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Whatever
#12
مهما (mahma) is a conditional conjunction meaning 'whatever' or 'no matter what.' It is used to introduce a condition that doesn't affect the outcome of a statement, expressing that something will happen regardless of circumstances. This word is essential for expressing resignation, certainty, or inevitability in Arabic.
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مهما قال لك أحد، لا تصدقه.
Mahma qāla laka aḥad, lā tasdiqhu.
Whatever anyone tells you, don't believe him.
مهما حدث، سأكون بجانبك.
Mahma ḥadatha, sa-akūnu bi-jānibik.
Whatever happens, I will be by your side.
مهما فعلت، لن تنجح في هذا.
Mahma fa'alta, lan tanjjaḥ fī hādhā.
Whatever you do, you won't succeed at this.
مهما كان السعر، سأشتريها.
Mahma kāna al-si'r, sa-ashtarīhā.
Whatever the price is, I will buy it.
مهما قررت، أنا أؤيد قرارك.
Mahma qarrart, anā aʾayyid qarārak.
Whatever you decide, I support your decision.
The word مهما reflects the Arabic linguistic tradition of expressing philosophical attitudes about fate and circumstance, often found in classical Arabic literature and poetry. In everyday conversation, it conveys a sense of acceptance and inevitability, values deeply rooted in Arab culture. This word frequently appears in proverbs and wisdom sayings that emphasize perseverance regardless of obstacles.
Remember that مهما introduces a conditional clause where the outcome is independent of the condition—use it when you want to emphasize that something will happen no matter what. This word is typically followed by a verb in the past or present tense. Don't confuse it with إذا (if), which introduces conditions where the outcome actually depends on the condition being met.
The Arabic word مهما (mahma) is a conditional conjunction that translates to "whatever," "no matter what," or "regardless of." It belongs to a special category of Arabic conjunctions used to express unconditional situations where an outcome remains constant despite varying circumstances.
مهما serves as an indeclinable conjunction that introduces a condition where the result is independent of whether the condition is met. Unlike the conditional إذا (if), which creates a dependent relationship between condition and outcome, مهما emphasizes that something will happen or remain true in all cases.
The structure typically follows this pattern: مهما + verb (past or present tense) + main clause. The verb that follows مهما is usually in the subjunctive mood, though it may appear in various tenses depending on the intended meaning and context.
مهما appears most naturally in statements expressing:
"مهما حدث، لن أستسلم" (Whatever happens, I will not surrender) demonstrates how the speaker's determination remains constant regardless of circumstances.
"مهما كان رأيك، أنا صديقك" (Whatever your opinion is, I am your friend) illustrates how مهما emphasizes unconditional loyalty.
"مهما طال الليل، فالفجر قادم" (No matter how long the night, dawn is coming) uses مهما in a timeless statement about inevitable natural progression.
Arabic contains a family of similar conjunctions formed with the pattern م + question word:
These words share مهما's function of creating unconditional relationships.
مهما holds special importance in classical and modern Arabic literature, appearing frequently in poetry, philosophy, and wisdom literature. The word reflects the cultural emphasis on fate (qadar), perseverance, and acceptance in Arabic thought. Many Arabic proverbs and philosophical statements employ مهما to express universal truths.
When learning to use مهما, remember that it's most appropriate in formal and literary contexts, though it's entirely acceptable in contemporary Arabic speech. English speakers often struggle to distinguish between مهما and إذا because English uses "if" and "whatever" somewhat interchangeably, but in Arabic, these serve fundamentally different functions.
Practice forming sentences where the second clause remains true regardless of what happens in the first clause introduced by مهما. This distinction will help you use the word correctly and sound more natural when speaking Arabic.
Don't use مهما when you mean to express a true conditional situation—in such cases, use إذا instead. Additionally, avoid confusing مهما with similar-sounding words; context clues in surrounding sentences will help you understand which word is intended.