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tawwaʿada
to threaten
توعد (tawwaʿada) is a verb meaning 'to threaten' or 'to warn of impending danger or harm.' It implies making a serious warning or threat to someone about negative consequences that may follow. This verb conveys both the act of intimidation and the delivery of a warning about future repercussions.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11
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توعده الرئيس بعقوبات شديدة إذا لم يتعاون.
Tawwaʿahu al-raʾīsu biʿuqūbātin shadīdatin idhā lam yataʿāwan.
The president threatened him with severe penalties if he did not cooperate.
توعدت الدولة الإرهابيين بملاحقة قانونية.
Tawwaʿadt al-dawlatu al-irhābiyyīna bimulāhaqa qānūniyyah.
The state threatened the terrorists with legal prosecution.
توعدوه بالطرد من الجامعة.
Tawwaʿadūhu bil-ṭardi min al-jāmiʿah.
They threatened him with expulsion from the university.
المعارضون توعدوا الحكومة بالاحتجاجات الكبرى.
Al-muʿāriḍūn tawwaʿadū al-ḥukūmata bil-iḥtijājāt al-kubrā.
The opposition threatened the government with large-scale protests.
لا تتوعد أحداً بدون سبب وجيه.
Lā tatawwaʿad aḥadan bidūn sabab wajīh.
Do not threaten anyone without valid reason.
In Arab culture, threats are taken seriously and formal warnings carry legal weight, particularly when issued by authorities. The use of توعد is common in political discourse, legal proceedings, and statements about security matters. Understanding this term is essential for comprehending news reports, diplomatic communications, and formal warnings in Arabic-speaking contexts.
توعد is typically used in formal or serious contexts and is often followed by a direct object (the person being threatened) and a prepositional phrase indicating the consequence (ب + consequence). Note the difference between توعد (to threaten with a consequence) and وعد (to promise); they share the same root but have opposite meanings. This verb is frequently used in news, legal, and political communications.
The Arabic verb توعد (tawwaʿada) is a fundamental term used to express the act of making threats or delivering serious warnings about negative consequences. This word carries significant weight in Arabic discourse, from political statements to legal warnings, and is essential for learners seeking to understand formal Arabic communication.
توعد literally translates to 'to threaten' or 'to warn of impending danger.' The word conveys the intentional act of threatening someone with consequences if they do not comply with certain demands or conditions. Unlike simple warnings, توعد implies a degree of seriousness and an explicit statement of what will happen if the threatened person does not heed the warning.
توعد is a regular Form II (فعل ثاني) verb derived from the root و-ع-د (wāʿada), which also gives us وعد (to promise). The verb conjugates as follows:
The verb typically requires a direct object (the person being threatened) followed by a prepositional phrase beginning with ب (bi-) to indicate the threat or consequence.
توعد is commonly used in formal and official contexts, including:
Governments and political leaders frequently use this term when issuing formal warnings. For example: "الحكومة توعدت الدول المعادية بردود حازمة" (The government threatened hostile nations with firm responses).
Authorities use توعد when delivering formal notices or threats of punishment. Courts and law enforcement agencies employ this term regularly in their communications.
Arabic news outlets frequently report on threats issued by various parties using forms of توعد, making it essential vocabulary for understanding current events coverage.
It's crucial to understand the relationship between توعد and its opposite, وعد (to promise). While both derive from the same root, they have entirely opposite meanings:
This distinction is vital for accurate understanding and usage in Arabic.
In Arab culture, formal threats carry significant weight, particularly when issued by government officials or legal authorities. Threats in official statements are taken seriously and may have legal implications. Understanding how توعد is used helps learners appreciate the formality and seriousness embedded in Arabic communication.
Several related terms help expand understanding of this concept:
When using توعد, remember to follow it with both a direct object and a consequence phrase. For instance: "توعده بالطرد" (threatened him with dismissal) or "توعدتهم بالعقوبات" (threatened them with punishments). Practice distinguishing between threats (توعد) and promises (وعد) through reading authentic Arabic texts, particularly news articles and official statements where these terms frequently appear.