Loading...
Abortive
فاشل (fāshil) is an adjective meaning 'failed,' 'unsuccessful,' or 'abortive,' describing something or someone that has not achieved its intended purpose or goal. It is commonly used to describe failed attempts, unsuccessful plans, or incompetent individuals. The word carries a negative connotation and is widely used in both formal and informal contexts across the Arabic-speaking world.
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.
المشروع فاشل لأنه لم يحقق أهدافه.
Al-mashru' fāshil li-annahu lam yuhhaqqiq ahdāfahu.
The project is a failure because it did not achieve its objectives.
حاولت أن أجد حلاً فاشلاً للمشكلة.
Hāwaltu an ajid hallān fāshilan lil-mushkilah.
I tried to find a failed/ineffective solution to the problem.
المحاولة الأولى كانت فاشلة تماماً.
Al-muhāwalah al-awwala kānat fāshilah tamāman.
The first attempt was completely unsuccessful.
هذا السياسي فاشل في إدارة الدولة.
Hādhā al-siyāsī fāshil fī idārat al-dawlah.
This politician has failed in managing the state.
الخطة فاشلة من البداية.
Al-khittah fāshilah min al-bidāyah.
The plan was doomed to failure from the beginning.
In Arabic-speaking cultures, the concept of failure (فشل/فاشل) is often discussed in educational, professional, and political contexts. The word is frequently used in media, news reports, and everyday conversations to critique unsuccessful government policies, business ventures, or personal endeavors. Understanding this word's usage is essential for comprehending Arabic news, social commentary, and casual discussions about current events.
Remember that فاشل is an adjective that agrees with the noun it modifies in gender and number. Use it to describe nouns (e.g., محاولة فاشلة - failed attempt, مشروع فاشل - failed project). Be mindful that when describing a person, it can be quite harsh, so use it carefully in formal or polite contexts. You can also use the verb form 'فشل' (failed/fails) to indicate the action of failure.
فاشل (fāshil) is an Arabic adjective that means "failed," "unsuccessful," or "abortive." It is derived from the root verb فشل (fashala), which means "to fail" or "to be unsuccessful." The word is used to describe anything or anyone that has not achieved the intended objective or outcome. Whether referring to a project, plan, attempt, or person, فاشل carries a distinctly negative connotation in Arabic discourse.
As an adjective, فاشل must agree with the noun it modifies in both gender and number:
For example:
فاشل is widely used across formal and informal Arabic to describe failures in various domains. In news media, it frequently appears in discussions of failed government policies, unsuccessful diplomatic negotiations, or flawed business strategies. In everyday conversation, Arabs use this word to discuss personal failures, unsuccessful relationships, or incompetent individuals.
The word can be used predicatively (describing the subject) or attributively (modifying a noun directly):
Several synonyms exist for فاشل, each with subtle nuances:
The antonym is ناجح (nājeh), meaning "successful" or "accomplished."
In Arab culture, discussing failure openly is becoming more accepted, especially in professional and academic settings. However, the use of فاشل when describing people can still be considered harsh or insulting in polite society. The word is frequently used in political discourse, where it is applied to leaders, policies, and institutions deemed ineffective.
In modern Arabic media and social networks, فاشل is commonly used to criticize government officials, business leaders, and public figures. Understanding this word and its cultural context is essential for anyone seeking to comprehend Arabic news, political commentary, or social media discussions.
Here are realistic examples of how فاشل appears in contemporary Arabic:
When learning to use فاشل, remember to pay attention to gender and number agreement. Practice using it with different nouns to become comfortable with its various forms. Also, be aware of the social context when using this word—while it is acceptable in formal discussions and media, using it to describe a person in casual conversation might be considered rude or insulting. Finally, learn related vocabulary such as فشل (the verb form) and نجاح (the opposite concept) to expand your understanding of success and failure in Arabic.