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Tired
متعب (muta'ab) is an Arabic adjective meaning 'tired' or 'exhausted,' describing a state of physical or mental fatigue. It can be used to describe both people who are weary and situations that are tiring or demanding. The word carries connotations of being worn out from effort, work, or exertion.
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أنا متعب جداً بعد يوم عمل طويل.
Ana muta'ab jiddan ba'da yawm 'amal tawil.
I am very tired after a long day of work.
الموظف متعب من الضغط في المكتب.
Al-muwazzaf muta'ab min al-daghT fi al-maktab.
The employee is tired from the pressure in the office.
هذا السفر متعب جداً ومرهق.
Hadha al-safar muta'ab jiddan wa-murhhaq.
This journey is very tiring and exhausting.
بدو متعبة من رعاية الأطفال طول اليوم.
Bidu muta'aba min ri'ayat al-atfal tul al-yawm.
The mother is tired from taking care of the children all day.
الرياضيون متعبون بعد المباراة الشديدة.
Al-riyada'iyun muta'abun ba'da al-mubaraa al-shadida.
The athletes are tired after the intense match.
In Arabic-speaking cultures, expressing that you're متعب is a common and socially acceptable way to explain reduced productivity or the need for rest. The word is frequently used in daily conversations when discussing work, travel, or household responsibilities. Arabic speakers often sympathize with someone who is متعب and may offer them tea, coffee, or suggest they rest, reflecting the cultural value placed on hospitality and concern for others' well-being.
Remember that متعب is an adjective that agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies—متعبة for feminine singular, متعبون for masculine plural, and متعبات for feminine plural. In everyday conversation, you can use it with the verb 'to be' (أكون، تكون، يكون) or standalone as a predicate adjective. Note that while متعب describes the current state of being tired, the noun تعب refers to the abstract concept of tiredness or effort itself.
The Arabic word متعب (muta'ab) is a common adjective meaning "tired," "fatigued," or "exhausted." It describes a physical or mental state of weariness that results from exertion, work, stress, or lack of rest. This word is fundamental to everyday Arabic communication, as expressing one's tiredness is a natural part of social interaction in Arabic-speaking communities.
متعب is derived from the root ع-ب-ث (though some sources trace different etymologies). As an adjective, it follows standard Arabic gender and number agreement rules:
When used predicatively (after a subject), the adjective agrees with the noun it modifies. For example: "البنت متعبة" (The girl is tired) uses the feminine form متعبة because البنت (girl) is feminine.
mutaab can be used in several ways:
While متعب is the most commonly used word for tiredness, Arabic offers several alternatives:
The subtle differences between these words allow for more precise expression: متعب is the most general and widely used, while others convey degrees or types of fatigue.
The opposite states of tiredness include:
In Arabic-speaking cultures, openly discussing one's tiredness is socially acceptable and common. It's not considered a sign of weakness but rather a natural part of human experience. When someone says they're متعب, companions typically show sympathy and may offer help, hospitality, or suggest rest. This reflects the broader cultural values of community care and support in Arab societies.
The word appears frequently in literature, poetry, and films as it captures universal human experience. In modern Arabic media, phrases like "يوم متعب" (a tiring day) or "حياة متعبة" (a tiring life) resonate deeply with audiences navigating modern work and social pressures.
When learning to use متعب, remember these key points:
In more literary or formal Arabic, you might encounter variations such as:
Understanding these related forms enriches your vocabulary and allows for more sophisticated expression in Arabic.
متعب is an essential Arabic word that goes beyond its literal meaning of "tired." It's a window into how Arabic speakers express vulnerability, need for support, and the human condition. By mastering this word and its variations, you gain the ability to communicate a fundamental human experience authentically in Arabic, which is crucial for building genuine connections with native speakers.