Arabic uses a pair of fixed expressions to express strong subjective praise or blame—especially useful for evaluating manners, etiquette, and public behavior.
Expressing Praise with (حبّذا)
To express strong approval for a trait or behavior, use (حبّذا) ("how excellent is...").
Grammatically, (حبّذا) acts as a complete verb-and-subject block. The noun being praised immediately follows it and takes the nominative case.
| How excellent is tact! | حبذا اللباقة!habbadha l-labâqah! |
| How excellent is this conduct! | حبذا هذا التصرف!habbadhâ hâdhâ attaṣarrufu |
Use it to praise abstract concepts, specific virtues, or general good behavior.
| How excellent is the virtue of generosity! | حبذا فضيلة الكرم!ḥabbadhâ faḍîlatu l-karam! |
| How excellent is cleanliness in the street! | حبذا النظافة في الشارع!habbathâ n-naẓâfatu fî sh-shâri'i! |
Expressing Blame with (لا حبّذا)
To express disapproval or criticism, add the negative particle (لا) to create (لا حبّذا) ("how terrible is...").
As with praise, the noun being criticized directly follows the expression in the nominative case.
| How terrible is rudeness! | لا حبذا الوقاحة!lā habbadhā al-waqâhah! |
This structure is perfect for calling out bad manners, condemning vices, and pointing out poor etiquette.
| How terrible is the vice of stinginess! | لا حبذا رذيلة البخل!lâ habbadhâ radhîlatu l-bukhli! |
| How terrible is chatter in the library! | لا حبذا الثرثرة في المكتبة!lâ habbadhâ ath-thartharatu fî al-maktabati! |
| How terrible is disturbance at night! | لا حبذا الإزعاج في الليل!lâ habbadhal-iz'âju fil-layl! |
You will often see these expressions linked to explanatory clauses that justify the praise or blame.
| How bad is hypocrisy, for it is a vice. | لا حبذا النفاق، فهو رذيلة.lâ habbadhâ n-nifâqu, fahuwa radhîlatun |