Learn Arabic › A1 › بَل
بَل
but rather /ˈbal/
particleA1#331 most common
Also: rather, on the contrary, but
Example sentences
لا أُريدُ الشّايَ، بَلِ القَهْوةَ.
I don't want tea, but rather coffee.
لَمْ يَأْتِ أَحْمَدُ، بَلْ أَخوهُ.
Ahmad didn't come, but rather his brother.
هٰذا الكِتابُ لَيْسَ مُمِلًّا، بَلْ مُمْتِعٌ جِدًّا.
This book isn't boring; rather, it is very enjoyable.
ما كانَ الأمْرُ صُدْفةً، بَلْ كانَ مُخَطَّطًا لَهُ بِعِنايةٍ.
The matter was no coincidence; rather, it was carefully planned.
لَمْ تَتَوقَّفِ الأَزْمةُ عِنْدَ هٰذا الحَدِّ، بَلْ تَفاقَمَتْ يَوْمًا بَعْدَ يَوْمٍ.
The crisis did not stop there; rather, it worsened day by day.
لَمْ يَكْتَفِ الكاتِبُ بِنَقْدِ المُجْتَمَعِ، بَلْ ذَهَبَ إلى التَّشْكيكِ في أُسُسِهِ ذاتِها.
The writer was not content to criticize society; rather, he went on to question its very foundations.
Word family
Etymology
بَل is a native Arabic particle of retraction, which classical grammarians call إضراب: it cancels what was just said and asserts something new in its place. Its deeper origin is debated, and some comparative work ties it to a Semitic element b-l linked to negation. Arabic is a Semitic language, so no Indo-European root applies.
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