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Acquisitive
مولع بالاقتناء (mawla' bil-iqtina') is an Arabic phrase meaning 'acquisitive' or 'having a strong desire to acquire and possess things.' It describes someone who is passionate about collecting, gathering, or accumulating possessions, often with an obsessive or passionate quality. This phrase combines the verb 'mawla'' (to be keen on, to be obsessed with) with 'iqtina'' (acquisition or possession), creating an expression that conveys both enthusiasm and a somewhat compulsive tendency toward gathering.
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أخي مولع بالاقتناء ويجمع الطوابع النادرة منذ سنوات.
Akhī mawla' bil-iqtina' wa yajamma' al-tawabi' al-nadira mundhu sanawat.
My brother is acquisitive and has been collecting rare stamps for years.
هي مولعة بالاقتناء وتملك مجموعة ضخمة من الكتب القديمة.
Hiya mawla'a bil-iqtina' wa tamlak majmū'a daḵma min al-kutub al-qadīma.
She is acquisitive and owns a huge collection of antique books.
الرجل مولع بالاقتناء لدرجة أنه ينفق كل أمواله على الآثار.
Al-rajul mawla' bil-iqtina' li-daraja annahu yunfiq kull amwāluhu 'alā al-āthār.
The man is so acquisitive that he spends all his money on antiquities.
كانت مولعة بالاقتناء حتى أصبحت منزلها متحفاً صغيراً.
Kānat mawla'a bil-iqtina' ḥattā aṣbaḥat manzalaha mutḥafan ṣaghīran.
She was so acquisitive that her home became a small museum.
In Arab culture, the concept of being مولع بالاقتناء carries mixed connotations. While collecting is appreciated as a form of cultural preservation and personal enrichment—particularly regarding historical artifacts, manuscripts, and traditional items—excessive acquisitiveness is sometimes viewed with skepticism as potentially conflicting with Islamic values emphasizing moderation and detachment from material possessions. Many Arabs take pride in their collections of religious texts, historical items, or family memorabilia, viewing it as a form of cultural stewardship rather than mere materialism.
Remember that مولع بالاقتناء is an adjectival phrase describing a characteristic or passion rather than a neutral description. It carries a tone of mild obsession or strong enthusiasm, so use it when describing someone deeply engaged in collecting. The phrase works best when you can specify what they collect (مولع بالاقتناء + object). Note that this phrase is more literary or formal than colloquial—in everyday speech, Arabs might say 'مجنون بالجمع' (majnūn bil-jam') meaning 'crazy about collecting' or simply 'هاوي جمع' (hāwī jam') meaning 'collector.'
The Arabic phrase مولع بالاقتناء (pronounced: mawla' bil-iqtina') literally translates to "acquisitive" or "having a keen desire to acquire and possess." This expression combines two key Arabic elements: مولع (mawla'), meaning "keen on" or "obsessed with," and الاقتناء (al-iqtina'), meaning "acquisition" or "possession." Together, they create a descriptive phrase that captures the essence of someone who is passionate about collecting, gathering, or accumulating possessions.
This phrase functions as an adjectival expression in Arabic. It can be used with both masculine and feminine nouns:
The phrase follows the pattern of Arabic adjectives that describe personal characteristics or passions. It's often followed by a specification of what the person collects (e.g., مولع بالاقتناء للكتب - acquisitive about books).
While the phrase isn't inherently negative, it carries connotations of obsession or passion beyond casual interest. Someone described as مولع بالاقتناء isn't simply a collector—they're someone for whom collecting is a defining passion or even a compulsion. The phrase implies enthusiasm, dedication, and sometimes an almost irresistible urge to acquire.
In everyday Arabic conversations, you might hear related expressions like:
In Arab societies, the concept of being مولع بالاقتناء has evolved with modernization and cultural values. Traditionally, collecting significant items—religious texts, historical manuscripts, family heirlooms, and traditional crafts—has been viewed as a form of cultural preservation and stewardship. Many respected Arab collectors are known for maintaining exceptional collections of Islamic art, ancient manuscripts, or historical artifacts.
However, Islamic philosophy also emphasizes moderation and discourages excessive attachment to worldly possessions. This creates an interesting cultural tension where collecting is appreciated as a form of cultural and historical preservation, but excessive acquisitiveness is sometimes viewed skeptically as conflicting with religious values of simplicity and detachment from material matters.
Several Arabic words and phrases convey similar meanings:
Each of these carries slightly different nuances, with some being more judgmental than others.
To understand مولع بالاقتناء better, consider its opposites:
Here are some realistic contexts where you might use this phrase:
في سياق هواية الجمع: "أحمد مولع بالاقتناء بالطوابع، لديه أكثر من مائة ألف طابع من حول العالم." (Ahmed is acquisitive about stamps; he has more than 100,000 stamps from around the world.)
في السياق الأدبي: "كانت المتحفية مولعة بالاقتناء للقطع الأثرية النادرة." (The museum curator was acquisitive about rare archaeological pieces.)
في الحوار اليومي: "والدتي مولعة بالاقتناء بالكتب القديمة، لا تستطيع تمرير أي متجر كتب قديمة." (My mother is acquisitive about old books; she can't pass any antique bookstore.)
When using مولع بالاقتناء, remember:
It's not morally neutral: The phrase implies more than casual interest. Don't use it to describe someone who simply likes shopping or occasionally collecting things.
Specify the object of acquisition: The phrase is more meaningful when you explain what's being collected (books, coins, art, etc.).
Gender agreement: Always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun it modifies. For example: "رجل مولع" (man) vs. "امرأة مولعة" (woman).
Formal context: This phrase is more literary or formal than colloquial. In casual speech, Arabs often use simpler expressions like "هاوي جمع" or "مجنون بـ."
In contemporary Arabic, مولع بالاقتناء has found relevance in discussions about:
Understanding مولع بالاقتناء gives English learners insight into how Arabic captures the nuances of human passion and behavior. It's a phrase that acknowledges both the positive aspects of preservation and collection, while also suggesting the sometimes obsessive nature of acquisition. By mastering this expression, you'll be able to describe character traits and passions more precisely in Arabic conversations.