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mādhā ʿanak
What about you?
#10
ماذا عنك؟ (mādhā ʿanak) is a common conversational phrase meaning 'What about you?' used to redirect a question or topic back to the person being addressed. It's typically employed after someone has answered a question about themselves, and the speaker wants to turn the focus back on them. This phrase is fundamental in Arabic conversation and shows interest in the other person's perspective or situation.
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أنا بخير، وماذا عنك؟
Anā bikhayr, wa-mādhā ʿanak?
I'm fine, and what about you?
اسمي محمد، ماذا عنك؟
Asmī Muḥammad, mādhā ʿanak?
My name is Muhammad, what about you?
أعمل في الجامعة، وماذا عنك؟ أين تعمل؟
Aʿmal fī al-jāmiʿah, wa-mādhā ʿanak? Ayna taʿmal?
I work at the university, and what about you? Where do you work?
أحب القهوة، ماذا عنك؟ هل تشرب القهوة أيضاً؟
Uḥib al-qahwah, mādhā ʿanak? Hal tashrāb al-qahwah ayḍan?
I love coffee, what about you? Do you drink coffee too?
سأذهب إلى السينما غداً، ماذا عنك؟
Sa-adhhab ilā al-sīnimā ghadan, mādhā ʿanak?
I'm going to the cinema tomorrow, what about you?
In Arabic culture, asking 'ماذا عنك؟' demonstrates genuine interest in the other person, which is highly valued in social interactions. This phrase is essential in both formal and informal settings across the Arab world, and using it shows politeness and engagement in conversation. It reflects the communal nature of Arabic-speaking societies where reciprocal communication and mutual interest are cornerstones of social etiquette.
Remember that ماذا عنك؟ is specifically masculine singular; use ماذا عنك؟ for a male and ماذا عنِك؟ (mādhā ʿanik) for a female, and ماذا عنكم؟ (mādhā ʿankum) for plural. This phrase works best after you've shared something about yourself and want to continue the conversation by learning about the other person. It's appropriate in both casual conversations and professional settings.
ماذا عنك؟ (mādhā ʿanak) is a fundamental Arabic phrase that translates to "What about you?" in English. It's composed of three elements: ماذا (mādhā, meaning "what"), عن (ʿan, meaning "about" or "concerning"), and the second-person masculine singular pronoun suffix -ك (ak, meaning "you"). This phrase is essential for maintaining natural, reciprocal conversations in Arabic.
The phrase follows a straightforward grammatical pattern. The word ماذا (what) is an interrogative pronoun that remains unchanged regardless of gender or number. The preposition عن (about) is attached to the pronoun suffixes, creating different forms:
ماذا عنك؟ is typically used after someone has answered a question about themselves, providing information about their situation, feelings, preferences, or experiences. The speaker then uses this phrase to redirect the conversation back to the other person, demonstrating interest and keeping the dialogue balanced. It's an excellent way to maintain engaging conversation and show genuine curiosity about the other person's perspective.
This phrase appears frequently in everyday Arabic conversations:
Social Greetings: When someone tells you how they're doing, you respond with ماذا عنك؟ to continue the conversation naturally.
Personal Information: When someone shares their name, profession, hometown, or background, ماذا عنك؟ is the appropriate follow-up question.
Preferences and Opinions: When someone expresses their likes, dislikes, or opinions, using ماذا عنك؟ invites them to share their own perspective.
Plans and Activities: When someone tells you about their plans or what they're doing, ماذا عنك؟ naturally asks what you're doing in the same situation.
In Arabic-speaking cultures, asking ماذا عنك؟ reflects important social values. It demonstrates respect for the other person, shows that you value their input and perspective, and maintains the reciprocal nature of communication that's highly respected in Arab societies. Using this phrase appropriately helps establish rapport and shows that you're genuinely interested in knowing the other person, rather than just talking about yourself.
The beauty of ماذا عنك؟ is its versatility in moving conversations forward smoothly. It can function as a standalone question or be incorporated into more complete sentences. For example:
While ماذا عنك؟ is understood and used throughout the Arab world, some regions may add colloquial variations or additional particles depending on the dialect. Modern Standard Arabic (Fusha) uses the form presented here, while dialectal Arabic may have slight modifications. However, the phrase remains consistent and intelligible across all Arabic-speaking regions.
For English learners, it's helpful to remember that ماذا عنك؟ directly parallels the English "What about you?" in both structure and function. The key is remembering to adjust the pronoun suffix based on whom you're addressing. Additionally, this phrase is so commonly used that practicing it early in your Arabic learning journey will significantly improve your conversational ability.
As you become more proficient in Arabic, you'll notice that ماذا عنك؟ can be used in more sophisticated ways, such as in debates or discussions where you're asking someone to address a counterpoint or alternative viewpoint. In these contexts, the phrase helps keep discussions balanced and ensures all parties are heard.