Breakdown of تفضل بالدخول، البيت بيتك.
الal
the
بbi
by, with (attached)
تفضلtafaddal
here you are / go ahead
دخولdukhûl
entry
البيت بيتكal-baytu baytuka
make yourself at home
Questions & Answers about تفضل بالدخول، البيت بيتك.
Why do we use the preposition بـ (bi-) after تفضل here?
Instead of the verbal noun الدخول, could I just use another imperative verb, like تفضل ادخل?
In everyday spoken dialects, stacking two imperative verbs together is very common. However, in proper MSA, using بـ plus the verbal noun is the standard and most elegant way to phrase a polite invitation.
Is the phrase البيت بيتك a common MSA idiom or just colloquial slang?
It is very common in both formal MSA and everyday dialects. While it literally translates to the house is your house, it is the standard cultural equivalent to telling a guest to make yourself at home.
If I am reading this sentence out loud with full vowel endings (tashkeel), what is the case ending on بيتك?
It takes the nominative case with a damma, making it baytu-ka. This is because the phrase is a nominal sentence (a sentence without a main verb). The first word is the subject, and the second word is the predicate, both of which require the nominative case in Arabic.
Learn تفضل بالدخول، البيت بيتك and more in Arabic
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free