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Welcome to Lesson 26 of the Latinum Institute Arabic course for English speakers. Today we will focus on the prepositions that express "at" in Arabic, primarily عند (ʿinda) "at/by/with" and في (fī) "in/at," along with related locational prepositions. These are essential for expressing location, time, and possession in Arabic.
For the complete course index and additional lessons, please visit: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ Schema: Q: What does عند mean in Arabic? A: عند (ʿinda) primarily means "at" in the sense of "at someone's place" or "in someone's possession." It can also mean "with," "by," or "near." في (fī) means "in" or "at" for locations and time. Arabic uses different prepositions for the various meanings that English expresses with "at."
In this lesson, we will explore how Arabic expresses the concept of "at" through various prepositions, each with specific uses. You'll learn when to use عند for possession and proximity, في for location within spaces, and other prepositions like على (ʿalā) for "at" in certain contexts. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for accurate Arabic expression.
Key Takeaways: -
عند (ʿinda) expresses "at someone's place" or possession -
في (fī) indicates location within or at a place -
Different prepositions for different types of "at" -
Time expressions require specific preposition choices -
These prepositions take pronoun suffixes for "at me," "at you," etc.
26.1a أنا (anā) I عند (ʿinda) at الطبيب (aṭ-ṭabīb) the-doctor الآن (al-ān) now
26.1b anā (a-nā) I ʿinda (ʿin-da) at aṭ-ṭabīb (aṭ-ṭa-bīb) the-doctor al-ān (al-ān) now
26.2a الكتاب (al-kitāb) the-book عندي (ʿindī) at-me في (fī) in البيت (al-bayt) the-house
26.2b al-kitāb (al-ki-tāb) the-book ʿindī (ʿin-dī) at-me fī (fī) in al-bayt (al-bayt) the-house
26.3a نلتقي (naltaqī) we-meet في (fī) at المطار (al-maṭār) the-airport غداً (ghadan) tomorrow
26.3b naltaqī (nal-ta-qī) we-meet fī (fī) at al-maṭār (al-ma-ṭār) the-airport ghadan (gha-dan) tomorrow
26.4a هو (huwa) he جالس (jālis) sitting على (ʿalā) at المكتب (al-maktab) the-desk
26.4b huwa (hu-wa) he jālis (jā-lis) sitting ʿalā (ʿa-lā) at al-maktab (al-mak-tab) the-desk
26.5a عندك (ʿindaka) at-you وقت (waqt) time للحديث (li-l-ḥadīth) for-the-talk
26.5b ʿindaka (ʿin-da-ka) at-you waqt (waqt) time li-l-ḥadīth (li-l-ḥa-dīth) for-the-talk
26.6a الاجتماع (al-ijtimāʿ) the-meeting في (fī) at الساعة (as-sāʿa) the-hour الثالثة (ath-thālitha) the-third
26.6b al-ijtimāʿ (al-ij-ti-māʿ) the-meeting fī (fī) at as-sāʿa (as-sā-ʿa) the-hour ath-thālitha (ath-thā-li-tha) the-third
26.7a توقفنا (tawaqqafnā) we-stopped عند (ʿinda) at الإشارة (al-ishāra) the-signal الحمراء (al-ḥamrāʾ) the-red
26.7b tawaqqafnā (ta-waq-qaf-nā) we-stopped ʿinda (ʿin-da) at al-ishāra (al-i-shā-ra) the-signal al-ḥamrāʾ (al-ḥam-rāʾ) the-red
26.8a لديه (ladayhi) at-him خبرة (khibra) experience كبيرة (kabīra) great
26.8b ladayhi (la-day-hi) at-him khibra (khib-ra) experience kabīra (ka-bī-ra) great
