At the A1 level, students learn 'yalḥaq' in very simple, concrete contexts. It is primarily used to talk about catching public transportation like a bus (ḥāfila) or a train (qiṭār). The focus is on the present tense 'yalḥaq' and the basic meaning of 'to catch'. Students are taught to use it in short sentences like 'I catch the bus' (alḥaqu bi-l-ḥāfila). The concept of the preposition 'bi' is introduced as a fixed part of the phrase. At this stage, the goal is simply to communicate the need to hurry or the success of reaching a vehicle. Vocabulary is limited to everyday objects and simple time expressions like 'now' or 'quickly'.
At the A2 level, the usage of 'yalḥaq' expands to include social interactions. Students learn to say they will 'catch up' with friends at a cafe or a park. The past tense 'laḥiqa' is introduced, and students begin to understand the vowel shift from 'laḥiqa' (past) to 'yalḥaqu' (present). They also start using the verb with pronouns, such as 'alḥaqu bika' (I will catch up with you). The context of 'joining' a small group or a class becomes relevant. Learners are expected to use the verb to describe their daily routines and plans, incorporating it into slightly more complex sentences with conjunctions like 'because' (li'anna) or 'so that' (likay).
At the B1 level, 'yalḥaq' starts to be used in more abstract ways. Students learn to use it in the context of 'catching up' on missed work, lessons, or news. The idea of 'harm befalling someone' (laḥiqa bihi adhan) might be introduced in reading texts. Learners also become familiar with the Form VIII variant 'iltaḥaqa', distinguishing it from the Form I 'laḥiqa' for formal contexts like joining a university. They can use the verb in different moods, including the subjunctive (after 'an') and the jussive (after 'lam'). The semantic range now includes 'reaching a certain level' or 'keeping pace' with others in a learning environment.
At the B2 level, students are expected to use 'yalḥaq' and its derivatives with nuance. They understand the metaphorical use of the verb in literature and media. For example, they can discuss how a country 'catches up' with global technological trends or how an athlete 'catches up' with a world record. The passive participle 'mulḥaq' (appendix/attaché) is used in discussions about documents or diplomatic roles. Learners can handle complex sentence structures where 'yalḥaq' is part of a conditional clause or a relative clause. They also recognize the verb in various idiomatic expressions and can use it to express consequences in a sophisticated manner.
At the C1 level, the learner masters the stylistic uses of 'yalḥaq'. They can identify when the verb is used to create a specific tone in formal writing, such as legal documents or academic essays. The use of the verb to describe 'damages' or 'losses' (al-aḍrār al-lāḥiqa) is common in their vocabulary. They understand the etymological depth of the root L-H-Q and can relate it to other words like 'laḥāq' (the act of following) and 'mulḥaqāt' (accessories/appendices). Their usage is precise, choosing 'yalḥaq' over synonyms like 'yudrik' or 'yattabi' based on the specific connotation of 'joining' versus 'attaining' or 'following'.
At the C2 level, the speaker uses 'yalḥaq' with the fluidity of a native speaker, including its use in classical poetry, religious texts, and high-level political discourse. They can appreciate the subtle differences in meaning when the verb is used in different Arabic dialects versus Modern Standard Arabic. They can use the verb to discuss philosophical concepts of time and causality. The speaker is also comfortable with rare or archaic forms of the root and can use the verb to convey irony, emphasis, or poetic imagery. At this level, 'yalḥaq' is not just a verb but a versatile tool for expressing the intricate ways in which entities, ideas, and events intersect and follow one another.

يَلْحَق in 30 Sekunden

  • Catch up with moving objects or people.
  • Join institutions or social groups.
  • Be in time for scheduled events.
  • Describe consequences or harm befalling someone.

The Arabic verb يَلْحَق (yalḥaq), derived from the root ل-ح-ق (L-Ḥ-Q), is a multifaceted term primarily signifying the act of catching up, joining, or reaching a certain state or entity that is ahead. At its core, it implies a gap—whether spatial, temporal, or conceptual—that is being closed by the subject. In the CEFR A2 context, it is most frequently used to describe catching a bus, a train, or reaching a friend who started walking earlier. However, its semantic range extends far beyond physical movement. It encompasses the idea of attachment, where one thing becomes appended to another, or the realization of a consequence following an action. Understanding this verb requires recognizing the dynamic transition from being 'behind' to being 'with' or 'at the same level' as the object.

