Loading...
Abeyant
معطّل (mu'aṭṭal) is an Arabic adjective meaning 'suspended,' 'halted,' 'out of service,' or 'abeyant.' It describes something that is not functioning, in a state of interruption, or temporarily disabled. The word is commonly used in modern Arabic to refer to systems, services, vehicles, or legal matters that are temporarily non-operational or pending.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11
Get a new Arabic word delivered to your inbox every day — with pronunciation, meaning, and cultural context.
السيارة معطّلة منذ شهر ولم يتمكن الميكانيكي من إصلاحها.
As-sayyārah mu'aṭṭalah munzu shahrin wa lam yatamakkān al-mīkānīkī min iṣlāḥihā.
The car has been out of service for a month and the mechanic hasn't been able to fix it.
المصعد معطّل حالياً، يرجى استخدام السلالم.
Al-maṣ'ad mu'aṭṭal ḥāliyyan, yurjā istikhdām as-salālim.
The elevator is currently out of order; please use the stairs.
الخدمة معطّلة بسبب الصيانة الدورية.
Al-khidmah mu'aṭṭalah bi-sabab aṣ-ṣiyānah ad-dawriyyah.
The service is suspended due to routine maintenance.
القضية معطّلة في المحكمة منذ سنتين.
Al-qaḍiyyah mu'aṭṭalah fī al-maḥkamah munzu sanatain.
The case has been abeyant in court for two years.
الإنتاج معطّل بسبب نقص المواد الخام.
Al-intāj mu'aṭṭal bi-sabab naqṣ al-mawād al-khām.
Production is halted due to a shortage of raw materials.
In Arabic-speaking countries, معطّل is frequently used in urban contexts referring to public services, transportation, and utilities. The word is particularly common in legal and bureaucratic Arabic, where it describes cases or proceedings that are in abeyance. In modern digital contexts, it's widely used to indicate website downtime or system maintenance.
Remember that معطّل is typically used as an adjective describing a state (the car is معطّل, the service is معطّل). When you want to express 'to disable' or 'to halt' something, use the verb عطّل instead. The word works with both masculine and feminine nouns, so you may see معطّلة for feminine nouns like سيارة (car) or خدمة (service).
The Arabic word معطّل (mu'aṭṭal) is a commonly used adjective that describes something in a state of suspension, stoppage, or non-operation. It directly translates to 'suspended,' 'halted,' 'out of service,' or 'abeyant' depending on context. This word is essential for learners of Arabic, particularly those studying modern standard Arabic (MSA) or Gulf Arabic dialects.
معطّل is derived from the root ع-ط-ل (ʿ-ṭ-l), which carries the basic meaning of 'impediment' or 'defect.' The prefix م (m-) transforms the root into the passive participle form, creating an adjective that can describe both animate and inanimate objects. The word follows standard Arabic adjective patterns and agrees with nouns in gender and number, though the masculine singular form معطّل is most commonly used.
The related verb عطّل (ʿaṭṭal) means 'to disable' or 'to halt,' while العطل (al-ʿaṭal) refers to 'a fault' or 'defect.' Understanding these related forms helps learners grasp the full semantic field of this word family.
In contemporary Arabic, معطّل appears frequently in news broadcasts, customer service contexts, and official announcements. It's particularly common when discussing:
Learners sometimes confuse معطّل with related adjectives like متوقف (stopped/halted) and معلق (suspended/pending). While these words share overlapping meanings, معطّل emphasizes a state of malfunction or temporary non-operation, often implying that repair or restoration is needed. متوقف suggests a deliberate halt, while معلق implies something awaiting further action or decision.
When a bus announcement states "الخدمة معطّلة مؤقتاً," it means the service is temporarily suspended, likely due to maintenance or mechanical issues. Similarly, an elevator sign reading "المصعد معطّل يرجى استخدام السلالم" indicates the elevator is currently out of order and users should use the stairs instead. In legal contexts, "الدعوى معطّلة" signals that a court case is in abeyance, pending further proceedings or documents.
While معطّل is understood throughout the Arabic-speaking world, its usage frequency varies by region and context. In Gulf countries, it's particularly common in customer service announcements and public notices. In Levantine and Egyptian Arabic, dialects may use slightly different forms, though the classical form remains standard for formal communication. The word has become increasingly prevalent with technological development, as it's regularly used in tech support, website maintenance notices, and digital communication.
English speakers learning Arabic should note that معطّل functions as a static adjective describing a state or condition, similar to 'broken,' 'offline,' or 'suspended' in English. It's neither a verb nor an active participle indicating ongoing action. When you need to express the action of disabling or halting something, use the related verb عطّل instead. Additionally, pay attention to gender and number agreement when using this word with different nouns in sentences.
Understanding the word family centered on the root ع-ط-ل enriches your Arabic vocabulary:
معطّل is an indispensable word for anyone learning Arabic, particularly those planning to live in or work with Arabic-speaking communities. Its regular appearance in daily announcements, service disruptions, and formal communication makes it practically essential. By mastering this word and its related forms, learners can better understand public notices, customer service interactions, and formal Arabic discourse.