26.9a في (fī) at نهاية (nihāyat) end الشارع (ash-shāriʿ) the-street محل (maḥall) shop
26.9b fī (fī) at nihāyat (ni-hā-yat) end ash-shāriʿ (ash-shā-riʿ) the-street maḥall (ma-ḥall) shop
26.10a انتظرني (intaẓirnī) wait-for-me عند (ʿinda) at الباب (al-bāb) the-door
26.10b intaẓirnī (in-ta-ẓir-nī) wait-for-me ʿinda (ʿin-da) at al-bāb (al-bāb) the-door
26.11a العمل (al-ʿamal) the-work يبدأ (yabdaʾ) starts عند (ʿinda) at الفجر (al-fajr) the-dawn
26.11b al-ʿamal (al-ʿa-mal) the-work yabdaʾ (yab-daʾ) starts ʿinda (ʿin-da) at al-fajr (al-fajr) the-dawn
26.12a هي (hiya) she بارعة (bāriʿa) skilled في (fī) at الرسم (ar-rasm) the-drawing
26.12b hiya (hi-ya) she bāriʿa (bā-ri-ʿa) skilled fī (fī) at ar-rasm (ar-rasm) the-drawing
26.13a سنكون (sanakūn) we-will-be عندهم (ʿindahum) at-them يوم (yawm) day الأحد (al-aḥad) the-Sunday
26.13b sanakūn (sa-na-kūn) we-will-be ʿindahum (ʿin-da-hum) at-them yawm (yawm) day al-aḥad (al-a-ḥad) the-Sunday
26.14a الحرارة (al-ḥarāra) the-temperature على (ʿalā) at درجة (daraja) degree الصفر (aṣ-ṣifr) the-zero
26.14b al-ḥarāra (al-ḥa-rā-ra) the-temperature ʿalā (ʿa-lā) at daraja (da-ra-ja) degree aṣ-ṣifr (aṣ-ṣifr) the-zero
26.15a عندنا (ʿindanā) at-us ضيوف (ḍuyūf) guests هذا (hādhā) this المساء (al-masāʾ) the-evening
26.15b ʿindanā (ʿin-da-nā) at-us ḍuyūf (ḍu-yūf) guests hādhā (hā-dhā) this al-masāʾ (al-ma-sāʾ) the-evening
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26.1 أنا عند الطبيب الآن I am at the doctor's now.
26.2 الكتاب عندي في البيت The book is at my house.
26.3 نلتقي في المطار غداً We'll meet at the airport tomorrow.
26.4 هو جالس على المكتب He is sitting at the desk.
26.5 عندك وقت للحديث؟ Do you have time to talk? (lit: Is there time at you for talk?)
26.6 الاجتماع في الساعة الثالثة The meeting is at three o'clock.
26.7 توقفنا عند الإشارة الحمراء We stopped at the red light.
26.8 لديه خبرة كبيرة He has great experience. (lit: At him is great experience)
26.9 في نهاية الشارع محل At the end of the street is a shop.
26.10 انتظرني عند الباب Wait for me at the door.
26.11 العمل يبدأ عند الفجر Work starts at dawn.
26.12 هي بارعة في الرسم She is skilled at drawing.
26.13 سنكون عندهم يوم الأحد We'll be at their place on Sunday.
26.14 الحرارة على درجة الصفر The temperature is at zero degrees.
26.15 عندنا ضيوف هذا المساء We have guests this evening. (lit: At us are guests)
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26.1 أنا عند الطبيب الآن
26.2 الكتاب عندي في البيت
26.3 نلتقي في المطار غداً
26.4 هو جالس على المكتب
26.5 عندك وقت للحديث؟
26.6 الاجتماع في الساعة الثالثة
26.7 توقفنا عند الإشارة الحمراء
26.8 لديه خبرة كبيرة
26.9 في نهاية الشارع محل
26.10 انتظرني عند الباب
26.11 العمل يبدأ عند الفجر
26.12 هي بارعة في الرسم
26.13 سنكون عندهم يوم الأحد
26.14 الحرارة على درجة الصفر
26.15 عندنا ضيوف هذا المساء
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Grammar Rules for Expressing "At" in Arabic
Arabic uses several prepositions to express what English covers with the single word "at." Each has specific uses and contexts.
