Arabic vocabulary
How to say “not” in Arabic, with pronunciation and real example sentences from OpenArabic texts.
وَإِن ردّها فلكون مثلهَا لَا يصلح أَن يواجه بِهِ
And if He rejects it, it is because something like it is not fit to be presented to Him.
لَا — not. la = 'not', negating the verb that follows.
From: Returning to God →ونكتة الْمَسْأَلَة أَنَّهُ لَا يرى ربه إِلَّا محسنا، وَلَا يرى نَفسه إِلَّا مسيئا
And the essence of the matter is that he sees his Lord as nothing but good, and himself as nothing but wrong.
لَا — not. la = 'not', negating the verb that follows.
From: Returning to God →ونكتة الْمَسْأَلَة أَنَّهُ لَا يرى ربه إِلَّا محسنا، وَلَا يرى نَفسه إِلَّا مسيئا
And the essence of the matter is that he sees his Lord as nothing but good, and himself as nothing but wrong.
وَلَا — and not. wa- = 'and'; la = 'not' — together 'and… not', negating the next verb.
From: Returning to God →يا آدم، لا تجزع من قولي لك اخرج منها، فلك ولصالح ذريتك خلّفتها
O Adam, do not grieve over My saying to you: 'Get out of it,' for I created it for you and your righteous descendants.
لَا — do not. la = 'do not', used before the verb to forbid it.
From: Adam's Descent →لا تجزع من كأس زلل كانت سبب كيسك،
Do not despair from a cup of slip that was the cause of your prudence.
لَا — do not. la = 'do not', used before the verb to forbid it.
From: Adam's Descent →فَلَا تزَال الشَّجَرَة تؤتي أكلهَا كل حِين بإذن الله رَبِّهَا
The tree continues to yield its fruit at all times by the permission of its Lord.
فَلَا — so not. fa- = 'so'; la = 'not' — together 'so… not', negating the next verb.
From: Knowledge, Reverence, Obedience →ولا تشرد عنه بهذه الأربعة؛
Do not let these four stray from Him.
وَلَا — and do not. wa- = 'and'; la = 'do not' — together 'and do not', forbidding the next verb.
From: Knowledge, Reverence, Obedience →وَلَا يمل من خدمته مع حاجته وفقره إِلَيْهِ،
And that he does not tire of serving Him, despite his need and poverty before Him,
وَلَا — and not. wa- = 'and'; la = 'not' — together 'and not', negating the next verb.
From: Seeds and Streams of Deeds →لا يعودون إلى يوم القيامة
They will not return until the Day of Judgment.
لَا — not. la = 'not', negating the verb that follows.
From: Angels at al-Aqsa →لِأَنَّهَا لَا تَدْعُو إِلا إِلَى مَا تَشْتَهِي
Because it only calls to what it desires.
لَا — not. la = 'not', negating the verb that follows.
From: Resisting Temptation →وَأَنْزِلْهَا مَنْزِلَةَ مَنْ لَا حَاجَةَ لَهُ فِيهَا وَلا بُدَّ لَهُ مِنْهَا
Place it in the position of one who has no desire for it yet cannot do without it.
لَا — neither. 'la' = 'no, not', here negating 'need'.
From: Faith as Light →غذِّ قلبك بذكرٍ يسير موزّع على اليوم، لا دفعةً تُتعب ثم تنقطع
Nourish your heart with a gentle remembrance spread throughout the day, not a burst that tires and then ceases.
لَا — not. 'la' = 'not'.
From: Small Daily Habits →النفس تُروَّض بالصدق مع اللحظة لا بالشعارات
The soul is tamed through honesty with the moment, not through slogans.
لَا — not. 'la' = 'not'.
From: On Sincerity →ردّه إلى طين التواضع، واغسله بعملٍ لا يراه أحد
Return it to the clay of humility, and wash it with a deed seen by no one.
لَا — no. 'la' = 'not, no'.
From: On Sincerity →لا تُحاور كسلك كما لو كان قدرًا؛ عامله كعضلةٍ تُدرَّب
Do not treat your laziness as if it were destiny; treat it as a muscle to be trained.
لَا — do not. 'la' = 'do not'.
From: On Sincerity →عند الفتور، بدّل الوسيلة لا الغاية إن عجز لسانك فليذكر قلبك، وإن ثقل قلبك فلتخدم يدك، فالطرق إلى الله بعدد أنفاس الخلائق
When feeling lethargic, change the means, not the goal: if your tongue is too weak, let your heart remember; if your heart is heavy, let your hands serve, for the paths to God are as numerous as the breaths of creation.
لَا — not. 'la' = 'not'.
From: On Sincerity →إذا أبطأتك هموم الرزق، فاعمل بالأسباب واترك في قلبك فراغًا للثقة، فالقلق لا يزيد في الكيل حبةً واحدة
If worries about sustenance slow you down, act upon the means and leave space in your heart for trust, for anxiety does not add a single grain to the measure.
لَا — does not. 'la' = 'not'.
From: On Sincerity →هذه الزيادات الصغيرة هي السلّم الخفي الذي يصعد بك حين لا يراك أحد، حتى تصير النفس مطمئنة، والعمل سهلًا، والطريق مضيئًا من الداخل
These small increments are the hidden ladder that lifts you when no one sees, until the soul becomes content, the work easy, and the path illuminated from within.
لَا — not. 'la' = 'not'.
From: On Sincerity →فَقَالَ لَهُ لُقْمَان لَا تغتم فَإِن لَك عِنْدِي فرجا
So Luqman said to him, 'Do not grieve, for I have a relief for you.'
لَا — do not. 'la' = the 'do not' that forms a prohibition with the next verb.
From: Luqman's Response to Injustice →فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَسْتَطِيع أَن يحبس عَنْك الْمَدّ
For he will not be able to hold back the tide from you.
لَا — not. 'la' = 'not', negating the verb.
From: Luqman's Response to Injustice →وَلا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُدَالَّ الْهَوَى عَلَيْهِ
And desire should not prevail over it.
وَلَا — and should not. 'wa-' = 'and'; 'la' = 'not', negating the verb.
From: Intellect and Faith →وَلا يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُجْعَلَ وَهُوَ الْحَاكِمُ عَلَيْهِ مَحْكُومًا
And it is not permissible for him to be made subordinate when he is the ruler over it.
وَلَا — and not. 'wa-' = 'and'; 'la' = 'not', negating the verb.
From: Intellect and Faith →وَلا أَنْ يَصِيرَ وَهُوَ الزَّمَّامُ مَزْمُومًا
Nor that he becomes led while he is the one who leads.
وَلَا — and not. 'wa-' = 'and'; 'la' = 'not'.
From: Intellect and Faith →وَلَا أَنْ يَعُودَ وَهُوَ الْمَتْبُوعُ تَابِعًا
And not that he returns as a follower while he is the leader.
وَلَا — and not. 'wa-' = 'and'; 'la' = 'not'.
From: Intellect and Faith →OpenArabic teaches words like لَا through real bilingual reading with native audio and spaced-repetition practice.
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