Physical Catching
To physically reach someone or something moving ahead of you, like a vehicle or a person.
Joining a Group
To become a member of a school, a club, or a military unit (often used with the preposition 'bi').
Temporal Reaching
To be in time for an event, such as a prayer, a meeting, or a deadline.

يَجِبُ أَنْ نُسْرِعَ لِكَيْ نَلْحَقَ بِالقِطَارِ قَبْلَ رَحِيلِهِ.

"We must hurry so that we catch the train before it leaves."

The verb operates in the first form (Form I) and follows the pattern of fataḥa-yaf-taḥu (فَتَحَ - يَفْتَحُ), though the past tense is لَحِقَ (laḥiqa) with a kasra on the middle radical. This nuance is crucial for learners moving from A2 to B1. When we say someone 'لحق بالركب' (joined the caravan), we are using a classic metaphor for staying relevant or keeping up with progress. In modern standard Arabic, you will see it in news headlines regarding joining international treaties or students joining universities. The sense of 'damage' or 'harm' can also be expressed using this verb, as in 'لحق به أذى' (harm befell him), where the harm 'caught up' with the person.

هَلْ سَتَلْحَقُ بِنَا فِي المَطْعَمِ لَاحِقاً؟

"Will you catch up with us at the restaurant later?"
Etymological Root
The root L-H-Q relates to 'reaching' and 'joining'. It is the basis for words like 'mulḥaq' (appendix/attachment).
Social Context
In social gatherings, it is polite to tell someone 'الحق بنا' (join us) to make them feel welcome.

لَحِقَ الطَّالِبُ بِزُمَلَائِهِ فِي الصَّفِّ.

"The student caught up with his classmates in the classroom."

لَا تَقْلَقْ، سَأَلْحَقُ بِكَ بَعْدَ قَلِيلٍ.

"Don't worry, I will catch up with you in a little while."

لَحِقَتْ أَضْرَارٌ كَبِيرَةٌ بِالمَبْنَى بَعْدَ العَاصِفَةِ.

"Great damage befell (caught up with) the building after the storm."

Using يَلْحَق correctly involves understanding its transitivity and the role of prepositions. In its most basic form, to catch a physical object like a bus or a train, you use the verb followed by the preposition بـ (bi). For example, أَلْحَقُ بِالحَافِلَةِ (I catch the bus). While some dialects might omit the 'bi', in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), it is standard practice. The verb is conjugated as a regular Form I verb: أَلْحَقُ، تَلْحَقُ، يَلْحَقُ، نَلْحَقُ. Note the vowel change from the past لَحِقَ (laḥiqa - with a kasra) to the present يَلْحَقُ (yalḥaqu - with a fatha). This is a common pattern for verbs where the second or third radical is a guttural letter (like 'ḥa').

When using the verb to mean 'joining' an institution, the preposition بـ is also mandatory. الْتَحَقَ (iltaḥaqa - Form VIII) is often used for formal enrollment, but لَحِقَ can be used in more general contexts of joining. For instance, if you are running to join a group of friends who are already walking, you would say سَأَلْحَقُ بِكُمْ (I will catch up with you). It is important to distinguish this from تَبِعَ (tabi'a), which means 'to follow' in the sense of walking behind someone, whereas لَحِقَ implies the intent or action of reaching them.

In more advanced usage, يَلْحَق can describe abstract concepts. If you are 'catching up' on your studies, you might say أُحَاوِلُ أَنْ أَلْحَقَ بِمَا فَاتَنِي (I am trying to catch up on what I missed). Here, 'what I missed' is treated as the entity that has moved ahead of the student. Another common usage is in the context of harm or benefit: لَحِقَ بِهِ الخُسْرَانُ (Loss befell him). In this construction, the 'loss' is the subject that 'caught up' with the person (the object of the preposition 'bi'). This passive-like meaning is very common in formal writing and literature.