Primary Prepositions for "At": -
عند (ʿinda) - "at/with/by" -
Location at someone's place: عند الطبيب (at the doctor's) -
Possession/having: عندي كتاب (I have a book, lit: at me is a book) -
Proximity: عند الباب (at/by the door) -
Time points: عند الفجر (at dawn) -
في (fī) - "in/at" -
Inside locations: في المطار (at/in the airport) -
Time expressions: في الساعة الثالثة (at 3 o'clock) -
Activities/skills: بارع في (skilled at) -
على (ʿalā) - "on/at" -
Surface contact: على المكتب (at/on the desk) -
States/conditions: على درجة الصفر (at zero degrees) -
لدى (ladā) - "at/with" (more formal than عند) -
Formal possession: لديه خبرة (he has experience) -
Often interchangeable with عند but more literary
With Pronoun Suffixes:
عند becomes: -
عندي (ʿindī) - at me (I have) -
عندك (ʿindaka/ʿindaki) - at you -
عنده (ʿindahu) - at him -
عندها (ʿindahā) - at her -
عندنا (ʿindanā) - at us -
عندكم (ʿindakum) - at you (plural) -
عندهم (ʿindahum) - at them
Common Mistakes: -
Using wrong preposition: English speakers often overuse في for all instances of "at." Remember: عند for people/possession, في for enclosed spaces. -
Literal translation: "I have a book" is عندي كتاب (at me is a book), not أنا أملك كتاب (I possess a book), though both are correct. -
Time expressions: Some take في (في الساعة), others take عند (عند الفجر), and some take no preposition (يوم الأحد). -
Surface vs. location: على الطاولة (on/at the table - surface) vs عند الطاولة (at/by the table - proximity).
Comparison with English:
English "at" is remarkably versatile, but Arabic distinguishes: -
At someone's place = عند -
At a location = في or على -
At a time = في، عند, or no preposition -
At (skilled at) = في -
At (possession) = عند or لدى
Step-by-Step Selection Guide: -
Is it about possession/having? → Use عند/لدى -
Is it at someone's place? → Use عند -
Is it inside a location? → Use في -
Is it on a surface? → Use على -
Is it about time? → Check specific expression -
Is it about skill/ability? → Use في
Idiomatic Expressions: -
عند الله (with God) -
في الحال (at once) -
على الفور (at once/immediately) -
عند الضرورة (at necessity/when needed)
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Cultural Significance of Location and Presence in Arabic
The Arabic prepositions for "at" reveal deep cultural values about space, possession, and social relationships. The distinction between عند and في is not merely grammatical but reflects how Arab culture conceptualizes presence and belonging.
The Concept of عند - Social Proximity: The preposition عند literally means "at" but culturally signifies much more. When Arabs say "تعال عندي" (come to my place), they're not just indicating location but extending hospitality. Being "عند" someone implies being under their care and protection, a sacred duty in Arab culture.
Possession as Proximity: The use of عند for possession (عندي سيارة - I have a car) reveals a worldview where ownership is conceived as things being "with" you rather than you "having" them. This linguistic feature may reflect Islamic teachings about temporary stewardship rather than absolute ownership - everything ultimately belongs to God and is merely "with us" temporarily.
Sacred Spaces and في: The preposition في for enclosed spaces carries special significance in religious contexts. "في المسجد" (in/at the mosque) implies not just physical presence but spiritual participation. The Quranic phrase "في سبيل الله" (in the path of God) uses في to indicate total immersion in divine purpose.
Hospitality and عند: Arab hospitality is encoded in the usage of عند. When someone is "عندنا" (at our place), they become part of the household with all its rights and protections. This explains why "عند" is preferred for being at someone's home - it implies relationship, not just location.
Time and Precision: The various prepositions for temporal "at" reflect Arabic's precise time consciousness. Religious obligations like prayer require exact timing - "عند الفجر" (at dawn) has legal and spiritual implications in Islamic jurisprudence.
Business and Formality: The distinction between عند and لدى marks social register. Banks and businesses have (لدى) services and resources, maintaining professional distance, while friends have (عند) things, suggesting personal connection.
Regional Variations: Different Arabic dialects handle these prepositions differently: -
Levantine often uses عند where Egyptian might use في -
Gulf Arabic has additional locational particles -
Maghrebi Arabic sometimes contracts these prepositions
Modern Urban Spaces: Contemporary Arabic adapts these classical prepositions to modern contexts. "عند الإشارة" (at the traffic light) and "في المول" (at the mall) show how traditional spatial concepts apply to urban geography.
