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yastahal
Worth it
يستاهل (yastahal) is a verb meaning 'to deserve' or 'to be worth it,' expressing that someone or something is worthy of a particular outcome, reward, or treatment. It's commonly used in everyday Arabic to indicate that something justifies effort, cost, or expectation. This word conveys both literal deservingness and the colloquial sense of 'worth the trouble.'
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هذا الفيلم يستاهل تذاكرتك.
Hadha al-film yastahal tadhkarataka.
This movie is worth your ticket.
العمل الشاق يستاهل الراتب الجيد.
Al-amal ash-shaq yastahal ar-ratib al-jaid.
Hard work deserves a good salary.
أنت تستاهلين الأفضل في الحياة.
Anta tastahalīn al-afdal fi al-hayat.
You deserve the best in life.
هل هذا السعر يستاهل الجودة؟
Hal hadha as-seer yastahal al-jaudah?
Is this price worth the quality?
الجهد الذي بذلته يستاهل النتيجة.
Al-jahd alladhi badhaltahu yastahal an-natijah.
The effort you made deserves this result.
In Arab culture, the concept of deservingness (استحقاق - istihqaq) holds significant social importance, reflecting values around fairness, effort, and merit. يستاهل is frequently used in everyday conversations when evaluating whether something is worth the cost, time, or effort invested. The phrase is particularly prevalent in discussions about purchases, relationships, and personal achievements, showing how Arabs weigh value and worth in their daily decisions.
Remember that يستاهل agrees with its subject in number and gender—use يستاهل for masculine singular, تستاهل for feminine singular, يستاهلون for masculine plural, and يستاهلن for feminine plural. This verb is typically followed by a noun or pronoun in the accusative case. In informal speech, Arabic speakers often use يستاهل to make judgments about whether effort or expense is justified, making it essential for practical conversation.
The Arabic word يستاهل (yastahal) is a verb that translates to "to deserve" or "to be worth it" in English. It expresses the concept of worthiness, indicating that someone or something is qualified for, entitled to, or justifies a particular outcome, reward, or level of effort. This versatile word appears frequently in contemporary Arabic across formal and informal contexts.
يستاهل is derived from the root ستهل (s-t-h-l) and follows the pattern of Form VIII (استفعل - istaʿala) verbs. It conjugates as follows:
The verb typically takes an accusative object, allowing speakers to specify what the subject deserves or what is worth the effort.
يستاهل appears naturally in everyday conversations when people evaluate whether something justifies the cost, time, or energy invested. For example, Arabs use this word when discussing whether a movie ticket is worth watching the film, whether a salary matches the work effort, or whether a purchase price reflects the product quality.
Common scenarios include:
Consumer decisions: "هل هذا السعر يستاهل الجودة؟" (Is this price worth the quality?)
Relationship and effort evaluation: "الجهد الذي بذلته يستاهل النتيجة" (The effort you made deserves this result)
Giving compliments or recognition: "أنت تستاهل الأفضل" (You deserve the best)
While يستحق (yastaheq) is the most direct synonym, يستاهل carries slightly different connotations. يستحق emphasizes strict deservingness or entitlement based on merit or fairness, while يستاهل often includes the practical evaluation of whether something is "worth it" considering effort or cost.
Other related terms include:
In Arab culture, the concept of deservingness reflects deep values about fairness, effort, and merit. The ability to evaluate what one deserves—whether in terms of salary, respect, or comfort—is considered important for personal dignity and self-respect. Using يستاهل demonstrates engagement with these cultural values of proportionality and fair compensation.
Arab business and social negotiations often involve discussions about whether proposed terms or arrangements "استاهل" (deserve) acceptance. This linguistic pattern shows how the concept of worthiness permeates Arabic-speaking societies' approach to decision-making.
When using يستاهل, remember to:
While يستاهل is understood across the Arabic-speaking world, dialectal variations exist. In Gulf Arabic and Levantine dialects, speakers might use يستاهل with slightly different stress or in different constructions, but the core meaning remains consistent. Modern Standard Arabic (فصحى) uses يستاهل in written media, literature, and formal speech.
Mastering يستاهل is essential for any Arabic learner seeking to engage in authentic conversations about value, effort, and worthiness. This word opens doors to understanding not just language mechanics but also the cultural values embedded in Arabic-speaking societies. Practice using it in various contexts—from consumer decisions to personal relationships—to develop natural fluency with this important verb.