Learn Arabic › A1 › لا
لا
no /ˈlaː/
particleA1#5 most common
Also: not, don't, there is no
Example sentences
لا، شكراً.
No, thank you.
لا أعرف اسمه.
I don't know his name.
لا تقلق، كل شيء بخير.
Don't worry, everything is fine.
لا أحد يستطيع أن يفعل ذلك وحده.
No one can do that alone.
لا أظن أنه سيوافق على هذا الاقتراح.
I don't think he will agree to this proposal.
لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله.
There is no power nor strength except in God.
Word family
لنwill not (negates future)
لمdid not (negates past)
ليسis not, to not be
كلاno!, by no means (emphatic)
ماnot (general negation)Etymology
لا is the basic Arabic negative particle, inherited directly from Proto-Semitic *lā 'not, no'. It has remained remarkably stable in both form and function across the Semitic family for thousands of years. In Arabic grammar it spawns several specialized constructions, such as the 'لا of absolute negation' (لا النافية للجنس).
Learn Arabic the way that sticks.
Every word here is a full Polylex card with native audio and spaced repetition, so 4,080 words actually move into long-term memory.
Start free
Every word here is a full Polylex card with native audio and spaced repetition, so 4,080 words actually move into long-term memory.
Start free