Digital Presence: Modern usage extends these prepositions to virtual spaces: "عندي إيميل" (I have email, lit: at me is email) and "موجود على الإنترنت" (available online, lit: present on the internet) demonstrate how Arabic spatial concepts evolve with technology.
Social Status and Space: The preposition used can indicate social relationships. Saying someone is "عند الوزير" (at the minister's) suggests personal connection, while "في مكتب الوزير" (in the minister's office) indicates formal business.
Understanding these prepositions thus requires grasping not just their grammatical functions but the cultural concepts of space, possession, and relationship they encode.
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From "رسالة الغفران" (Risālat al-Ghufrān) - "The Epistle of Forgiveness" by Al-Maʿarrī (11th century)
This excerpt describes the protagonist's journey through paradise, demonstrating various uses of locational prepositions.
وقفت (waqaftu) I-stood عند (ʿinda) at باب (bāb) door الجنة (al-janna) the-paradise فرأيت (fa-raʾaytu) and-I-saw في (fī) in ساحتها (sāḥatihā) its-courtyard أقواماً (aqwāman) peoples من (min) from الشعراء (ash-shuʿarāʾ) the-poets هم (hum) they جلوس (julūs) sitting على (ʿalā) on منابر (manābir) platforms من (min) of نور (nūr) light وعند (wa-ʿinda) and-at كل (kull) each شاعر (shāʿir) poet ملك (malak) angel يكتب (yaktubu) writes ما (mā) what يقول (yaqūl) he-says في (fī) in صحف (ṣuḥuf) scrolls من (min) of ذهب (dhahab) gold فسألت (fa-saʾaltu) so-I-asked من (man) who عندك (ʿindaka) at-you يا (yā) O حارس (ḥāris) guard الباب (al-bāb) the-door
waqaftu (wa-qaf-tu) I-stood ʿinda (ʿin-da) at bāb (bāb) door al-janna (al-jan-na) the-paradise fa-raʾaytu (fa-ra-ʾay-tu) and-I-saw fī (fī) in sāḥatihā (sā-ḥa-ti-hā) its-courtyard aqwāman (aq-wā-man) peoples min (min) from ash-shuʿarāʾ (ash-shu-ʿa-rāʾ) the-poets hum (hum) they julūs (ju-lūs) sitting ʿalā (ʿa-lā) on manābir (ma-nā-bir) platforms min (min) of nūr (nūr) light wa-ʿinda (wa-ʿin-da) and-at kull (kull) each shāʿir (shā-ʿir) poet malak (ma-lak) angel yaktubu (yak-tu-bu) writes mā (mā) what yaqūl (ya-qūl) he-says fī (fī) in ṣuḥuf (ṣu-ḥuf) scrolls min (min) of dhahab (dha-hab) gold fa-saʾaltu (fa-sa-ʾal-tu) so-I-asked man (man) who ʿindaka (ʿin-da-ka) at-you yā (yā) O ḥāris (ḥā-ris) guard al-bāb (al-bāb) the-door
وقفت عند باب الجنة فرأيت في ساحتها أقواماً من الشعراء، هم جلوس على منابر من نور، وعند كل شاعر ملك يكتب ما يقول في صحف من ذهب. فسألت: من عندك يا حارس الباب؟
I stood at the gate of paradise and saw in its courtyard groups of poets, sitting on platforms of light, and at each poet's side an angel writing what he says in scrolls of gold. So I asked: "Who do you have here, O guard of the gate?"
وقفت عند باب الجنة فرأيت في ساحتها أقواماً من الشعراء، هم جلوس على منابر من نور، وعند كل شاعر ملك يكتب ما يقول في صحف من ذهب. فسألت: من عندك يا حارس الباب؟
This passage from Al-Maʿarrī's philosophical masterpiece demonstrates the sophisticated interplay of Arabic locational prepositions in creating a vivid spatial narrative. The author uses each preposition with precision to build a three-dimensional paradise.
