ضرر en 30 segundos
- Means 'harm' or 'damage'.
- Used for physical, financial, or abstract loss.
- Often paired with the verb 'ألحق' (inflicted).
- Plural form is 'أضرار' (adrar).
The Arabic word ضرر (darrar) is a fundamental noun in the Arabic language, universally understood across all dialects and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). It translates primarily to 'harm', 'damage', 'detriment', or 'injury'. Understanding this word is crucial for navigating everyday conversations, legal texts, news reports, and formal literature. The concept of harm in Arabic culture and Islamic jurisprudence is deeply rooted, making this word not just a vocabulary item, but a cultural cornerstone. When we speak of ضرر, we are referring to any negative impact, whether physical, emotional, financial, or abstract, that impairs the value, usefulness, or normal function of an entity.
- Physical Damage
- Refers to tangible destruction, such as damage to a car after an accident.
- Psychological Harm
- Refers to emotional or mental distress caused by words or actions.
- Financial Loss
- Refers to economic detriment, often used in business and legal contexts.
العاصفة تسببت في ضرر كبير للمنازل.
التدخين يلحق ضرر بالصحة.
لا يوجد ضرر من المحاولة.
يجب إصلاح الـ ضرر فوراً.
دفع تعويضاً عن الـ ضرر.
Furthermore, the word is part of the famous Islamic legal maxim 'La darara wa la dirar' (No harm and no reciprocating harm), which forms the basis of much of Islamic tort law. This demonstrates how deeply embedded the concept is in the linguistic and cultural psyche of the Arab world. Whether you are reading a news article about the aftermath of an earthquake, negotiating a contract, or simply discussing the side effects of a medication, ضرر is the precise and appropriate word to use. It is versatile, powerful, and essential for any intermediate (B1) learner aiming for fluency.
Using ضرر correctly involves understanding its collocations and grammatical behavior. As a noun, it can be definite (الضرر) or indefinite (ضرر). It frequently acts as the object of verbs meaning 'to cause', 'to inflict', or 'to prevent'. The most common verb paired with it is 'alhaqa' (ألحق), meaning 'to inflict'. Another common verb is 'tasabbaba fi' (تسبب في), meaning 'caused'. Understanding these verb-noun pairings is the key to sounding natural in Arabic. You will rarely hear a native speaker say 'fa'ala darrar' (did harm); instead, they use the specific collocations.
- ألحق ضرراً بـ (Alhaqa dararan bi)
- To inflict harm upon. This is the most formal and standard way to express causing damage.
- تسبب في ضرر (Tasabbaba fi darar)
- To cause damage. Very common in both formal and informal contexts.
- عوض عن الضرر (Awwada 'an al-darar)
- To compensate for the damage. Essential for legal and business Arabic.
الحادث ألحق ضرراً بالغاً بالسيارة.
تجنب أي ضرر محتمل.
الشركة مسؤولة عن الـ ضرر.
تقييم الـ ضرر بعد الحريق.
هذا الدواء ليس له ضرر.
In everyday conversation, you might also hear the phrase 'ma fi darar' (ما في ضرر) in Levantine dialects, or 'mafeesh darar' (مفيش ضرر) in Egyptian, meaning 'there is no harm' or 'no problem'. This shows the word's flexibility across different registers of the language. When writing essays or formal emails, using phrases like 'min al-daruri tajanub al-darar' (it is necessary to avoid harm) elevates the quality of your Arabic. Mastery of ضرر and its associated verbs and prepositions will significantly boost your confidence in expressing complex situations involving cause, effect, and consequence.
The word ضرر is ubiquitous in Arabic media, professional environments, and daily life. Because it encompasses physical damage, financial loss, and abstract harm, its applications are vast. You will frequently encounter it in news broadcasts, especially when journalists are reporting on natural disasters, accidents, or conflicts. In these contexts, the plural form 'adrar' (أضرار) is often used alongside adjectives like 'maddiyya' (material) or 'bashariyya' (human). In the medical field, doctors use it to discuss the negative side effects of treatments or unhealthy habits. In legal and insurance sectors, it is the core term for discussing liability and claims.
- News and Media
- Used to describe the aftermath of events: 'The earthquake caused massive damage.'
- Medical Contexts
- Used to describe side effects or health risks: 'The harm of consuming too much sugar.'
- Legal and Insurance
- Used to define liability and compensation: 'Claiming compensation for material damage.'
أفادت الأخبار بوقوع ضرر كبير في البنية التحتية.
الطبيب حذر من ضرر السهر.
شركة التأمين ستغطي الـ ضرر.
الـ ضرر البيئي أصبح مشكلة عالمية.
هذا القرار سيجلب ضرراً للاقتصاد.