For A2 learners, focus on three main patterns: 1. Transportation (catching the bus), 2. Social (catching up with friends), and 3. Completion (finishing something in time). Practice the imperative form اِلْحَقْ! (Catch up! / Hurry up!) which is frequently used in daily life. Remember that the negation in the present tense uses لَا (e.g., لَا أَلْحَقُ - I am not catching/cannot catch) and in the past uses لَمْ with the jussive form (لَمْ أَلْحَقْ - I did not catch).

The verb يَلْحَق is ubiquitous in Arabic-speaking environments, ranging from the frantic atmosphere of a bus station to the formal setting of a news broadcast. In a bustling city like Cairo or Amman, you will constantly hear people shouting "يَلّا، اِلْحَقِ المِيكْرُوبَاص!" (Come on, catch the microbus!). In this context, it conveys urgency and the necessity of timing. At train stations, the overhead announcements might use the noun form لِحَاق or the verb to warn passengers about the final call for boarding. It is the go-to verb for anything involving schedules and deadlines.

In the realm of media and news, يَلْحَق is used to describe political or economic developments. You might hear a news anchor say, "لَحِقَتْ أَضْرَارٌ جَسِيمَةٌ بِالاِقْتِصَادِ" (Severe damage befell the economy). Here, the verb adds a sense of inevitability or a direct consequence of an event. Similarly, when a country joins a treaty or an international organization, the verb يَلْحَق or its derivative يَلْتَحِق is used to signify the formal act of 'joining' or 'becoming attached' to the group. It carries a weight of officialdom and permanence.

Socially, the verb is used to manage group dynamics. If a group of friends is going to the cinema and one person is running late, they might text, "اِذْهَبُوا أَنْتُمْ، وَسَأَلْحَقُ بِكُمْ هُنَاكَ" (You guys go, and I will catch up with you there). This is a very common way to coordinate meetings. In a more traditional or religious context, you might hear about "إِدْرَاك الرَّكْعَة" which is synonymous with "اللِّحَاق بِالصَّلَاة" (catching the prayer) before the imam finishes a specific movement. This highlights the verb's importance in performing duties within their allotted time.

Finally, in literature and poetry, يَلْحَق is used metaphorically to describe the passage of time or the pursuit of dreams. A poet might write about how the shadows catch up with the light, or how the past catches up with the present. In these cases, the verb transcends its physical meaning and enters the realm of the existential, describing the inescapable nature of certain truths or events. Whether in the street or in a book, يَلْحَق is the bridge between 'being behind' and 'arriving'.

One of the most frequent mistakes for learners of Arabic is the confusion between يَلْحَق (yalḥaq) and يَتْبَع (yatba'). While both can be translated as 'to follow' in English, their usage is distinct. يَتْبَع means to walk behind someone or to follow a leader's path, often without the intention of overtaking or reaching them. يَلْحَق, on the other hand, specifically implies catching up or reaching a target. If you say "تَبِعْتُ الحَافِلَةَ", it sounds like you were just walking behind the bus. If you say "لَحِقْتُ بِالحَافِلَةِ", it means you successfully caught it and got on board.

Another common error involves the preposition بـ (bi). Many students, influenced by English grammar, try to use the verb as a direct transitive verb without a preposition (e.g., saying *لَحِقْتُ القِطَار instead of لَحِقْتُ بِالقِطَارِ). While you might be understood in some dialects, in formal Arabic, the omission of 'bi' can change the nuance or make the sentence feel grammatically 'naked'. Always remember: Lahiqa + Bi + Object.

Conjugation errors are also prevalent, particularly with the past tense. Because the present tense is يَلْحَق (with a fatha), students often assume the past tense is لَحَقَ (laḥaqa). However, the correct past tense is لَحِقَ (laḥiqa) with a kasra on the 'ḥa'. This is part of the 'bab' (category) of verbs like شَرِبَ - يَشْرَبُ. Mispronouncing the kasra in the past tense is a hallmark of early-stage learners. Practice saying لَحِقْتُ، لَحِقْتَ، لَحِقْنَا to internalize the correct vowel sound.