The opening "عند باب الجنة" (at the gate of paradise) uses عند to position the narrator at a threshold - not yet inside (which would require في) but at the point of entry. This prepositional choice creates dramatic tension.
The shift to "في ساحتها" (in its courtyard) moves the visual perspective inside, using في to indicate enclosed space. The poets sitting "على منابر" (on platforms) employs على for surface contact, elevating them literally and metaphorically.
Most significantly, "عند كل شاعر ملك" (at each poet an angel) uses عند to indicate attendance and service. The angels are not merely near the poets but attending to them, a relationship عند expresses better than any other preposition.
The final question "من عندك" (who is with you/who do you have) uses عند to inquire about those under the guardian's supervision, demonstrating how this preposition implies responsibility and relationship beyond mere proximity.
Al-Maʿarrī's prepositional choreography creates a dynamic paradise where spatial relationships mirror spiritual hierarchies, showing how Arabic prepositions function as architectural elements in literary construction.
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26.16a نود (nawaddu) we-wish أن (an) to نلتقي (naltaqī) we-meet عندكم (ʿindakum) at-you-PLURAL في (fī) on الموعد (al-mawʿid) the-appointment المحدد (al-muḥaddad) the-specified
26.16b nawaddu (na-wad-du) we-wish an (an) to naltaqī (nal-ta-qī) we-meet ʿindakum (ʿin-da-kum) at-you-PLURAL fī (fī) on al-mawʿid (al-maw-ʿid) the-appointment al-muḥaddad (al-mu-ḥad-dad) the-specified
26.17a المستندات (al-mustanadāt) the-documents موجودة (mawjūda) present لدينا (ladaynā) at-us في (fī) in المكتب (al-maktab) the-office الرئيسي (ar-raʾīsī) the-main
26.17b al-mustanadāt (al-mus-ta-na-dāt) the-documents mawjūda (maw-jū-da) present ladaynā (la-day-nā) at-us fī (fī) in al-maktab (al-mak-tab) the-office ar-raʾīsī (ar-ra-ʾī-sī) the-main
26.18a يسعدنا (yusʿidunā) it-pleases-us استقبالكم (istiqbālukum) receiving-you عند (ʿinda) at وصولكم (wuṣūlikum) your-arrival إلى (ilā) to المطار (al-maṭār) the-airport
26.18b yusʿidunā (yus-ʿi-du-nā) it-pleases-us istiqbālukum (is-tiq-bā-lu-kum) receiving-you ʿinda (ʿin-da) at wuṣūlikum (wu-ṣū-li-kum) your-arrival ilā (i-lā) to al-maṭār (al-ma-ṭār) the-airport
26.19a الاجتماع (al-ijtimāʿ) the-meeting سيعقد (sa-yuʿqad) will-be-held في (fī) at قاعة (qāʿat) hall المؤتمرات (al-muʾtamarāt) the-conferences عند (ʿinda) at الساعة (as-sāʿa) the-hour العاشرة (al-ʿāshira) the-tenth
26.19b al-ijtimāʿ (al-ij-ti-māʿ) the-meeting sa-yuʿqad (sa-yuʿ-qad) will-be-held fī (fī) at qāʿat (qā-ʿat) hall al-muʾtamarāt (al-muʾ-ta-ma-rāt) the-conferences ʿinda (ʿin-da) at as-sāʿa (as-sā-ʿa) the-hour al-ʿāshira (al-ʿā-shi-ra) the-tenth
26.20a لدينا (ladaynā) at-us فروع (furūʿ) branches في (fī) in جميع (jamīʿ) all المدن (al-mudun) the-cities الرئيسية (ar-raʾīsiyya) the-main
26.20b ladaynā (la-day-nā) at-us furūʿ (fu-rūʿ) branches fī (fī) in jamīʿ (ja-mīʿ) all al-mudun (al-mu-dun) the-cities ar-raʾīsiyya (ar-ra-ʾī-siy-ya) the-main
26.21a يمكنكم (yumkinukum) you-can الاتصال (al-ittiṣāl) the-contact بنا (binā) with-us على (ʿalā) at الرقم (ar-raqam) the-number المذكور (al-madhkūr) the-mentioned
