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### Let's …

To say *let's*, put **{{item:1152869}}** before the we-form of the jussive: لِنبدأْ *let's begin*, لِنَزُرْ *let's visit*. It is written joined to the verb.

{{item:1152870}}

{{item:1152871}}

### 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* |

{{item:1152873}}

{{item:1152888}}

### After و and ف

After و or ف the لـ loses its vowel: فَلْنتكلمْ, وَلْيجلسْ. The spelling stays the same.

{{item:1152879}}

{{item:1152877}}

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:

{{item:1152876}}

In speech you will also hear **{{item:1152900}}** *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.

{{item:1152872}}

{{item:1152882}}

Indirect commands (لنذهب، ليكتب)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

interrogative

noun

numeral

particle

prefix

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

The definite article and locatives (الـ)

Basic noun gender (ة)

Sun and moon letters

Singular subject pronouns (أنا، أنت، هو، هي)

Indefinite nouns and nominal sentences (ـٌ)

Demonstrative pronouns for 'this' (هذا / هذه)

Separate prepositions (في، من، إلى، على)

Attributive adjectives

Predicative adjectives

Yes/No questions (هل، أ)

Basic questions (من، ما، أين)

Singular possessive pronouns (ـي، ـك، ـه، ـها)

Plural subject pronouns (نحن، أنتم، هم)

Plural possessive pronouns (ـنا، ـكم، ـهم)

Noun possession

Attached prepositions (بـ، لـ، كـ)

Pronouns with prepositions

Having and possessing (عند، لـ، مع)

Regular plural nouns (ـون، ـين، ـات)

Broken plurals

Dual nouns (ـان / ـين)

Plural and distant demonstratives (هؤلاء، ذلك، تلك)

Non-human plural agreement

Present tense singular verbs

Verbal sentences (VSO)

Present tense plural verbs

Topicalized sentences (SVO)

The indefinite accusative case (ـاً)

Verb object pronouns (-ني، -ك، -ه)

Present tense negation (لا)

Question words with verbs (متى، كيف...)

Adverbs of time and place

The future tense (سـ / سوف)

Intentions and desires (أن)

Negating states and possession (ليس)

Past tense singular suffixes

Past tense plural suffixes

Negating past events (ما)

Singular commands

Numbers 1 to 10

Number agreement for 1 and 2 (واحد، اثنان)

Asking how many (كم)

Numbers 3 to 10 (ثلاثة إلى عشرة)

Ordinal numbers 1 to 10 (الأول، الثاني)

Basic conjunctions (فـ، أو، لكن)

Ordering at a café (واحد، اثنان)

Food and drink with conjunctions (و، ف، أو، لكن)

There is and there are (هناك / ليس هناك)

Direct address (يا)

Giving reasons (لأنّ)

Relative pronouns (الذي / التي)

Quantifiers (كل / بعض)

The past tense of 'to be' (كان)

Past possession

Numbers 11 to 19 and tens to 80

Telling time (الساعة)

This book vs this is a book (هذا الكتاب، هذا كتاب)

Greetings (مرحبا، السلام عليكم)

How are you? and goodbye (كيف حالك، مع السلامة)

Nationalities (مصري، مصرية)

Roots and patterns (كتب، كتاب، مكتب)

Politeness (من فضلك، آسف)

Complex possession chains

Colors and traits (أفعل / فعلاء)

Plural colors and traits (فُعْل)

Comparative adjectives (أفعل من)

Superlative adjectives (أفعل)

Adverbs of manner (ـاً)

The nominative case (ـُ)

The genitive case (ـِ)

The accusative case (ـَ)

Dual noun cases (ـان / ـين)

Masculine plurals and 'the best of' (أفضل النجارين)

Emphasizing sentences (إنّ)

Connecting clauses (أنّ)

Reporting speech (قال إنّ)

Expressing contrast (لكنّ)

Comparison and probability (كأنّ, لعلّ)

Distant plural pointing (أولئك)

Plural relative pronouns (الذين, اللواتي)

Past habits (كان + present)

Ongoing actions (ما زال)

