تستاهل
tastahel
The phrase "you deserve it" in Arabic is translated as تستاهل (tastahel).
This phrase is used to tell someone that they merit a particular reward or punishment because of their actions. It can be used both positively (to congratulate someone on a reward) and negatively (to mock someone's misfortune).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase تستاهل is primarily used in spoken dialects rather than Modern Standard Arabic. For a formal context, you might use يَحِقّ لَكَ هَذَا, which means "This is deserved by you".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Gulf Arabic, the word مَسْتَاهِل means "You deserve it."
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes depending on whom you are addressing: تستاهل is used when addressing a single male, تستاهلين is used when addressing a single female and تستاهلون is used when addressing a group of people.
How do you pronounce it?
tastahel
Did you know?
- If you use the formal version يَحِقّ لَكَ هَذَا in a casual street setting, you might sound like a character from a historical drama or a news broadcast.
- The root of the word تستاهل is linked to the concept of 'stature' or 'worth', implying that a person's actions have built a certain value or level.
- Depending on the region, a person might reply to a negative تستاهل with a prayer for patience or a phrase attributing the misfortune to fate, rather than arguing the merit.
Examples in context
- أحببت تصميماتك، فأنت تستحق ذلك.I love your designs, you deserve it.
- فازت نور بالمسابقة، تستاهل الجائزة.Noor won the competition, she deserves the prize.
- أنت تستاهل الجائزة.anta tastahal al-ja'iza.You deserve the prize.
- تستاهل كل خير.tastahal kull khair.You deserve all the best.
- تستاهل هذا العقاب.tastahal hadha al-'iqab.You deserve this punishment.
Example conversation
Sarah congratulates Ziad on winning a prize.
- سارة Saraمبروك يا زياد على الجائزة!mabrouk ya Ziyad 'ala al-ja'iza!Congratulations, Ziad, on the prize!
- زياد Ziadشكراً جزيلاً يا سارة.shukran jazilan ya Sarah.Thank you very much, Sarah.
- سارة Saraلقد اجتهدت كثيراً، تستاهل الفوز.laqad ijtahadta kathiran, tastahal al-fawz.You worked very hard, you deserve the win.
- زياد Ziadهذا لطف منكِ.hadha lutf minki.That is kind of you.
