Bedeutung
Referring to a short period of time in the future.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase is almost always followed by 'Insha'Allah' (God willing). This reflects a cultural belief that the future, even the next five minutes, is not guaranteed. In daily life, people prefer 'Ba'da shway'. Using 'Ba'da qalil' might make you sound like a news reporter or someone being very serious. Egyptians might use 'Ba'da shwayya' or even 'Sanya' (one second), even if it takes ten minutes. 'Ba'da qalil' is reserved for formal media. The 'Spacetoon generation' (Arabs born in the 90s/00s) has a deep emotional connection to the phrase 'Sa-na'udu ba'da qalil' because it preceded their favorite cartoons.
The 'Insha'Allah' Rule
Always add 'Insha'Allah' after 'ba'da qalil' in social settings to sound like a native speaker.
Don't use for 'Later'
If you mean 'later' as in 'not today', don't use this phrase. It will confuse people.
Bedeutung
Referring to a short period of time in the future.
The 'Insha'Allah' Rule
Always add 'Insha'Allah' after 'ba'da qalil' in social settings to sound like a native speaker.
Don't use for 'Later'
If you mean 'later' as in 'not today', don't use this phrase. It will confuse people.
Dialect Swap
If you are in a cafe in Cairo or Beirut, use 'ba'da shway' to sound more natural.
News Listening
Listen for this phrase on Arabic news channels; it's the most common way they introduce the next segment.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank to say 'The bus arrives in a bit.'
الحافلة تصل ____ ____.
'بعد قليل' is the correct phrase for 'in a bit'. 'قبل قليل' would mean 'a bit ago'.
Which phrase is most likely heard on a TV news teaser?
التفاصيل...
News programs use 'بعد قليل' to tell viewers that details are coming up next.
Complete the dialogue.
أحمد: متى سنأكل؟ خالد: _________، الطعام في الفرن.
Since the food is in the oven, it will be ready 'soon' or 'in a bit'.
Match the phrase to the correct time frame.
بعد قليل
'بعد قليل' refers to a short, immediate time frame.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgabenالحافلة تصل ____ ____.
'بعد قليل' is the correct phrase for 'in a bit'. 'قبل قليل' would mean 'a bit ago'.
التفاصيل...
News programs use 'بعد قليل' to tell viewers that details are coming up next.
أحمد: متى سنأكل؟ خالد: _________، الطعام في الفرن.
Since the food is in the oven, it will be ready 'soon' or 'in a bit'.
بعد قليل
'بعد قليل' refers to a short, immediate time frame.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenUsually anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. If it's more than two hours, people usually specify the time.
No, for the past use 'قبل قليل' (qabla qalil - a little while ago).
Yes, it is Modern Standard Arabic, but it's used in neutral daily conversation too.
'Ba'da qalil' is for minutes/hours. 'Qariban' is for days/weeks.
No, it is an adverbial phrase and stays the same for everyone.
No, that is grammatically incorrect. It must be 'ba'da qalil'.
Yes, 'shway' is the dialect version of 'qalil'.
You can say 'بعد قليل جداً' (ba'da qalil jiddan).
Yes, it is very professional to use in emails to indicate a quick turnaround.
Because it is an adverb of time (zarf), which is usually in the accusative case.
Verwandte Redewendungen
قريباً
synonymSoon
بعد شوي
similarIn a bit (dialect)
لاحقاً
similarLater
فوراً
contrastImmediately
عما قريب
specialized formIn the near future
