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بال

mind (one's thoughts, attention, or mood) /ˈbaːl/

nounA2#1310 most common

Also: attention, heed, mood, frame of mind, concern, care

Example sentences

أريد راحة البال.
I want peace of mind.
هذا الأمر يشغل بالي.
This matter is on my mind.
لا تشغل بالك بهذا الموضوع.
Do not worry yourself about this subject.
صديقي طويل البال ولا يغضب بسهولة.
My friend is patient and does not get angry easily.
ظلّت كلماتها عالقة في بالي طوال الليلة.
Her words stayed stuck in my mind all night.
ما بالُك شارد الذهن اليوم؟ يبدو أنّ أمرًا ما يشغل بالَك.
What is the matter with you, distracted today? It seems something is occupying your mind.

Declension

CaseSingularPlural
Nominativeبالٌبالاتٌ
Genitiveبالٍبالاتٍ
Accusativeبالاًبالاتٍ
Vocativeيا بالُيا بالاتُ

Word family

راحة البالpeace of mind
طويل البالpatient, even-tempered
مشغول البالpreoccupied, worried
خطر على البالto cross one's mind
ما بالكwhat is the matter with you

Etymology

بال is a classical Arabic noun for the mind, the heart, or one's state and mood. Dictionaries such as Lane and Hans Wehr place it under the hollow root ب و ل, where the long vowel reflects a medial و. In modern use it survives mainly in fixed phrases like راحة البال and خطر على بالي. It is a native Semitic word with no Indo-European source.

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More Arabic words

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