Beyond formal contexts, you will hear ضرر in everyday advice and proverbs. Parents warn their children about the 'darrar' of playing in the street, and friends might reassure each other by saying 'la darar' (no harm done) after a minor mistake. The concept is so deeply ingrained that understanding its nuances will give you profound insight into how Arabic speakers conceptualize risk, consequence, and safety. Whether you are watching Al Jazeera, reading a medical pamphlet, or chatting with a friend at a cafe, recognizing this word and its context will greatly enhance your comprehension.
While ضرر is a straightforward noun, learners often make mistakes regarding its collocations, prepositions, and plural forms. A very common error is translating the English phrase 'to do damage' literally into Arabic as 'yafal darar' (يفعل ضرر). In Arabic, specific verbs are required, most notably 'alhaqa' (ألحق) or 'tasabbaba fi' (تسبب في). Another frequent mistake involves the preposition used with 'alhaqa'. Learners sometimes use 'li' (لـ) instead of the correct 'bi' (بـ). For example, saying 'alhaqa dararan lil-sayyara' instead of the correct 'alhaqa dararan bil-sayyara'.
- Wrong Verb Choice
- Using 'to do' or 'to make' instead of 'to inflict' or 'to cause'.
- Incorrect Preposition
- Using 'li' instead of 'bi' after the verb 'alhaqa'.
- Plural Confusion
- Confusing the plural 'adrar' (أضرار) with similar sounding words.
خطأ: هو فعل ضرر. | صح: هو ألحق ضرراً.
خطأ: ألحق ضرر للبيت. | صح: ألحق ضرراً بالبيت.
خطأ: الـ ضررات كثيرة. | صح: الأضرار كثيرة.
خطأ: أنا متضرر من هذا الـ ضرر. (Repetitive) | صح: لقد تأذيت من هذا الأمر.
تأكد من استخدام التشكيل الصحيح: ضَرَر (Da-ra-r).
Additionally, learners sometimes confuse ضرر (damage/harm) with 'khatar' (danger). While a danger (khatar) can lead to harm (darrar), they are not strictly synonymous. Khatar is the potential, while darrar is the actualized negative outcome. Ensuring you use the correct term will make your Arabic much more precise and professional. By avoiding these common pitfalls—literal translation of verbs, incorrect prepositions, and vocabulary confusion—you will demonstrate a solid, B1-level mastery of Arabic vocabulary and syntax.
Arabic is a language rich in synonyms, and ضرر has several related words that express different shades of harm, damage, or loss. Understanding these nuances is key to expanding your vocabulary from B1 to B2 and beyond. The most common synonym is 'atha' (أذى), which also means harm or injury, but is often used more for personal, physical, or emotional pain rather than structural or financial damage. Another related word is 'talaf' (تلف), which specifically means spoilage, ruin, or destruction, often used for goods, food, or crops. 'Khasara' (خسارة) means loss, usually in a financial or competitive context.
- أذى (Atha)
- Harm or injury, often personal or emotional. 'He caused me atha.'
- تلف (Talaf)
- Spoilage or ruin, typically of physical objects or perishables. 'The talaf of the crops.'
- خسارة (Khasara)
- Loss, primarily financial or in a game/war. 'A heavy khasara.'
الـ ضرر المادي يختلف عن الأذى النفسي.
حدث تلف في البضائع، مما أدى إلى ضرر مالي.
الخسارة في المباراة لم تسبب أي ضرر حقيقي.
الدمار (destruction) أشد قسوة من الـ ضرر.
الإصابة (injury) هي ضرر جسدي.
By distinguishing between ضرر (general damage/harm), أذى (personal/emotional injury), تلف (spoilage/ruin), and خسارة (loss), you can articulate your thoughts with much greater precision. If a storm hits a city, it causes 'darrar' to buildings. If someone insults you, they cause 'atha'. If the fridge breaks, the food suffers 'talaf'. If a business makes bad investments, it suffers 'khasara'. Mastering these distinctions is a hallmark of an advanced Arabic speaker and will greatly enrich your descriptive capabilities in both writing and speaking.
How Formal Is It?
Nivel de dificultad
Gramática que debes saber
Prepositions with verbs (ألحق بـ).
Masculine plural patterns (أفعال - أضرار).
Verbal nouns (المصدر) usage in formal Arabic.
The absolute negation (لا النافية للجنس) in 'لا ضرر'.
Passive voice (تم إصلاح الضرر).
Ejemplos por nivel
هذا ضرر.
This is harm.
Basic noun usage.
لا يوجد ضرر.
There is no harm.
Used with negation 'la yujad'.
التدخين ضرر.
Smoking is harm(ful).
Simple equational sentence.
هل فيه ضرر؟
Is there harm in it?
Question formulation.
ضرر كبير.
Big damage.
Noun + Adjective.
أنا لا أحب الضرر.
I do not like harm.
Object of a verb.
هذا شيء به ضرر.
