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dakhala
to enter
Dakhala (دخل) is a common Arabic verb meaning 'to enter' or 'to go in.' It is a regular triliteral verb that describes the action of moving from outside to inside a space, and can be used both literally (entering a room) and figuratively (entering a profession or situation). The word is fundamental in everyday Arabic conversation and is used across all dialects.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11
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دخلت الطالبة إلى الفصل الدراسي في الصباح.
Dakhalat al-taaliba ila al-fassl ad-dirasi fi as-sabah.
The female student entered the classroom in the morning.
هل دخلت البريد الإلكتروني الجديد؟
Hal dakhalat al-barid al-iliktrouni al-jadid?
Did you receive the new email? (Literally: Did the new email enter?)
دخل الضيف البيت وجلس في غرفة الضيافة.
Dakhala ad-daif al-bait wa jalasa fi ghurfat ad-diyafa.
The guest entered the house and sat in the living room.
يدخل العمال المصنع كل يوم الساعة السادسة صباحاً.
Yadkhulan al-ummal al-masna'a kulla yawm as-sa'a as-sadisa sabahan.
The workers enter the factory every day at six in the morning.
دخلنا في نقاش حول المشروع الجديد.
Dakhalnaα fi niqash hawl al-mashru'a al-jadid.
We entered into a discussion about the new project.
In Arabic culture, the concept of entry and entrance holds social significance, particularly regarding the etiquette of entering someone's home or sacred spaces. The word دخل is frequently used in Islamic contexts when discussing entering mosques, paradise, or spiritual states. In modern usage, the verb appears in business and educational settings when discussing enrollment, participation, or involvement in various initiatives.
Remember that دخل is a past tense form (perfective aspect); to express present or habitual action, use يدخل (yadkhul). The verb can take a direct object (دخل البيت - he entered the house) or be used with prepositions (دخل في - he entered into/engaged in). When used figuratively with في (in), it often means to engage in or become involved in something, making it more versatile than simple physical entry.
دخل (dakhala) is one of the most fundamental and frequently used verbs in Arabic. It represents the action of entering or going into a space, location, or situation. The word belongs to the category of regular triliteral verbs, making it an excellent example for learners to understand standard Arabic verb conjugation patterns.
The verb دخل follows the pattern of Form I (الفعل الثلاثي المجرد) verbs in Arabic. The root letters are د-خ-ل (D-KH-L). When conjugated:
While دخل primarily means physical entry into a space (entering a room, building, or country), it has extensive figurative applications in Arabic. When used with the preposition في (in), it takes on meanings such as "to engage in," "to participate in," or "to become involved in." For example:
This flexibility makes دخل an essential verb for expressing concepts beyond simple physical movement.
Understanding the word family surrounding دخل enhances comprehension and vocabulary retention:
In everyday Arabic conversation, دخل appears constantly. In Islamic contexts, the verb carries particular significance when discussing entry into mosques, sacred spaces, or spiritual states. The phrase "دخول الجنة" (dukhul al-janna - entering paradise) is common in religious discourse.
In modern professional settings, you'll encounter phrases like:
The verb also appears in important public signs: "ممنوع الدخول" (Mamnua' ad-dukhul - No entry) and "مدخل" (Madkhal - Entrance).
Arabic learners should familiarize themselves with these common expressions using دخل:
When learning to use دخل correctly, remember these key points:
Distinguish between past and present: The past tense دخل differs significantly from the present يدخل. Context and surrounding words will help you identify which is intended.
Pay attention to objects and prepositions: دخل can take a direct object (دخل البيت - he entered the house) or be followed by prepositions like في (into a discussion) or إلى (into a place, though أن usually follows for locations).
Figurative extensions: Once you master the literal meaning, practice using دخل figuratively, as this is how it appears most often in advanced Arabic texts and conversations.
Regional variations: While the standard form دخل is understood everywhere, some dialects may have slight variations in pronunciation or informal usage patterns.
To solidify your understanding, consider these contextual examples:
The verb دخل is indispensable for any Arabic learner. Its prevalence in everyday conversation, combined with its straightforward conjugation pattern and rich figurative applications, makes it a cornerstone vocabulary item. By mastering دخل and its related word family, learners take a significant step toward fluency in Arabic communication.