Loading...
Assume
افترض (iftarạda) is a verb meaning 'to assume' or 'to suppose' in Arabic. It expresses the act of taking something for granted, making an assumption, or proposing a hypothesis without having concrete proof. This word is commonly used in academic, professional, and everyday conversations when discussing theories, possibilities, or tentative conclusions.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11 — completely free
Get a new Arabic word delivered to your inbox every day — with pronunciation, meaning, and cultural context.
أفترض أن الاجتماع سيبدأ في الساعة الثالثة.
Aftarạdu anna al-ijtimaa' sayabda'u fi al-saa'ah al-thaalithah.
I assume that the meeting will start at three o'clock.
إذا افترضنا أن هذه النظرية صحيحة، فماذا سيحدث؟
Idhaa aftarạdna anna hadhihi al-nazariyyah sahihah, famadhaa sayahduth?
If we assume that this theory is correct, what will happen?
العالم افترض أن الماء له خصائص معينة.
Al-aalim aftarạda anna al-maa' lahu khisaa'is mu'ayyanah.
The scientist assumed that water has certain properties.
لا يمكنك أن تفترض أنه سيوافق بدون أن تسأله.
Laa yumkinuka an taftarida annahu saywaafiqu bidun an tas'alahu.
You cannot assume that he will agree without asking him.
افترضوا أن لديهم الوقت الكافي لإنهاء المشروع.
Aftaradu anna ladayhim al-waqt al-kaafi li-inhaai al-mashru'.
They assumed that they had enough time to complete the project.
In Arabic academic and professional contexts, افترض is widely used when presenting theories, hypotheses, or conditional statements. The word reflects the Arabic intellectual tradition of logical reasoning and philosophical inquiry, where making and testing assumptions is a valued part of problem-solving and discussion. In everyday conversation, Arabs use this word when discussing possibilities or making tentative plans that depend on unconfirmed circumstances.
Remember that افترض requires a complement—you assume something (usually introduced by 'أن' meaning 'that'). Be careful not to confuse it with 'تأكد' (to confirm), which implies certainty. Use افترض when you want to express conditional thinking, hypothesis, or tentative conclusions rather than confirmed facts. The noun form 'افتراض' is also very useful in academic writing.
The Arabic verb افترض (aftarạda) means 'to assume,' 'to suppose,' or 'to take for granted.' It is used when someone makes an assumption without concrete evidence, presents a hypothesis, or proposes a tentative idea for discussion. This verb is fundamental in academic discourse, scientific reasoning, and everyday conversation about possibilities and hypothetical situations.
افترض is a regular Arabic verb that follows the Form VIII pattern (افتعل). It conjugates as follows:
The verb typically takes a complement introduced by أن (anna, 'that'), allowing speakers to express what is being assumed. For example: "أفترض أن هذا صحيح" (I assume that this is correct).
Arabic speakers use افترض regularly in various contexts:
Professional Settings: In business meetings and work environments, people say "افترض أن لديك الميزانية" (assuming you have the budget) to discuss conditional scenarios.
Academic Contexts: Scholars and students use افترض when presenting theories: "الباحث افترض أن النتائج ستكون إيجابية" (The researcher assumed that the results would be positive).
Casual Conversations: Friends might say "أفترض أنك ستأتي غدًا" (I assume you'll come tomorrow) when discussing plans based on reasonable expectations.
English speakers often confuse افترض with related Arabic verbs:
While all these words involve mental processes, افترض specifically denotes making an assumption as a basis for reasoning or discussion.
Understanding related words helps solidify knowledge of افترض:
When using افترض, remember:
Arabic intellectual tradition places high value on logical reasoning and hypothesis testing. The verb افترض reflects this cultural emphasis on examining ideas from different angles before reaching conclusions. In formal writing, particularly in scientific papers and academic articles, using افترض correctly demonstrates intellectual rigor and careful thinking.
The phrase "بافتراض أن" has become especially prevalent in modern Arabic media and academic discussions, often used to introduce conditional scenarios or to present alternative viewpoints respectfully.
Academic: "بافتراض أن هذه النظرية صحيحة، يمكننا أن نستنتج أن..." (Assuming this theory is correct, we can conclude that...)
Professional: "أفترض أن المشروع سينتهي في الموعد المحدد." (I assume the project will finish by the deadline.)
Casual: "أفترض أنك جائع بعد هذا العمل الشاق." (I assume you're hungry after this hard work.)
Mastering افترض is essential for anyone seeking to communicate effectively in Arabic, whether in academic, professional, or social contexts. By understanding its nuances and practicing its usage in various scenarios, English speakers can express assumptions and hypotheses naturally in Arabic, contributing to more sophisticated and authentic communication.