Lastly, learners often confuse لَحِقَ with وَصَلَ (waṣala - to arrive). While catching a bus (لَحِقَ) results in arriving (وَصَلَ), they are not interchangeable. You 'catch' the transport to 'arrive' at the destination. Using وَصَلَ when you mean you barely made it to the train station in time to jump on the train loses the sense of 'catching' or 'reaching' that لَحِقَ provides. Avoid using يَلْحَق to mean 'to follow' a set of instructions; for that, use يَتَّبِع (yattabi').

To truly master يَلْحَق, it is helpful to compare it with its linguistic 'cousins'. The most prominent related verb is اِلْتَحَقَ (iltaḥaqa), which is the Form VIII version of the same root. While لَحِقَ is general, اِلْتَحَقَ is specifically used for formal joining, such as enrolling in a university, joining the army, or becoming part of a professional organization. If لَحِقَ is 'catching up', اِلْتَحَقَ is 'affiliating'. For example, اِلْتَحَقَ بِالجَامِعَةِ (He enrolled in the university).

Another similar word is أَدْرَكَ (adraka). While often translated as 'to realize', its primary physical meaning is 'to reach' or 'to overtake'. In the context of time, أَدْرَكَ and لَحِقَ are very close. You can say أَدْرَكْتُ الصَّلَاةَ or لَحِقْتُ بِالصَّلَاةِ to mean you made it to the prayer in time. However, أَدْرَكَ carries a stronger sense of 'attaining' or 'grasping', whereas لَحِقَ is more about the act of 'joining' or 'catching'.

The verb تَبِعَ (tabi'a), as mentioned before, means to follow. It is often used in a sequence, like one event following another (تَبِعَات - consequences). Unlike لَحِقَ, it doesn't necessarily imply that there was a gap to be closed. Similarly, رَحِلَ (raḥala) is the opposite—to depart. When you fail to يَلْحَق the bus, it is because the bus has already رَحَلَ. Understanding these antonyms and synonyms helps create a mental map of the verb's semantic field.

Finally, consider the noun مُلْحَق (mulḥaq). This is the passive participle and means 'attached' or 'appendix'. You see this in books (an appendix at the end) or in diplomacy (a 'military attaché' is a مُلْحَق عَسْكَرِيّ). This highlights the 'attachment' aspect of the root. When you تَلْحَق something, you are essentially attaching yourself to its path or its group. This connection between 'catching up' and 'being an attachment' is a beautiful example of how Arabic roots expand from simple physical actions to complex organizational roles.

How Formal Is It?

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Wichtige Grammatik

Prepositional verbs

Form I vs Form VIII

Subjunctive mood with 'an'

Jussive mood with 'lam'

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

أَنَا أَلْحَقُ بِالحَافِلَةِ.

I catch the bus.

Present tense, 1st person singular.

2

هَلْ تَلْحَقُ بِالقِطَارِ؟

Do you catch the train?

Interrogative sentence.

3

يَلْحَقُ الوَلَدُ بِأُمِّهِ.

The boy catches up with his mother.

Subject-verb agreement (masculine).

4

نَحْنُ نَلْحَقُ بِكَ.

We catch up with you.

Use of preposition 'bi' with pronoun.

5

اِلْحَقْ بِالسَّيَّارَةِ!

Catch the car!

Imperative mood.

6

هِيَ لَا تَلْحَقُ بِالبَاصِ.

She does not catch the bus.

Negation with 'la'.

7

يَلْحَقُ الطَّالِبُ بِالمَدْرَسَةِ.

The student reaches the school (in time).

Basic present tense.

8

أَلْحَقُ بِكَ فِي البَيْتِ.

I catch up with you at home.

Future intent in present tense.

1

لَحِقْتُ بِأَصْدِقَائِي فِي المَقْهَى.

I caught up with my friends at the cafe.

Past tense 'laḥiqa'.

2

سَأَلْحَقُ بِكَ بَعْدَ العَمَلِ.

I will catch up with you after work.

Future tense with 'sa-'.

3

لَمْ يَلْحَقْ بِالطَّائِرَةِ.

He did not catch the plane.

Negation with 'lam' + jussive.

4

هَلْ لَحِقْتَ بِالدَّرْسِ الأَوَّلِ؟

Did you catch the first lesson?

