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Payment
#9
الدفعة (ad-daf'ah) is an Arabic noun meaning 'payment,' 'batch,' 'installment,' or 'group.' It refers to a sum of money paid at one time, or alternatively, a collection of items or people grouped together. The word is commonly used in financial, commercial, and everyday contexts.
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دفعت الدفعة الأولى من ثمن البيت هذا الشهر.
Dafa'tu ad-daf'ah al-ula min thaman al-bayt hadha ash-shahr.
I paid the first installment of the house price this month.
الدفعة الجديدة من الموظفين ستبدأ العمل يوم الإثنين.
Ad-daf'ah al-jadidah min al-muwazzafin satabad' al-'amal yawm al-ithnayn.
The new batch of employees will start work on Monday.
هل يمكنك تقسيم الدفعة على ثلاثة أشهر؟
Hal yumkinuk taqsim ad-daf'ah 'ala thalathah ashhur?
Can you divide the payment into three months?
تلقينا دفعة كبيرة من البضائع من الموردين اليوم.
Talaqqayna daf'ah kabirah min al-bada'i' min al-muwarrideen al-yawm.
We received a large shipment of goods from the suppliers today.
الدفعة الثانية من الطلاب أكثر التزاماً من الأولى.
Ad-daf'ah ath-thaniyah min at-tullab akthar iltizaman min al-ula.
The second batch of students is more committed than the first.
In Arab business culture, payment arrangements and installments (دفعات) are common negotiating points. The concept of dividing large payments into multiple دفعات is widely accepted in real estate, education, and retail transactions. Understanding this term is essential for anyone engaging in financial discussions in Arabic-speaking countries.
Remember that الدفعة can mean both 'payment' in a financial sense and 'batch' or 'group' in a collective sense—context determines the meaning. When discussing finances, use it with numbers (الدفعة الأولى, الدفعة الثانية) to indicate installments. It's commonly paired with prepositions like 'من' (from) and numbers to specify amounts.
الدفعة (ad-daf'ah) is a fundamental Arabic noun with multiple related meanings depending on context. Primarily, it translates to 'payment,' referring to a sum of money paid at a specific time. However, the word also carries the meaning of 'batch,' 'group,' 'shipment,' or 'cohort,' making it versatile in both financial and non-financial contexts. The root verb is 'دفع' (dafa'a), meaning 'to pay' or 'to push,' which informs its primary financial connotation.
In financial discussions, الدفعة is extensively used when discussing payment arrangements. Arabic-speaking cultures commonly employ installment plans (تقسيط على دفعات), particularly in real estate transactions, vehicle purchases, and educational fees. When making such arrangements, speakers reference specific installments: 'الدفعة الأولى' (the first payment), 'الدفعة الثانية' (the second payment), and so forth. This terminology is crucial for anyone conducting business in Arab countries, as negotiating payment terms is a standard practice.
For example, when purchasing property, a typical arrangement might involve an initial down payment (دفعة أولى) followed by several subsequent installments spread over months or years. Banks and financial institutions frequently communicate in these terms when discussing loan repayment schedules.
Beyond financial contexts, الدفعة describes any grouping of items or people processed together. Universities use this term for student cohorts: 'دفعة 2024' refers to the graduating class of 2024. In manufacturing and commerce, الدفعة describes a batch of products, such as 'دفعة من البضائع' (a shipment of goods). This usage is common in supply chain discussions, inventory management, and warehouse operations.
الدفعة is a feminine noun (ending in ة), requiring feminine agreement with adjectives and verbs. When used with numbers, it typically appears in the form: 'الدفعة الأولى' (the first), 'الدفعة الثانية' (the second), etc. In plural contexts, the dual form 'الدفعتان' (two payments) and plural 'الدفعات' (payments/batches) follow standard Arabic feminine plural patterns.
Several fixed expressions feature الدفعة prominently in everyday Arabic:
Understanding الدفعة is essential for anyone engaging with Arabic-speaking business cultures. Payment arrangements through installments are not merely accepted but often expected in real estate, automotive, and educational sectors. The flexibility of the term—spanning both financial and collective meanings—reflects the sophistication of Arabic business vocabulary.
Moreover, the use of cohort terminology (دفعة) in educational settings carries cultural weight, as students graduating together form a distinct social identity. Alumni networks often reference their دفعة, maintaining connections based on graduation year.
While الدفعة is the standard term, related vocabulary includes:
When learning الدفعة, context is paramount. In financial discussions, expect it to accompany ordinal numbers and time references. In academic or workforce contexts, it describes groups of people. Pay attention to surrounding words and verb agreements, as الدفعة's feminine gender requires proper grammatical concordance. Listening to native speakers discuss real estate transactions or educational matters will quickly familiarize you with natural usage patterns.
الدفعة remains one of the most practical and frequently used Arabic nouns for English speakers learning the language, particularly those planning business or academic interactions in Arab countries. Mastering its various contexts—from payment schedules to organizational groupings—significantly enhances communicative competence in professional Arabic.