Masculine plurals online (مبرمجون، مؤثرون)

Perfective past (قد)

Probability (قد)

The subjunctive mood (أن)

Question	Answer
let … (command particle with a jussive verb)	لli
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's discuss the plan first.	لنناقش الخطة أولا.linunâqishi l-khuttata awwalan.
Let every teacher write the names of his pupils.	ليكتب كل معلم أسماء تلاميذه.liyaktub kullu mu'allimin asmâ'a talâmîdhihi
Let's take a picture in front of the castle.	لنأخذ صورة أمام القلعة.lina'khudh sûratan amâma l-qal'ah.
And let every pupil sit in his seat.	وليجلس كل تلميذ في مقعده.wal-yajlis kullu tilmîdhin fî maq'adihi
Let no one forget his hat!	لا ينس أحد قبعته!lâ yansa ahadun qubba'atahu!
Come on, pupils, and let's enjoy the trip!	هيا يا تلاميذ، ولنستمتع بالرحلة!hayyâ yâ talâmîdhu, walnastamti' bir-rihlati!
school (as an adjective)	مدرسيmadrasiyy
So let's talk about the school trip.	فلنتكلم عن الرحلة المدرسية.falnatakallam 'ani rrihlati lmadrasiyyah
This school book is new.	هذا الكتاب المدرسي جديد.hâdhâ al-kitâbu al-madrasiyyu jadîdun
to gather, assemble (as a group)	اجتمعijtama'a
We gathered in the office to discuss the trip.	اجتمعنا في المكتب لنناقش الرحلة.ijtama'nâ fil maktabi linunâqisha ar-rihlata
Let's gather in the square at eight o'clock.	لنجتمع في الساحة في الساعة الثامنة.linajtami' fi as-sâhati fi as-sâ'ati ath-thâminati
guardian (of a child)	وليwaliyy
Let every pupil's guardian sign the form.	ليوقع ولي أمر كل تلميذ الاستمارة.liyuwaqqi' waliyyu amri kulli tilmîdhin al-istimârata
And let the guardians take part in the meeting.	وليشارك أولياء الأمور في الاجتماع.walyushârik awliyâ'u al-umûri fî al-ijtimâ'i
responsible (for)	مسؤولmas'ûl
Let every pupil be responsible for his bag.	ليكن كل تلميذ مسؤولا عن حقيبته.liyakun kullu tilmiidhin mas'ûlan 'an haqîbatihi
The teacher (f) is responsible for the first bus.	المعلمة مسؤولة عن الحافلة الأولى.al-mu'allimatu mas'ûlatun 'ani al-hâfilati al-'ûlâ.
guide	مرشدmurshid
Let the guide explain the history of the castle.	ليشرح المرشد تاريخ القلعة.liyashraḥi al-murshidu târîkha al-qal'ati
So let the pupils ask the guide.	فليسأل التلاميذ المرشد.falyas'ali t-talâmîdhu l-murshida
The guide is waiting for us in front of the castle.	المرشد ينتظرنا أمام القلعة.al-murshidu yantaziruna amâma al-qal'ati.
allowed, permitted	مسموحmasmûhun
Is photography allowed in the castle?	هل التصوير مسموح في القلعة؟hal at-taswiru masmuhun fi al-qal'ah?
Food is not allowed on the bus.	الطعام غير مسموح في الحافلة.at-ta'âmu ghayru masmûhin fil-hâfilati.
biscuits, cookies	بسكويتbaskawît
Let every pupil bring biscuits and water.	ليحضر كل تلميذ بسكويتا وماء.liyuhdir kullu tilmîdhin baskawîtan wa mâ'an.
Don't eat (pl.) the biscuits on the bus!	لا تأكلوا البسكويت في الحافلة!lâ ta'kulû al-biskwît fî al-hâfila!
let us (+ present verb)	دعناda'nâ
Let us begin the meeting.	دعنا نبدأ الاجتماع.da'nâ nabda'il-ijtimâ'
Let us visit the castle tomorrow.	دعنا نزر القلعة غدا.da'naa nazuri l-qal'ata ghadan

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