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Accusatorial
متهم (muttaham) is an adjective and noun meaning 'accused' or 'defendant,' referring to a person who has been charged with a crime or wrongdoing. It can function as both a passive participle describing someone under accusation and as a standalone noun for the accused party in legal contexts. The word carries the connotation of formal legal accusation rather than casual blame.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11
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المتهم أنكر جميع الاتهامات الموجهة إليه.
Al-muttaham ankara jamee' al-ittihāmāt al-muwajjaha ilayhi.
The accused person denied all charges brought against him.
قدم المتهم شهادته أمام المحكمة أمس.
Qaddama al-muttaham shahādatahu amāma al-mahkamah ams.
The defendant presented his testimony before the court yesterday.
يُعتبر الشخص متهماً حتى تثبت براءته.
Yu'tabar al-shakhṣ muttahaman ḥattá tuthbat barā'atuhu.
A person is considered accused until their innocence is proven.
وجهت النيابة العامة اتهامات خطيرة للمتهم.
Wajjhat al-niyābah al-'āmmah itihāmāt khatirah lil-muttaham.
The prosecution brought serious charges against the accused.
In Arabic-speaking legal and media contexts, the term متهم is commonly used in court proceedings and news reports about criminal cases. Arabic legal systems, influenced by both Islamic law and modern civil law traditions, place significant emphasis on the presumption of innocence, though practical applications vary by country. The word appears frequently in news broadcasts, legal documents, and public discourse when discussing criminal justice matters.
Remember that متهم is both an adjective and a noun—it can describe someone ('an accused person') or stand alone as a noun ('the accused'). In formal legal contexts, use it when referring to someone formally charged in court rather than informally blamed. The word is masculine singular; use متهمة for feminine singular, متهمون for masculine plural, and متهمات for feminine plural.
The Arabic word متهم (muttaham) is a participle and noun that refers to an accused person or defendant. It comes from the root ت-ه-م (t-h-m), which relates to accusation and blame. In formal legal contexts, متهم specifically denotes someone who has been formally charged with a crime in a court of law, distinguishing it from casual blame or informal suspicion.
متهم functions as both an adjective (describing quality) and a noun (naming a person). As with most Arabic nouns and adjectives, it changes form based on gender and number:
When used in a sentence with the definite article "al" (ال), it becomes "المتهم" (al-muttaham), meaning "the accused" or "the defendant."
In Arabic-speaking countries with formal judicial systems, متهم is the standard term used in court documents, legal proceedings, and official accusations. It indicates that a person has been formally charged with a crime and is now subject to judicial process. This is distinct from informal blame or suspicion, making it important for learners to understand the legal weight of the term.
For example, when a prosecutor presents charges, they formally declare someone a متهم. Throughout the trial, legal documents and court announcements will refer to the person as "the accused" (المتهم) or "the defendant" in English legal terms.
Understanding متهم requires familiarity with related legal words:
Arabic legal systems vary by country but generally include elements of Islamic law, civil law, and modern criminal procedure codes. The presumption of innocence is theoretically guaranteed in most Arab countries' legal systems, though implementation varies. The term متهم is used throughout the judicial process, from initial charges through trial and potential conviction.
In media and news reporting, journalists use متهم when discussing criminal cases, arrests, and court proceedings. This term appears regularly in Arabic news broadcasts, newspapers, and online media when covering crime and justice stories.
When learning to use متهم, remember several key points. First, it is a formal legal term and should be used in appropriate contexts—primarily in legal, formal, or journalistic discussions. Informally blaming someone would use different vocabulary like "متهم في" (accused of) in a casual context.
Second, always match the gender and number to the person(s) being described. Using the wrong form can create confusion or appear grammatically incorrect.
Third, متهم is typically used with the preposition "ب" (bi) or "في" (fī) to indicate what someone is accused of: "متهم بالسرقة" (accused of theft) or "متهم في قضية جنائية" (accused in a criminal case).
"المتهم أنكر جميع الاتهامات" (The defendant denied all charges) shows how متهم is used as the subject of a sentence in a courtroom context. "وجهت الاتهامات للمتهم" (Charges were brought against the accused) demonstrates the use of المتهم as the object of a verb.
Understanding when and how to use متهم correctly is essential for anyone seeking to discuss legal matters, read legal documents, or engage with Arabic media covering crime and justice issues.