Past tense question.

5

يَجِبُ أَنْ تَلْحَقَ بِنَا سَرِيعاً.

You must catch up with us quickly.

Subjunctive after 'an'.

6

لَحِقَتِ البِنْتُ بِأَخِيهَا فِي الحَدِيقَةِ.

The girl caught up with her brother in the park.

Feminine past tense.

7

نُرِيدُ أَنْ نَلْحَقَ بِالعَرْضِ.

We want to catch the show.

Verb 'want' followed by 'an' + subjunctive.

8

لَحِقَ بِي التَّعَبُ بَعْدَ الجَرْيِ.

Tiredness caught up with me after running.

Abstract subject (tiredness).

1

حَاوَلْتُ أَنْ أَلْحَقَ بِمَا فَاتَنِي مِنَ الدُّرُوسِ.

I tried to catch up on the lessons I missed.

Relative clause 'ma fatani'.

2

لَحِقَ بِهِ ضَرَرٌ بَسِيطٌ فِي الحَادِثِ.

He sustained (was caught by) minor damage in the accident.

Formal usage for 'sustaining' damage.

3

هَلْ سَتَلْتَحِقُ بِالنَّادِي الرِّيَاضِيِّ؟

Will you join the sports club?

Use of Form VIII 'iltahaqa'.

4

لَحِقَ الرَّجُلُ بِالقَافِلَةِ فِي آخِرِ لَحْظَةٍ.

The man joined the caravan at the last moment.

Idiomatic 'joining the caravan'.

5

يَلْحَقُ التَّطَوُّرُ التِّكْنُولُوجِيُّ بِكُلِّ مَجَالَاتِ الحَيَاةِ.

Technological development catches up with all fields of life.

Abstract metaphorical usage.

6

لَمْ نَلْحَقْ بِبِدَايَةِ المُؤْتَمَرِ.

We didn't make it to the start of the conference.

Jussive with 'lam'.

7

لَحِقَتِ الهَزِيمَةُ بِالفَرِيقِ الخَصْمِ.

Defeat befell the opposing team.

Abstract subject 'defeat'.

8

عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَلْحَقَ بِالرَّكْبِ الحَضَارِيِّ.

You must keep up with the march of civilization.

Metaphorical expression.

1

مِنَ الصَّعْبِ أَنْ تَلْحَقَ بِتَغَيُّرَاتِ السُّوقِ السَّرِيعَةِ.

It is difficult to keep up with rapid market changes.

Infinitive construction.

2

لَحِقَتْ بِهِ تَهَمٌ بَاطِلَةٌ أَثَّرَتْ عَلَى سُمْعَتِهِ.

False accusations caught up with him, affecting his reputation.

Abstract usage in social context.

3

يَسْعَى العُلَمَاءُ لِلِحَاقِ بِرَكْبِ الاِكْتِشَافَاتِ الجَدِيدَةِ.

Scientists strive to catch up with the train of new discoveries.

Masdar 'lihaq' used as a noun.

4

لَحِقَ الخَرَابُ بِالمَدِينَةِ القَدِيمَةِ جَرَّاءَ الحَرْبِ.

Destruction befell the old city due to the war.

Formal historical context.

5

هَلْ يُمْكِنُنِي اللِّحَاقُ بِالمَجْمُوعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ؟

Can I join the second group?

Masdar as subject of 'yumkin'.

6

لَحِقَتْ بِهِ مَسْؤُولِيَّاتٌ كَبِيرَةٌ بَعْدَ تَرْقِيَتِهِ.

Great responsibilities befell him after his promotion.

Metaphorical 'catching up'.

7

يَجِبُ أَنْ نَلْحَقَ بِالجَدْوَلِ الزَّمَنِيِّ لِلْمَشْرُوعِ.

We must stick to (catch up with) the project schedule.

Business context.

8

لَحِقَ بِي النَّدَمُ لِأَنِّي لَمْ أَسْمَعِ النَّصِيحَةَ.

Regret caught up with me because I didn't listen to the advice.

Emotional abstract usage.

