En 15 segundos
- Used to announce you have reached a firm choice or conclusion.
- Common in both professional meetings and serious personal life updates.
- Literally means 'to take a decision' rather than 'to make' one.
Significado
This phrase is used when you have finally reached a conclusion or settled on a choice after thinking it through. It is the Arabic equivalent of saying 'I have made up my mind' or 'I've made a choice.'
Ejemplos clave
3 de 6Buying a new car
أخيراً، اتخذت قراراً بشراء هذه السيارة.
Finally, I made a decision to buy this car.
In a business meeting
يجب أن نتخذ قراراً نهائياً اليوم.
We must make a final decision today.
Texting a friend about dinner
هل اتخذت قراراً؟ أنا جائع!
Have you made a decision? I'm hungry!
Contexto cultural
The concept of 'Istikhara' is often the spiritual precursor to 'ittikhadh al-qarar'. It involves a special prayer asking God for guidance before making a choice. In countries like Lebanon and Syria, people often use the word 'akhad' (took) instead of 'itakhadha' in daily speech, but 'itakhadha' remains the standard for writing. Decisions in tribal or large family structures often involve the 'Majlis', where the head of the family 'takes the decision' after hearing everyone's opinion. The phrase 'صناعة القرار' (decision making) is a buzzword in modern Arab business hubs like Dubai and Riyadh, often used in leadership training.
The 'Take' Rule
Always remember: in Arabic, you 'take' a decision, you don't 'make' it. Think of it like taking a path.
Tanween Alert
Don't forget the 'an' sound at the end of 'qararan' in formal speech. It marks the object of the sentence.
En 15 segundos
- Used to announce you have reached a firm choice or conclusion.
- Common in both professional meetings and serious personal life updates.
- Literally means 'to take a decision' rather than 'to make' one.
What It Means
اتخذ قراراً is the standard way to describe the act of choosing a path. It is more than just a fleeting thought. It implies that you have weighed your options and arrived at a firm conclusion. In English, we 'make' decisions, but in Arabic, you 'take' them. It feels active and intentional. When you use this phrase, you are signaling that the period of hesitation is over.
How To Use It
You will need to conjugate the verb اتخذ based on who is making the decision. For yourself, you say اتخذتُ قراراً (I made a decision). If you are talking to a friend, you might ask, هل اتخذتَ قراراً؟ (Have you made a decision?). It is a very flexible phrase. You can follow it with the word بـ (with/regarding) or بشأن (concerning) to specify what the decision is about.
- Use
اتخذتُ قراراً بالسفر(I made a decision to travel). - Use
اتخذنا قراراً صعباً(We made a difficult decision). - Keep it simple and direct.
When To Use It
This phrase works perfectly in both professional and personal settings. Use it in a business meeting when a project direction is finalized. Use it with your partner when you finally decide which apartment to rent. It is also great for texting friends when you finally pick a place to eat after an hour of debating. It carries a sense of resolution. If you want to sound decisive and clear, this is your go-to expression.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using this for tiny, automatic actions. You wouldn't say اتخذت قراراً to say you decided to blink or breathe. It is also a bit heavy for very minor things like choosing a flavor of gum. For those, the simpler verb قررت (I decided) is usually enough. Using اتخذ قراراً for something trivial might make you sound a bit overly dramatic, like you're announcing a royal decree over a piece of candy.
Cultural Background
In Arabic culture, decision-making is often a communal process. The concept of 'Shura' (consultation) is deeply rooted. Even if one person 'takes' the decision, they usually do so after talking to family or colleagues. Therefore, saying اتخذت قراراً can sometimes be a powerful statement of individual agency. In formal media and news, you will hear this phrase constantly. It is the language of leadership and official announcements.
Common Variations
The most common alternative is the single verb قرر (he decided). While قرر is very common in daily speech, اتخذ قراراً adds a touch of formality and weight. In some dialects, like Egyptian, you might hear خدت قرار (I took a decision), which is just a simplified version of the same phrase. Another variation is حسم الأمر, which means 'to settle the matter' once and for all.
Notas de uso
This phrase is neutral to formal. It is perfectly safe for use in professional emails, news reports, and serious personal conversations. In very casual slang, it might be shortened to just the verb 'قرر'.
