مشكلة
mushkila
In Arabic, the English phrase "trouble" is expressed as مشكلة (mushkila).
The term مشكلة is a common and general way to say trouble in formal contexts.
Meaning: difficulty (noun)
Which one should you use?
While مشكلة is the general term for trouble, you may encounter more specific terms. محنة refers specifically to a difficult or testing situation, and مشقة translates to hardship and can be used to mean trouble in certain contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
mushkila
Did you know?
- In a very formal or religious context, instead of using مشكلة, one might use ابتلاء (ibtila'), which describes a trouble as a 'divine test' or a trial meant to test one's patience.
- The term محنة for a 'testing trouble' has a specific historical weight, often referring to the 'Mihna', a famous 9th-century inquisitional trial regarding theology in the Abbasid Caliphate.
- The word مشكلة (mushkila) is derived from a root related to 'solving' or 'untangling', implying that a 'trouble' is something that is currently knotted and needs to be unraveled.
Examples in context
- علق سامي في مشكلة.Sami got in trouble.This sentence shows how to use مشكلة when saying someone got in trouble.Tatoeba #6968437 by OsoHombre, translation #5921314 by OsoHombre
- كان سامي في مشكلة.Sami was in trouble.This sentence demonstrates the use of مشكلة to say someone was in trouble.Tatoeba #6968443 by OsoHombre, translation #6714038 by OsoHombre
- كان زيري في مشكلة.Ziri was in trouble.This sentence is another example of using مشكلة to describe someone being in trouble.Tatoeba #10979506 by Amghar, translation #10207135 by Amastan
- أواجه مشكلة في إيجاد مسار الطريق.I am having trouble finding the way.
- واجهت محنة كبيرة في حياتي المهنية.I faced a big trouble in my professional life.
- تسبب الطقس السيء في مشقة بحثي عن سكن جديد.The bad weather caused trouble in my search for a new accommodation.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Youssef and Layla are talking about a technical issue at work.
- يوسف Youssefهل هناك مشكلة في الحساب؟hal hunaka mushkila fi al-hisab?Is there a problem with the account?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، لدي مشكلة صغيرة هنا.na'am, ladayya mushkila saghira huna.Yes, I have a small problem here.
- يوسف Youssefهل يمكنني مساعدتك في حل هذه المشكلة؟hal yumkinuni musa'adatuki fi hal hadhihi al-mushkila?Can I help you solve this problem?
- ليلى Laylaشكراً لك، سأحاول حل المشكلة بنفسي.shukran lak, sa-uhawilu hal al-mushkila binafsi.Thank you, I will try to solve the problem myself.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
