أيا كان
ayyān kān
In Arabic, 'whatever' can be expressed as أيا كان (ayyān kān).
The phrase أيا كان is used to indicate that the speaker does not care what someone says.
Meaning: indicating the speaker does not care what someone says (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase أيا كان is composed of أيا (ayyā), meaning 'whichever/whatever' and كان (kān), the past tense of the verb 'to be'.
Which one should you use?
While أيا كان is used to mean 'whatever the case may be', the word مهما is more commonly used to mean 'no matter what' in the sense of 'regardless of what happens'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the colloquial term فاكس is used to mean 'whatever'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
ayyān kān
Did you know?
- In many Arabic dialects, a shrug of the shoulders combined with a clicking sound of the tongue often replaces the need to say أيا كان entirely.
- The verb كان (kān) in the phrase أيا كان is the same word used in the Quran to describe existence and being, grounding a dismissive phrase in deeply significant linguistic roots.
- While أيا كان is used for indifference, Arabic speakers often use the phrase ما علينا to signal 'whatever' when they want to pivot the conversation back to the main topic.
Examples in context
- أيا كان ما تقوله فسيجعلها تبكي.Whatever you say will set her off crying.This example shows how to use أيا كان to describe the effect of someone's words.Tatoeba #5131437 by damascene, translation #71492 by Eldad
- أيا كان، أنا ضده.Whatever it is, I'm against it.This sentence uses أيا كان to express a personal stance regardless of the subject.Tatoeba #13753773 by rul, translation #13752895 by rul
- يمكنك اختيار أيا كان ما تحب.You can choose whatever you like.This example demonstrates using أيا كان to indicate freedom of choice.Tatoeba #2736173 by spiritofwonder, translation #2736177 by spiritofwonder
Example conversation
Sarah and Ziad are arguing about which restaurant to visit.
- سارة Saraيجب أن نذهب إلى المطعم الإيطالي.Yajib an nadhab ila al-mat'am al-italiy.We must go to the Italian restaurant.
- زياد Ziadلكن الطعام الصيني ألذ بكثير!Lakin al-ta'am al-sini aladh bakhathir!But Chinese food is much tastier!
- سارة Saraأيا كان، أنا من سيختار اليوم.Ayya kan, ana man sayakhtar al-yawm.Whatever, I am the one choosing today.
- زياد Ziadحسناً، افعلي ما تريدين يا سارة.Hasanan, if'ali ma turidin ya Sarah.Fine, do what you want, Sarah.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