1

تَسْعَى الدَّوْلَةُ لِلِحَاقِ بِالدُّوَلِ المُتَقَدِّمَةِ فِي مَجَالِ الطَّاقَةِ.

The state seeks to catch up with developed countries in the energy field.

Political/Economic discourse.

2

لَحِقَتْ بِالعَقْدِ تَعْدِيلَاتٌ جَوْهَرِيَّةٌ قَبْلَ التَّوْقِيعِ.

Substantial amendments were appended to the contract before signing.

Legal terminology.

3

إِنَّ مَا يَلْحَقُ بِالبيئَةِ مِنْ دَمَارٍ يَسْتَوْجِبُ التَّحَرُّكَ الفَوْرِيَّ.

The destruction befalling the environment necessitates immediate action.

Complex relative clause.

4

لَمْ يَسْتَطِعِ العَدَّاءُ اللِّحَاقَ بِرَقْمِهِ القِيَاسِيِّ السَّابِقِ.

The runner was unable to catch up with his previous world record.

Sports/Achievement context.

5

لَحِقَ بِالقَافِلَةِ الفِكْرِيَّةِ العَدِيدُ مِنَ الفَلَاسِفَةِ الشَّبَابِ.

Many young philosophers joined the intellectual caravan.

Literary metaphor.

6

يَنْبَغِي أَنْ نَلْحَقَ بِرَكْبِ الحَدَاثَةِ دُونَ فِقْدَانِ الهُوِيَّةِ.

We should keep up with the march of modernity without losing identity.

Sociological discussion.

7

لَحِقَتْ بِهِ خَسَائِرُ فَادِحَةٌ فِي تِجَارَتِهِ الأَخِيرَةِ.

He suffered (was caught by) heavy losses in his recent trade.

Financial terminology.

8

إِنَّ التَّبِعَاتِ الَّتِي لَحِقَتْ بِالقَرَارِ كَانَتْ غَيْرَ مَتَوَقَّعَةٍ.

The consequences that followed the decision were unexpected.

Causality and consequence.

1

لَحِقَ بِالرَّفِيقِ الأَعْلَى.

He passed away (joined the Highest Companion).

Euphemism for death in Islamic context.

2

تَتَسَارَعُ الأَحْدَاثُ بِشَكْلٍ لَا يَلْحَقُ بِهِ الوَصْفُ.

Events are accelerating in a way that description cannot keep up with.

Hyperbolic literary expression.

3

لَحِقَتْ بِالنَّصِّ شُرُوحٌ مُسْتَفِيضَةٌ عَبْرَ القُرُونِ.

Extensive commentaries were appended to the text over the centuries.

Academic/Historical context.

4

أَيُّ خَلَلٍ يَلْحَقُ بِالنِّظَامِ سَيُؤَدِّي إِلَى كَارِثَةٍ.

Any flaw that befalls the system will lead to a disaster.

Technical/Systemic context.

5

لَحِقَ بِرَكْبِ الخَالِدِينَ بِأَعْمَالِهِ الأَدَبِيَّةِ.

He joined the ranks of the immortals through his literary works.

High literary style.

6

مَا لَحِقَ بِالتَّارِيخِ مِنْ تَزْوِيرٍ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى تَنْقِيحٍ.

The forgery that has afflicted history needs revision.

Critical historical discourse.

7

لَحِقَ بِهِ العَارُ جَرَّاءَ فِعْلَتِهِ الشَّنِيعَةِ.

Shame caught up with him due to his heinous act.

Moral/Ethical context.

8

لَا يَلْحَقُ بِهِ غُبَارٌ فِي مَجَالِ الفِيزِيَاءِ.

He is unsurpassed (no dust catches up to him) in the field of physics.

Classical Arabic idiom for excellence.

Häufige Kollokationen

يلحق بالحافلة
يلحق بالقطار
يلحق بالصلاة
يلحق بالركب
يلحق به أذى
يلحق به ضرر
يلحق بالجامعة
يلحق بالعمل
يلحق بالموعد
يلحق بالخصم

Wird oft verwechselt mit

يَلْحَق vs تَبِعَ (to follow)

يَلْحَق vs وَصَلَ (to arrive)

يَلْحَق vs أَدْرَكَ (to realize/reach)

Leicht verwechselbar

يَلْحَق vs تَبِعَ

Means following behind, not necessarily catching up.