This is a thing with harm.
Prepositional phrase.
ضرر قليل.
Little harm.
Noun + Adjective.
السكر الكثير يسبب ضرراً.
Too much sugar causes harm.
Object of the verb 'yusabbib'.
حدث ضرر في سيارتي.
Damage happened to my car.
Subject of the verb 'hadatha'.
الرياضة تبعد الضرر.
Sports keep harm away.
Definite noun as object.
لا تفعل ضرراً لأحد.
Do not do harm to anyone.
Negative imperative.
الضرر ليس كبيراً.
The damage is not big.
Subject of 'laysa'.
أصلحنا الضرر في الباب.
We fixed the damage in the door.
Object of past tense verb.
هناك ضرر في الهاتف.
There is damage in the phone.
Used with 'hunaka' (there is).
ابتعد عن الضرر.
Stay away from harm.
Object of preposition 'an'.
العاصفة ألحقت ضرراً بالغاً بالمباني.
The storm inflicted severe damage on the buildings.
Collocation: alhaqa dararan bi.
يجب تقييم الضرر قبل الإصلاح.
The damage must be assessed before repair.
Used with modal 'yajibu'.
التلوث يسبب ضرراً للبيئة.
Pollution causes harm to the environment.
Abstract usage of harm.
طالب بتعويض عن الضرر المادي.
He demanded compensation for the material damage.
Legal/financial context.
لا ضرر من المحاولة مرة أخرى.
There is no harm in trying again.
Common phrase 'la darara min'.
الشركة مسؤولة عن أي ضرر يحدث.
The company is responsible for any damage that occurs.
Complex sentence with relative clause.
تجنبنا الضرر بفضل استعدادنا.
We avoided the damage thanks to our preparation.
Verb 'tajannaba' + definite noun.
الأضرار الناتجة عن الحادث كانت طفيفة.
The damages resulting from the accident were minor.
Plural form 'adrar' with active participle.
ينص العقد على تحمل الطرف الأول مسؤولية أي ضرر.
The contract states that the first party bears responsibility for any damage.
Formal legal phrasing.
الضرر النفسي قد يكون أشد من الضرر الجسدي.
Psychological harm can be more severe than physical harm.
Comparative structure.
تم تشكيل لجنة لحصر الأضرار الناجمة عن الزلزال.
A committee was formed to inventory the damages caused by the earthquake.
Passive voice 'tumma' + verbal noun.
السياسات الاقتصادية الخاطئة ألحقت ضرراً بالاقتصاد الوطني.
Incorrect economic policies inflicted damage on the national economy.
Abstract macro-level usage.
يحق للمتضرر المطالبة بجبر الضرر.
The injured party has the right to demand reparation of the damage.
Advanced legal vocabulary (jabr al-darar).
استخدام هذه المواد الكيميائية يشكل ضرراً على المدى الطويل.
Using these chemicals poses a harm in the long term.
Phrase 'yushakkil dararan'.
تأمين السيارات يغطي الأضرار التي تلحق بالغير.
Car insurance covers damages inflicted on third parties.
Relative clause with preposition 'bi'.
لا يمكن إنكار الضرر الذي لحق بسمعة الشركة.
The damage inflicted on the company's reputation cannot be denied.
Abstract noun 'sum'a' (reputation).
القاعدة الفقهية تنص على أنه لا ضرر ولا ضرار في الإسلام.
The jurisprudential maxim states that there is no harm and no reciprocating harm in Islam.
Classical maxim usage.
تتفاوت تقديرات التعويض بناءً على حجم الضرر المعنوي والمادي.
Compensation estimates vary based on the extent of moral and material damage.
Complex genitive construct (idafa).
القرار الإداري كان مشوباً بعيب التعسف مما أوقع ضرراً محققاً.
The administrative decision was tainted by the flaw of arbitrariness, which caused certain harm.
Highly formal legal/administrative register.
تدارك الضرر قبل تفاقمه يعد من أسس الإدارة الرشيدة للأزمات.
Rectifying harm before it exacerbates is considered one of the foundations of prudent crisis management.
Verbal noun 'tadruk' as subject.
المسؤولية التقصيرية تستوجب إثبات الخطأ والضرر وعلاقة السببية.
Tort liability requires proving fault, damage, and the causal link.
Specialized legal terminology.
لقد تجشموا عناء السفر رغم ما اكتنفه من ضرر ومخاطر.
They bore the hardship of travel despite the harm and risks that surrounded it.
Literary verb 'iktanafahu'.
إن درء المفاسد مقدم على جلب المصالح لتفادي الضرر الأكبر.
Warding off evils takes precedence over bringing benefits to avoid the greater harm.
Classical philosophical/theological principle.
التداعيات السلبية للقرار أحدثت ضرراً هيكلياً في المؤسسة.
