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Abstains
يمتنع عن تناول كذا وكذا is a phrase meaning 'to abstain from consuming or eating something.' It combines the verb يمتنع (to refrain/abstain) with عن (from) and تناول (to consume/eat), allowing speakers to express the act of deliberately avoiding food, drinks, or substances. This phrase is commonly used in medical, religious, and dietary contexts.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11
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يمتنع الرياضيون عن تناول السكريات قبل المباراة.
Yumtani' al-riyyadiyyun 'an tanawul al-sukkaryat qabla al-mubarah.
Athletes abstain from consuming sugary foods before the match.
تمتنع عن تناول الطعام الدهني لأسباب صحية.
Tamtani' 'an tanawul al-ta'am al-dahni li-asbaab sihiyyah.
She abstains from eating fatty food for health reasons.
يمتنع المسلمون عن تناول الطعام والشراب أثناء الصيام.
Yamtani' al-muslimun 'an tanawul al-ta'am wa-ash-sharab athnaa as-siyam.
Muslims abstain from consuming food and drink during fasting.
يمتنع عن تناول اللحوم النيئة حفاظاً على صحته.
Yamtani' 'an tanawul al-luhum an-niyyah hifadhan 'ala sihhatihi.
He abstains from eating raw meat to preserve his health.
تمتنع الحامل عن تناول المشروبات الكحولية.
Tamtani' al-hamil 'an tanawul al-mashrubat al-kuhuliwyyah.
The pregnant woman abstains from consuming alcoholic beverages.
This phrase is deeply rooted in Islamic tradition, particularly regarding Ramadan fasting when Muslims abstain from food and drink during daylight hours. It's also commonly used in medical and health discussions across Arab cultures, reflecting the importance of dietary practices in maintaining wellness. The phrase respects the concept of discipline and self-control, values highly regarded in Arab societies.
Remember that يمتنع requires the preposition عن (from) followed by a noun or verbal noun. This phrase is formal and suitable for medical, educational, and formal conversational contexts. When using it, ensure you're clear about what substance is being avoided—تناول specifically refers to consuming food or drink, so this phrase works perfectly for dietary contexts.
The Arabic phrase يمتنع عن تناول translates to "abstains from consuming" or "refrains from eating." It is composed of three main elements: يمتنع (yamtani', meaning "to abstain" or "to refrain"), عن ('an, meaning "from"), and تناول (tanawul, meaning "to consume" or "to eat"). Together, this phrase expresses the deliberate action of avoiding food, drinks, or other consumable items.
In Arabic, يمتنع is derived from the root ع-ن-ع (ayna), which carries meanings related to obstruction and refusal. When combined with the preposition عن (from) and followed by a noun or verbal noun, it creates a powerful expression for discussing dietary restrictions, medical conditions, or personal choices regarding consumption.
The phrase follows a standard Arabic construction:
When used in sentences, additional objects can follow to specify what is being abstained from. For example: يمتنع عن تناول اللحوم (abstains from eating meat) or يمتنع عن تناول الكحول (abstains from consuming alcohol).
This phrase appears frequently in several contexts:
Medical and Health Context: Doctors and health professionals use this phrase when advising patients about dietary restrictions. A doctor might say: "يمتنع المريض عن تناول الملح" (the patient should abstain from consuming salt).
Religious Context: In Islamic tradition, particularly during Ramadan, this phrase is used to describe fasting. Muslims يمتنعون عن تناول الطعام والشراب (abstain from consuming food and drink) from dawn until sunset.
Personal Dietary Choices: Vegetarians, vegans, or people with allergies use this phrase to express their dietary preferences: "أمتنع عن تناول اللحوم" (I abstain from eating meat).
Formal Situations: The phrase carries a formal tone, making it appropriate for official communications, medical documents, or educational settings.
In Arab culture, the concept of abstinence (الامتناع) carries significant weight, particularly in Islamic teachings that emphasize self-discipline and control over desires. The practice of Ramadan fasting is perhaps the most prominent example of this cultural value. During the holy month, millions of Muslims يمتنعون عن تناول الطعام والشراب (abstain from consuming food and drink) as an act of worship and spiritual discipline.
Beyond religious contexts, the phrase reflects broader cultural values about health consciousness and respect for dietary needs. Arab societies increasingly emphasize health and wellness, and discussing dietary restrictions using this phrase demonstrates a serious commitment to health management.
The verb يمتنع can be conjugated for different subjects:
This phrase commonly appears with specific food and drink items:
English speakers should note that يمتنع always requires the preposition عن (from) when expressing what one is abstaining from. Unlike English where we might simply say "I abstain from meat," Arabic requires the complete phrase structure. Additionally, the verbal noun تناول is the correct choice when discussing consumption of food and drink—other verbs like يأكل (eats) or يشرب (drinks) are more informal and direct.
When practicing this phrase, focus on building sentences with specific dietary items to make the expression more concrete and memorable. Practice switching between different subjects and food items to gain fluency and natural pronunciation.
You'll encounter this phrase in: