now.
- ليلى Laylaماذا تريد أن تأكل؟mādhā turīdu an ta'kula?What do you want to eat?
- عمر Omarأريد أكل الدجاج.urīdu akla al-dajāj.I want to eat chicken.
- ليلى Laylaالدجاج لذيذ جداً.al-dajāj ladhīdh jiddan.The chicken is very delicious.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