يَلْحَق vs وَصَلَ

Means arriving at a destination, not the act of catching transport.

يَلْحَق vs أَدْرَكَ

Often means cognitive realization, though it can mean physical reaching.

يَلْحَق vs رَافَقَ

Means to accompany someone, walking with them from the start.

يَلْحَق vs سَبَقَ

The opposite: to precede or be ahead of.

Satzmuster

So verwendest du es

dialectal variation

In some dialects, 'laḥaq' is used more broadly than in MSA.

abstract vs physical

The verb transitions easily between physical catching and abstract befalling.

preposition importance

The preposition 'bi' is vital for clarity.

Häufige Fehler
  • Omitting the preposition 'bi'.
  • Confusing 'yalḥaq' with 'yattabi' (following rules).
  • Using the wrong past tense vowel (laḥaqa instead of laḥiqa).
  • Confusing it with 'waṣala' (arriving).
  • Using it to mean 'following' someone's social media (use 'yutābi' instead).

Tipps

Preposition Tip

Always pair 'yalḥaq' with 'bi' to avoid sounding like a beginner. It's a 'package deal' in Arabic grammar.

Formal vs Informal

Use 'iltaḥaqa' for big life events like university, and 'laḥiqa' for daily things like catching a taxi.

The 'Q' Sound

Make sure the 'qaf' is deep in the throat. It distinguishes the word from similar-sounding roots.

Hurry Up!

The imperative 'ilḥaq!' is a very common way to tell someone to hurry or not miss an opportunity.

Adverbial Use

Use 'lāḥiqan' at the end of a sentence to mean 'later'. It's very common in emails and texts.

Religious Context

If you are late for prayer, you are 'catching' (yalḥaq) the prayer. This is a very common usage.

The Link

Remember the 'L' in L-H-Q stands for 'Link'. You are linking up with what's ahead of you.

Vowel Watch

Listen for the 'i' in 'laḥiqa' (past) and 'a' in 'yalḥaqu' (present). It's a key marker of the verb class.

Socializing

Say 'sa-alḥaq bika' when you want to tell a friend to go ahead and you'll meet them there.

Appendices

Recognize 'mulḥaq' in textbooks. It means 'appendix', literally something that 'caught up' or was 'attached' to the end.

Einprägen

Wortherkunft

Semitic root L-H-Q

Kultureller Kontext

Used for meeting friends.

Used for joining the ranks of the greats.

Used for joining prayer.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Gesprächseinstiege

"هل ستلحق بنا في العشاء؟"

"كيف ألحق بالحافلة القادمة؟"

"هل لحقت بالخبر الجديد؟"

"متى ستلتحق بالجامعة؟"

"هل لحقت بالصلاة في المسجد؟"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Write about a time you almost missed a train.

Describe your experience joining a new club or school.

Reflect on a goal you are trying to catch up with.

Write a short story about someone running to catch a bus.

Discuss the importance of keeping up with technology.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

In Modern Standard Arabic, yes, it almost always requires 'bi' to connect to the object being caught or joined. Without it, the sentence may sound incomplete.

'Laḥiqa' is general (catching a bus, catching up with a friend), while 'iltaḥaqa' is formal (enrolling in university, joining the army).

No, for instructions or rules, use the verb 'yattabi' (يَتَّبِع).

You say 'Sa-alḥaq bika' (سَأَلْحَقُ بِكَ).

Yes, 'laḥiqa' is very common to describe having successfully caught something or having been affected by something.

It is the adverbial form of the active participle, meaning 'later' or 'subsequently'.

It doesn't mean 'to harm' directly, but it is used to say 'harm befell him' (laḥiqa bihi adhan).

Yes, it appears in many words related to joining, following, and attaching.

For a male: 'ilḥaq', for a female: 'ilḥaqī', for a group: 'ilḥaqū'.

Absolutely, it's used when a player catches up to another or catches the ball.

Teste dich selbst 180 Fragen

/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

War das hilfreich?
Noch keine Kommentare. Sei der Erste, der seine Gedanken teilt!