Let's …
To say let's, put ل(li) before the we-form of the jussive: لِنبدأْ let's begin, لِنَزُرْ let's visit. It is written joined to the verb.
| Let's begin the meeting now. | لنبدأ الاجتماع الآن.linabda'i al-ijtimâ'a al-âna. |
| Let's visit the castle on Thursday. | لنزر القلعة يوم الخميس.linazuri al-qal'ata yawma al-khamîs |
Let him, let them
With the he, she and they forms, لـ gives an order about someone who is not being spoken to. For you, Arabic uses the ordinary command instead.
| jussive | with لـ | |
|---|---|---|
| we | نكتبْ | لِنكتبْ let's write |
| he | يكتبْ | لِيكتبْ let him write |
| she | تكتبْ | لِتكتبْ let her write |
| they | يكتبوا | لِيكتبوا let them write |
| Let every teacher write the names of his pupils. | ليكتب كل معلم أسماء تلاميذه.liyaktub kullu mu'allimin asmâ'a talâmîdhihi |
| Let every pupil be responsible for his bag. | ليكن كل تلميذ مسؤولا عن حقيبته.liyakun kullu tilmiidhin mas'ûlan 'an haqîbatihi |
After و and ف
After و or ف the لـ loses its vowel: فَلْنتكلمْ, وَلْيجلسْ. The spelling stays the same.
| So let's talk about the school trip. | فلنتكلم عن الرحلة المدرسية.falnatakallam 'ani rrihlati lmadrasiyyah |
| Come on, pupils, and let's enjoy the trip! | هيا يا تلاميذ، ولنستمتع بالرحلة!hayyâ yâ talâmîdhu, walnastamti' bir-rihlati! |
هيا is the everyday come on!; لِنـ is how a plan, a meeting or a text says let's.
Not … and not purpose
To say let no one …, use لا with the jussive:
| Let no one forget his hat! | لا ينس أحد قبعته!lâ yansa ahadun qubba'atahu! |
In speech you will also hear دعنا(da'nâ) let us, followed by the jussive: دعنا نبدأْ.
لِـ before a present verb can also mean in order to, with the subjunctive. Without vowels the two look alike: at the start of a sentence it gives an order, after another verb it gives a purpose.
| Let's discuss the plan first. | لنناقش الخطة أولا.linunâqishi l-khuttata awwalan. |
| We gathered in the office to discuss the trip. | اجتمعنا في المكتب لنناقش الرحلة.ijtama'nâ fil maktabi linunâqisha ar-rihlata |