26.21b yumkinukum (yum-ki-nu-kum) you-can al-ittiṣāl (al-it-ti-ṣāl) the-contact binā (bi-nā) with-us ʿalā (ʿa-lā) at ar-raqam (ar-ra-qam) the-number al-madhkūr (al-madh-kūr) the-mentioned
26.22a التسليم (at-taslīm) the-delivery سيتم (sa-yatimm) will-occur عند (ʿinda) at مستودعاتكم (mustawdaʿātikum) your-warehouses مباشرة (mubāshara) directly
26.22b at-taslīm (at-tas-līm) the-delivery sa-yatimm (sa-ya-timm) will-occur ʿinda (ʿin-da) at mustawdaʿātikum (mus-taw-da-ʿā-ti-kum) your-warehouses mubāshara (mu-bā-sha-ra) directly
26.23a نحن (naḥnu) we في (fī) at خدمتكم (khidmatikum) your-service على (ʿalā) on مدار (madār) extent الساعة (as-sāʿa) the-hour
26.23b naḥnu (naḥ-nu) we fī (fī) at khidmatikum (khid-ma-ti-kum) your-service ʿalā (ʿa-lā) on madār (ma-dār) extent as-sāʿa (as-sā-ʿa) the-hour
26.24a الأسعار (al-asʿār) the-prices المعروضة (al-maʿrūḍa) the-offered سارية (sāriya) valid عند (ʿinda) at توقيع (tawqīʿ) signing العقد (al-ʿaqd) the-contract
26.24b al-asʿār (al-as-ʿār) the-prices al-maʿrūḍa (al-maʿ-rū-ḍa) the-offered sāriya (sā-ri-ya) valid ʿinda (ʿin-da) at tawqīʿ (taw-qīʿ) signing al-ʿaqd (al-ʿaqd) the-contract
26.25a عند (ʿinda) at الحاجة (al-ḥāja) the-need لأي (li-ayy) to-any استفسار (istīfsār) inquiry نحن (naḥnu) we جاهزون (jāhizūn) ready
26.25b ʿinda (ʿin-da) at al-ḥāja (al-ḥā-ja) the-need li-ayy (li-ayy) to-any istīfsār (is-tīf-sār) inquiry naḥnu (naḥ-nu) we jāhizūn (jā-hi-zūn) ready
26.26a المدير (al-mudīr) the-director موجود (mawjūd) present في (fī) in مكتبه (maktabihi) his-office يومياً (yawmiyyan) daily عند (ʿinda) at التاسعة (at-tāsiʿa) the-ninth
26.26b al-mudīr (al-mu-dīr) the-director mawjūd (maw-jūd) present fī (fī) in maktabihi (mak-ta-bi-hi) his-office yawmiyyan (yaw-miy-yan) daily ʿinda (ʿin-da) at at-tāsiʿa (at-tā-si-ʿa) the-ninth
26.27a لديكم (ladaykum) at-you الصلاحية (aṣ-ṣalāḥiyya) the-authority للتوقيع (li-t-tawqīʿ) for-the-signing على (ʿalā) on الاتفاقية (al-ittifāqiyya) the-agreement
26.27b ladaykum (la-day-kum) at-you aṣ-ṣalāḥiyya (aṣ-ṣa-lā-ḥiy-ya) the-authority li-t-tawqīʿ (li-t-taw-qīʿ) for-the-signing ʿalā (ʿa-lā) on al-ittifāqiyya (al-it-ti-fā-qiy-ya) the-agreement
26.28a البضاعة (al-biḍāʿa) the-goods ستصل (sa-taṣil) will-arrive عندكم (ʿindakum) at-you في (fī) within الوقت (al-waqt) the-time المتفق (al-muttafaq) the-agreed عليه (ʿalayhi) upon-it
26.28b al-biḍāʿa (al-bi-ḍā-ʿa) the-goods sa-taṣil (sa-ta-ṣil) will-arrive ʿindakum (ʿin-da-kum) at-you fī (fī) within al-waqt (al-waqt) the-time al-muttafaq (al-mut-ta-faq) the-agreed ʿalayhi (ʿa-lay-hi) upon-it
26.29a في (fī) in انتظار (intiẓār) waiting ردكم (raddikum) your-reply على (ʿalā) on عرضنا (ʿarḍinā) our-offer المرسل (al-mursal) the-sent
26.29b fī (fī) in intiẓār (in-ti-ẓār) waiting raddikum (rad-di-kum) your-reply ʿalā (ʿa-lā) on ʿarḍinā (ʿar-ḍi-nā) our-offer al-mursal (al-mur-sal) the-sent
26.30a التدريب (at-tadrīb) the-training سيكون (sa-yakūn) will-be عند (ʿinda) at مقرنا (muqarrinā) our-headquarters أو (aw) or لديكم (ladaykum) at-your-place
26.30b at-tadrīb (at-tad-rīb) the-training sa-yakūn (sa-ya-kūn) will-be ʿinda (ʿin-da) at muqarrinā (mu-qar-ri-nā) our-headquarters aw (aw) or ladaykum (la-day-kum) at-your-place
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26.16 نود أن نلتقي عندكم في الموعد المحدد We would like to meet at your place at the specified time.
