Learn Arabic › A1 › لٰكِن
لٰكِن
but /ˈlaː.kin/
particleA1#90 most common
Also: however, yet, but rather
Example sentences
أنا تعبان لٰكِن سعيد.
I am tired but happy.
أريد أن أخرج لٰكِن الجو ممطر.
I want to go out, but the weather is rainy.
حاولت الاتصال بك لٰكِن هاتفك كان مغلقًا.
I tried to call you, but your phone was switched off.
الفكرة جيدة لٰكِنها تحتاج إلى مزيد من الدراسة.
The idea is good, but it needs more study.
كنت أنوي السفر هذا الصيف لٰكِن الظروف المالية حالت دون ذلك.
I intended to travel this summer, but financial circumstances prevented it.
لم يكن الطريق سهلًا، لٰكِنَّ إصراره على تحقيق هدفه جعله يتجاوز كل العقبات.
The road was not easy, but his insistence on achieving his goal made him overcome every obstacle.
Word family
لٰكِنَّbut (heavy form, takes the accusative)
بَلْbut rather, on the contrary
غَيْرَ أَنَّhowever, nonetheless
إِلَّا أَنَّexcept that, but
وَمَعَ ذٰلِكَnevertheless, yet
Etymology
لٰكِن is a native Arabic adversative particle (ḥarf) meaning 'but, however'. Classical grammarians such as Sībawayh debated its composition, with some treating it as a contraction of لا ('not') plus a remnant of كَأَنَّ, though this analysis is disputed. It occurs in a 'light' form لٰكِن, which introduces a clause without governing case, and a 'heavy' form لٰكِنَّ, which puts a following noun in the accusative. The dagger alif (ٰ) in the spelling marks the long ā that is not written with a full alif.
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