Loading...
Accepted
قبل (qabila) is a verb meaning 'to accept' or 'to receive.' It conveys the action of taking, receiving, or agreeing to something offered. In modern Arabic, it's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to express acceptance of offers, proposals, or gifts.
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.
قبلت الوظيفة الجديدة بسعادة.
Qabiltu al-wazifah al-jadidah bi-sa'adah.
I accepted the new job happily.
هل تقبل هذا الاقتراح؟
Hal taqbalu hadha al-iqtirah?
Will you accept this proposal?
قبل والدي الهدية برحابة صدر.
Qabila waldi al-hadiyah bi-rahbat sadr.
My father accepted the gift with an open heart.
لا أستطيع أن أقبل هذا الشرط.
La astati'u an aqbala hadha al-shart.
I cannot accept this condition.
قبلت جامعة القاهرة طلبي للالتحاق.
Qabilat jami'at al-Qahirah talabi li-al-iltihaq.
Cairo University accepted my application for enrollment.
In Arab culture, accepting or refusing offers carries significant social weight. Accepting something graciously (تقبل بطيبة نفس) demonstrates good character and maintains social harmony. The concept of 'qabul' is deeply embedded in Islamic jurisprudence, where mutual acceptance is essential in contracts and agreements. Refusing an offer, by contrast, requires tactfulness to avoid offending the offerer.
Remember that قبل is transitive and typically requires a direct object (the thing being accepted). When expressing acceptance of an abstract concept like a proposal, you might use the preposition 'ل' or just follow with the object directly. Pay attention to the context—قبل can also relate to kissing when used in certain dialects, though the standard meaning is 'to accept.' Use the past tense قَبِل with an alif diacritic to distinguish it from the temporal word قَبْل (before).
The Arabic verb قبل (qabila) is a fundamental word in the Arabic language that translates to 'to accept,' 'to receive,' or 'to take.' This word is essential for learners because it appears frequently in both spoken and written Arabic across various contexts, from business negotiations to everyday social interactions. Understanding how to use قبل correctly will significantly enhance your ability to communicate in Arabic, as acceptance and rejection are frequent topics in conversations.
قبل is a regular Arabic verb from the second form pattern (F'ala). In its basic form, it's conjugated as follows:
The past tense uses the root q-b-l with appropriate vowelization: قَبِلت (qabiltu) for first person, قَبِل (qabila) for third person masculine singular.
The word قبل is used in numerous everyday situations. In professional contexts, you might say 'قبلت الوظيفة' (I accepted the job). In social settings, you could use 'قبلت الدعوة' (I accepted the invitation). When discussing agreements, the phrase 'قبول العرض' (acceptance of the offer) is common. Students use it when discussing university applications: 'قبلتني الجامعة' (the university accepted me).
Understanding the word family around قبل enriches your vocabulary:
While قبل is the most direct word for acceptance, Arabic offers alternatives depending on nuance. وافق (wafaqa) means 'to agree' and is often used when accepting proposals or conditions. استقبل (istaqbala) emphasizes receiving with hospitality. تقبل (taqabbal) carries the connotation of accepting something graciously or willingly, often with spiritual or emotional resignation.
The opposite of قبل is رفض (rafada), meaning 'to refuse' or 'to reject.' Another antonym is رفع (rafa'a), which means 'to decline' or 'to turn down.' Understanding these opposites helps you navigate conversations about acceptance and refusal in Arabic.
In Arab culture, how one accepts or rejects offers carries significant social weight. Accepting something gracefully and with appreciation is valued, while harsh rejection can damage relationships. The Islamic legal concept of 'ijab wa qabul' (offer and acceptance) is fundamental to contract law across the Muslim world. This religious and legal significance makes the word قبل deeply rooted in Arab society.
When learning to use قبل, pay close attention to what follows it. Usually, it takes a direct object without a preposition: 'قبلت الهدية' (I accepted the gift). However, when accepting abstract concepts or conditions, you might see 'قبلت بـ' (I accepted with/by). Practice forming sentences with different objects to internalize the pattern. Additionally, be aware that in some dialects, قبل can have other meanings related to kissing, though in Modern Standard Arabic, acceptance is the primary meaning.
Mastering the word قبل and its related forms is essential for any Arabic learner. This verb appears regularly in both formal and informal Arabic, making it indispensable for achieving conversational fluency. By understanding its conjugation, related forms, usage contexts, and cultural significance, you'll be well-equipped to handle situations involving acceptance in Arabic-speaking environments.