26.17 المستندات موجودة لدينا في المكتب الرئيسي The documents are available at our main office.
26.18 يسعدنا استقبالكم عند وصولكم إلى المطار We are pleased to receive you upon your arrival at the airport.
26.19 الاجتماع سيعقد في قاعة المؤتمرات عند الساعة العاشرة The meeting will be held in the conference hall at ten o'clock.
26.20 لدينا فروع في جميع المدن الرئيسية We have branches in all major cities.
26.21 يمكنكم الاتصال بنا على الرقم المذكور You can contact us at the mentioned number.
26.22 التسليم سيتم عند مستودعاتكم مباشرة Delivery will be made directly at your warehouses.
26.23 نحن في خدمتكم على مدار الساعة We are at your service around the clock.
26.24 الأسعار المعروضة سارية عند توقيع العقد The offered prices are valid upon contract signing.
26.25 عند الحاجة لأي استفسار نحن جاهزون When you need any inquiry, we are ready.
26.26 المدير موجود في مكتبه يومياً عند التاسعة The director is in his office daily at nine.
26.27 لديكم الصلاحية للتوقيع على الاتفاقية You have the authority to sign the agreement.
26.28 البضاعة ستصل عندكم في الوقت المتفق عليه The goods will arrive at your place at the agreed time.
26.29 في انتظار ردكم على عرضنا المرسل Awaiting your reply to our sent offer.
26.30 التدريب سيكون عند مقرنا أو لديكم Training will be at our headquarters or at your place.
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26.16 نود أن نلتقي عندكم في الموعد المحدد
26.17 المستندات موجودة لدينا في المكتب الرئيسي
26.18 يسعدنا استقبالكم عند وصولكم إلى المطار
26.19 الاجتماع سيعقد في قاعة المؤتمرات عند الساعة العاشرة
26.20 لدينا فروع في جميع المدن الرئيسية
26.21 يمكنكم الاتصال بنا على الرقم المذكور
26.22 التسليم سيتم عند مستودعاتكم مباشرة
26.23 نحن في خدمتكم على مدار الساعة
26.24 الأسعار المعروضة سارية عند توقيع العقد
26.25 عند الحاجة لأي استفسار نحن جاهزون
26.26 المدير موجود في مكتبه يومياً عند التاسعة
26.27 لديكم الصلاحية للتوقيع على الاتفاقية
26.28 البضاعة ستصل عندكم في الوقت المتفق عليه
26.29 في انتظار ردكم على عرضنا المرسل
26.30 التدريب سيكون عند مقرنا أو لديكم
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Business Arabic demonstrates sophisticated use of locational prepositions to establish professional relationships and logistics. The choice between عند، في، على، and لدى in commercial contexts carries subtle implications about formality, ownership, and responsibility.
Formality Gradient: Business correspondence prefers لدى over عند for possession, signaling professional distance. "لدينا فروع" (we have branches) sounds more corporate than "عندنا فروع," though both are grammatically correct. This distinction helps maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Spatial Precision: Business Arabic requires precise spatial designation. "في قاعة المؤتمرات" specifies the enclosed venue, while "عند الساعة العاشرة" marks the temporal point. This precision reduces ambiguity in professional commitments.
Service Relationships: The phrase "في خدمتكم" (at your service) uses في to indicate complete immersion in service, stronger than "عند خدمتكم" would suggest. This reflects Arabic business culture's emphasis on comprehensive service.
Contractual Language: "عند توقيع العقد" (upon signing the contract) uses عند to mark a precise moment when conditions activate. This temporal عند appears frequently in legal and business Arabic to specify triggering events.
Location Flexibility: The option "عند مقرنا أو لديكم" (at our headquarters or at your place) demonstrates how Arabic distinguishes between institutional locations (عند مقرنا) and possession of space (لديكم), allowing negotiation of meeting venues.
Digital Communication: Modern business Arabic adapts these prepositions to electronic communication: "على الرقم" (at the number) and "على البريد الإلكتروني" (at the email) use على for communication channels, showing linguistic evolution.
This genre section illustrates how mastery of Arabic prepositions is essential for professional communication, where subtle choices convey respect, precision, and business acumen.
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Key Sounds for This Lesson:
Main Prepositions: -
عند (ʿinda) - "IN-da" with pharyngeal ع -
في (fī) - "fee" with long vowel -
على (ʿalā) - "A-laa" with pharyngeal ع -
لدى (ladā) - "la-DAA" with emphasis on second syllable
The Pharyngeal ع (ʿayn): This is the most challenging sound for English speakers. It's a voiced pharyngeal fricative - constrict your throat while voicing. Practice with: -
عند (ʿinda) -
على (ʿalā) -
مع (maʿa)
With Pronoun Suffixes: -
عندي (ʿindī) - "in-DEE" -
عندك (ʿindaka) - "IN-da-ka" -
عنده (ʿindahu) - "IN-da-hu" -
عندنا (ʿindanā) - "in-da-NAA" -
عندهم (ʿindahum) - "IN-da-hum"
Formal Variant لدى: -
لدي (ladayya) - "la-DAY-ya" (note the doubled y) -
لديك (ladayka) - "la-DAY-ka" -
لديه (ladayhi) - "la-DAY-hi" -
لدينا (ladaynā) - "la-day-NAA"
Connected Speech Patterns: -
عند الباب often pronounced "ʿindal-bāb" -
في البيت flows as "fil-bayt" -
على الطاولة becomes "ʿalal-ṭāwila"
Stress Patterns: With suffixes, stress often shifts: -
عند (ʿinda) → عندي (ʿindī) -
لدى (ladā) → لدينا (ladaynā)
Dialectal Variations: -
Egyptian: عند becomes "ʿand" -
Levantine: في often pronounced "bi" -
Gulf: preserves classical pronunciations -
Maghrebi: على sometimes sounds like "ʿla"
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The Latinum Institute has been creating innovative online language learning materials since 2006, pioneering methods that make challenging languages accessible to autodidacts worldwide. Our Arabic course uses the proven construed text method, which has helped thousands of students master languages with non-Latin scripts.
This course draws from the pedagogical traditions developed at latinum.org.uk and refined through nearly two decades of online language instruction. The interlinear glossing method employed here allows learners to immediately access meaning while gradually internalizing Arabic script, grammar, and vocabulary patterns.
Our approach combines: -
Systematic word-by-word glossing that makes every text immediately comprehensible -
Authentic literary citations that connect learners with real Arabic culture -
Genre variety that prepares students for different registers and contexts -
Cultural notes that explain not just language but the worldview it expresses
The Latinum Institute's method has received recognition from language learners globally. Reviews and testimonials can be found at: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
Each lesson in this series builds independent competence, allowing learners to progress at their own pace without prerequisite requirements. The self-contained nature of each lesson means you can start anywhere in the series based on your interests.
For the complete course index and additional resources, visit: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
The Institute continues to expand its offerings, with courses in Latin, Ancient Greek, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, and many other languages, all using the same proven methodology that makes ancient and modern languages equally accessible to motivated self-learners.
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