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Accused
اتّهم (ittahama) is a verb meaning 'to accuse' or 'to charge someone with a wrongdoing.' It is commonly used in legal, formal, and everyday contexts to express the act of blaming or making allegations against someone. The word carries the connotation of making a serious claim or formal accusation.
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اتّهموه بالسرقة أمام المحكمة.
Ittahamoohu bi-al-sariqah amama al-mahkamah.
They accused him of theft in front of the court.
لا يمكنك أن تتّهم شخصاً بدون دليل.
La yumkinuka an tattahima shakhsan bidun dalil.
You cannot accuse a person without evidence.
اتّهمت الشرطة المشتبه به بارتكاب الجريمة.
Ittahamat al-shurtat al-mushtabah bihi bi-irtikab al-jarimah.
The police accused the suspect of committing the crime.
يُتّهم بالتآمر ضد الدولة.
Yuttaham bi-al-taamur dida al-dawlah.
He is accused of conspiring against the state.
لا تتّهميني بشيء لم أفعله.
La tattahimini bi-shay lam af'alu.
Do not accuse me of something I did not do.
In Arab legal and judicial systems, the word اتّهم plays a crucial role in formal legal proceedings and courtroom language. The concept of accusation is deeply connected to honor and reputation in Arab cultures, making this word particularly significant in both formal and informal contexts. Understanding proper usage is important as false accusations can have serious social and legal consequences.
Remember that اتّهم requires the preposition 'bi-' (ب) before the crime or wrongdoing being alleged. For example: 'اتّهم بالسرقة' (accused of theft). The word can be used in both passive and active voice, and conjugates regularly for different subjects and tenses. Be careful to distinguish between accusations and assumptions—this word implies a formal or serious claim.
The Arabic verb اتّهم (ittahama) is a fundamental word in legal, formal, and everyday Arabic discourse. It means 'to accuse' or 'to charge someone with a wrongdoing.' This verb carries significant weight in Arabic-speaking cultures, where formal accusations and legal proceedings demand precise language. The word stems from the root ه-م-ت, and its usage extends from courtroom settings to casual conversations about blame and responsibility.
اتّهم is a Form VIII (ittafa'ala pattern) verb derived from the root ه-م-ت. This form typically adds reflexive or active meaning to the root. In the present tense, it conjugates as follows:
The past tense follows standard conjugation patterns: اتّهم (for he), اتّهمت (for she/I), اتّهموا (for they), and so forth.
When using اتّهم, the crime or wrongdoing must be introduced with the preposition 'ب' (bi-, meaning 'with' or 'of'). For example:
This prepositional requirement is essential for grammatically correct usage and is consistently maintained across all verb forms.
اتّهم can be used in passive voice, particularly in legal and formal contexts:
The related noun التهمة (al-tithmah) means 'accusation' or 'charge,' while the adjective متّهم (muttaham) refers to 'the accused' or 'defendant.'
In Arab legal systems, اتّهم is the standard verb used in courtrooms, police reports, and formal legal documents. Judges, prosecutors, and legal professionals use this term when formally charging individuals with crimes. The verb's formal nature makes it inappropriate for casual blame-shifting in everyday conversations, though it is sometimes used this way for emphasis or to make light accusations seem more serious.
While synonyms like وجّه الاتهام (wajeha al-ittihm, 'to direct an accusation') and ألقى التهمة (alqa al-tithmah, 'to cast blame') exist, اتّهم is the most direct and commonly used verb. The antonym برّأ (barra'a) means 'to acquit' or 'to clear of charges,' representing the opposite judicial outcome.
In Arab cultures, formal accusations carry substantial weight and can affect personal honor and family reputation. The verb اتّهم reflects this significance through its formal register and legal connotations. False accusations (اتهام كاذب) are considered serious offenses both legally and socially, as they damage reputation and trust.
In news reporting: 'اتّهمت السلطات المشتبه به بتمويل الإرهاب' (The authorities accused the suspect of financing terrorism)
In everyday speech: 'لا تتّهمني بدون سبب' (Don't accuse me without reason)
In legal settings: 'يُتّهم بموجب المادة 234 من قانون العقوبات' (He is charged under Article 234 of the Penal Code)
English speakers should remember that اتّهم is inherently formal and serious. It's not used lightly in professional or legal contexts. Always pair the verb with 'ب' (bi-) before stating the offense. Practice conjugating this verb across different tenses and subjects, as it appears frequently in Arabic media, news, and literature. Understanding its passive voice forms is particularly important for reading comprehension in formal texts.