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Afford
تحمّل (tahammul) means 'to afford' or 'to bear/endure' in Arabic. It expresses the ability or capacity to sustain something—whether financial costs, emotional burdens, or physical hardships. The word carries nuances of both capability and tolerance, reflecting a willingness to shoulder responsibility or expense.
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لا أستطيع أن أتحمّل تكاليف هذا البيت الفاخر.
Lā astati'u an atahammul takālif hādhā al-bayt al-fākhir.
I cannot afford the expenses of this luxurious house.
تحمّلت الكثير من الألم خلال المرض.
Tahammult al-kathīr min al-alm khilāl al-marad.
I endured a lot of pain during the illness.
هل تستطيع أن تتحمّل المسؤولية الجديدة؟
Hal tastatī' an tatahammul al-mas'ūliyyah al-jadīdah?
Can you afford/bear the new responsibility?
لم يستطع أن يتحمّل فقدان أحبائه.
Lam yastati' an yatahammul fiqdan ahbā'ihi.
He could not bear the loss of his loved ones.
الشركة تتحمّل جميع نفقات الموظفين.
Al-shirka tatahammul jamī' nufaqāt al-muwazzafīn.
The company affords/covers all employee expenses.
In Arabic-speaking cultures, تحمّل reflects important values of resilience, patience (sabr), and responsible action. The word is frequently used in both modern economic contexts (affording purchases) and traditional discussions of hardship and moral strength. It embodies the concept of 'tahamul,' which implies not just capability but also a dignified acceptance of one's duties and burdens.
Remember that تحمّل works as a regular past tense verb (Form V of تحمل), often paired with 'أن' (that) + subjunctive. When discussing financial affordability, it's commonly used with تكاليف (costs) or أسعار (prices). Be aware of the subtle difference: تحمّل can mean 'to afford' financially OR 'to bear' emotionally/physically depending on context.
The Arabic word تحمّل (tahammul) is a frequently used verb that translates primarily as 'to afford' or 'to bear/endure.' It is derived from the root ح-م-ل (h-m-l), which fundamentally relates to carrying or bearing something. The word appears in Form V of Arabic verb conjugations and carries rich meaning in both modern and classical Arabic contexts.
In contemporary Arabic, particularly in business and daily life, تحمّل is commonly used to express the ability to afford financial expenses. For example:
When used in this context, it typically appears with words like تكاليف (costs), أسعار (prices), and نفقات (expenses).
Beyond financial contexts, تحمّل expresses the capacity to bear emotional pain, physical hardship, or difficult circumstances:
This usage aligns with the Islamic concept of صبر (sabr/patience), which emphasizes dignified endurance of trials.
تحمّل is a Form V verb (التفعّل pattern), derived from the basic root تحمل. In its past tense form, it conjugates as follows:
The present tense uses the pattern يتحمّل (he affords) and تتحمّل (she affords), while the future employs سيتحمّل and ستتحمّل.
Several phrases incorporate تحمّل:
In Arab culture, the concept embodied by تحمّل reflects deeply held values of resilience and moral strength. The Islamic teaching of صبر (patience) infuses usage of this word, as endurance is viewed not merely as suffering but as a virtue. The word appears frequently in literature, news, and everyday conversation, especially in discussions about overcoming adversity, financial stability, and personal responsibility.
In modern Arabic media, you'll often encounter phrases like "تحمّل الأزمة الاقتصادية" (bearing/weathering the economic crisis), demonstrating how the word bridges both practical and philosophical domains.
English speakers learning Arabic should note that تحمّل is often paired with the particle أن (that) followed by the subjunctive mood: "لا أستطيع أن أتحمّل" (I cannot afford). Additionally, the word frequently appears in construction with prepositions like على (on) or ب (with), which can subtly shift its meaning in context.
When translating, consider whether the context emphasizes financial capability or emotional resilience, as this affects how naturally your translation sounds in English. Finally, remember that تحمّل is distinct from the simpler root تحمل, which can mean 'to carry' literally, whereas تحمّل implies a more sustained or difficult bearing of something.