The 'Take' Rule
Always remember: in Arabic, you 'take' a decision, you don't 'make' it. Think of it like taking a path.
Tanween Alert
Don't forget the 'an' sound at the end of 'qararan' in formal speech. It marks the object of the sentence.
Sound like a Pro
Use 'بشأن' (bisha'n) after the phrase to specify what the decision is about. It sounds very sophisticated.
Consultation
If you want to sound culturally aware, mention that you 'consulted' (tashawartu) before saying you 'took the decision'.
Ejemplos
6أخيراً، اتخذت قراراً بشراء هذه السيارة.
Finally, I made a decision to buy this car.
Shows the end of a long period of searching.
يجب أن نتخذ قراراً نهائياً اليوم.
We must make a final decision today.
Used to push for a conclusion in a professional setting.
هل اتخذت قراراً؟ أنا جائع!
Have you made a decision? I'm hungry!
A slightly dramatic but common way to hurry someone up.
بعد ساعة من التفكير، اتخذ قراراً بطلب البيتزا فقط!
After an hour of thinking, he made the decision to just order pizza!
Uses the formal phrase for a trivial result to create humor.
كان من الصعب اتخاذ قرار بالاستقالة.
It was difficult to make the decision to resign.
Conveys the emotional weight of a major life event.
اتخذنا قراراً بالسفر إلى المغرب في الصيف.
We made a decision to travel to Morocco in the summer.
Reflects a group consensus.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the correct verb to complete the phrase: '____ قراراً بالأمس.'
____ قراراً بالأمس.
In Arabic, we use the verb 'اتخذ' (to take) with 'قرار' (decision).
Fill in the missing word with the correct case ending.
يجب أن نتخذ ______ (decision).
The word must be in the accusative case (mansub) because it is the direct object.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
أحمد: هل اخترت الجامعة؟ خالد: نعم، ____ قراراً بدراسة الهندسة.
Khaled is announcing a choice he has made, so 'اتخذت قراراً' is the perfect fit.
Match the sentence to the correct context.
1. اتخذت المحكمة قراراً. 2. اتخذت قراراً بشأن الغداء.
The court (mahkama) is a formal context, while lunch (ghada') is daily.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Take vs Make
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejercicios____ قراراً بالأمس.
In Arabic, we use the verb 'اتخذ' (to take) with 'قرار' (decision).
يجب أن نتخذ ______ (decision).
The word must be in the accusative case (mansub) because it is the direct object.
أحمد: هل اخترت الجامعة؟ خالد: نعم، ____ قراراً بدراسة الهندسة.
Khaled is announcing a choice he has made, so 'اتخذت قراراً' is the perfect fit.
1. اتخذت المحكمة قراراً. 2. اتخذت قراراً بشأن الغداء.
The court (mahkama) is a formal context, while lunch (ghada') is daily.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasYes, 'Qarrartu' (I decided) is the verb form and is very common. 'Itakhadhtu qararan' is just a bit more formal and descriptive.
Both are used, but 'Itakhadha' is more formal and standard in MSA (Modern Standard Arabic). 'Akhadha' is more common in dialects.
It's a Form VIII verb where the first letter of the root (hamza) has merged into the 'ta' of the pattern.
You can, but it might sound a bit formal. For pizza, 'Qarrartu' is more natural.
The opposite is 'Tarajaa' 'an al-qarar' (to withdraw from a decision) or 'lam yattakhidh qararan' (did not make a decision).
It is 'Ittikhadh al-qarar' (اتخاذ القرار).
It is masculine. So you say 'qarar jadid' (new decision), not 'jadida'.
Only if it's indefinite. If you say 'The decision', it becomes 'اتخذ القرار' (itakhadha al-qarar) without tanween.
The root Q-R-R is used many times, but this specific collocation is more modern/standard administrative Arabic.
Absolutely, it is the perfect phrase for a professional setting.
Frases relacionadas
قرر
similarTo decide
حسم الأمر
specialized formTo settle the matter
عزم على
similarTo resolve to
أخذ قراراً
synonymTo take a decision
تراجع عن قرار
contrastTo go back on a decision