The negative repercussions of the decision caused structural damage in the institution.
Advanced academic phrasing.
يتعين على المشرع صياغة نصوص تضمن درء الضرر المحدق بالبيئة بكفاءة.
The legislator must draft texts that ensure the efficient warding off of imminent harm to the environment.
Highly formal, legislative register.
إن استشراء الفساد يلحق ضرراً بنيوياً يتجاوز الخسائر المادية ليطال النسيج المجتمعي.
The spread of corruption inflicts structural harm that goes beyond material losses to affect the societal fabric.
Metaphorical and abstract C2 usage.
في فقه النوازل، يتم موازنة الضررين لارتكاب أخفهما دفعاً لأعظمهما.
In the jurisprudence of contemporary issues, the two harms are weighed to commit the lesser of them in order to repel the greater.
Deeply specialized religious/legal phrasing.
التعويض عن فوات الكسب يندرج تحت مظلة جبر الضرر في القانون المدني.
Compensation for lost profit falls under the umbrella of damage reparation in civil law.
Specialized civil law terminology.
لا ينبغي أن يُتخذ الحق ذريعة للإضرار بالغير، فالتعسف في استعمال الحق يوجب ضمان الضرر.
A right should not be taken as a pretext to harm others; the abuse of a right necessitates guaranteeing (compensating) the damage.
Complex legal reasoning.
لقد أفضت السياسات الرعناء إلى ضرر لا يمكن تداركه في الأمد المنظور.
The reckless policies have led to irreversible harm in the foreseeable future.
Advanced literary adjectives (ra'na').
إن التماهي مع هذه السرديات المغلوطة يوقع ضرراً فادحاً بالوعي الجمعي.
Identifying with these false narratives inflicts grave harm on the collective consciousness.
Sociological/philosophical register.
القاضي استند في حيثيات حكمه إلى انتفاء الركن المادي للضرر المدعى به.
The judge based the reasoning of his ruling on the absence of the material element of the claimed damage.
Extremely specific legal jargon (haythiyyat, intifa').
Colocaciones comunes
Frases Comunes
Se confunde a menudo con
Modismos y expresiones
Fácil de confundir
Patrones de oraciones
Cómo usarlo
While 'ضرر' is the noun, the active participle 'مُضِرّ' (harmful) is extremely common when describing food, habits, or chemicals. E.g., 'التدخين مضر بالصحة' (Smoking is harmful to health).
- Translating 'to do damage' literally as 'يفعل ضرر' instead of using 'ألحق ضرراً'.
- Using the preposition 'لـ' (li) instead of 'بـ' (bi) after the verb 'ألحق'.
- Mispronouncing the 'ض' as 'د', saying 'darar' (pearls) instead of 'darrar' (harm).
- Confusing 'ضرر' (the actual damage) with 'خطر' (the potential danger).
- Using 'ضرر' when 'تلف' (spoilage) is more appropriate for rotten food.
Consejos
Verb Collocation
Always memorize 'ضرر' with its verb 'ألحق' and preposition 'بـ'. Saying 'ألحق ضرراً بالسيارة' sounds native, while 'عمل ضرر للسيارة' sounds translated.
Emphatic Daad
Practice the heavy 'ض' sound. If you pronounce it like a light 'د', you will say 'درر' which means pearls, completely changing the meaning!
Plural Usage
Use the plural 'أضرار' when talking about the aftermath of large events like storms, wars, or economic crashes.
Legal Context
In business Arabic, 'تعويض عن الضرر' (compensation for damage) is a must-know phrase for contracts and negotiations.
Polite Reassurance
Use 'لا ضرر' (no harm) to politely tell someone that their small mistake is not a big deal.
Adjective Placement
Remember that adjectives follow the noun in Arabic. 'Big damage' is 'ضرر كبير' (darar kabir).
News Vocabulary
When listening to Al Jazeera or Al Arabiya, listen for 'أضرار مادية وبشرية' (material and human damages) during disaster reports.
Definiteness
When referring to specific damage, use 'الضرر'. E.g., 'أصلحنا الضرر' (We fixed the damage).
Derived Adjective
Learn the adjective 'مضر' (mudirr - harmful). It's very useful for daily life: 'هذا مضر' (This is harmful).
Maxim Usage
Drop the phrase 'لا ضرر ولا ضرار' in a debate about rules or fairness to sound highly educated and culturally aware.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Imagine a DARt (ضرر - Darrar) causing DAMAGE to a dartboard.
Origen de la palabra
From the Arabic root ض-ر-ر (Daad-Raa-Raa).
Contexto cultural
The principle of 'removing harm' (الضرر يزال) is one of the five major maxims of Islamic jurisprudence.
When someone makes a mistake that doesn't cause major issues, it is polite to say 'حصل خير، لا يوجد ضرر' (Good happened, there is no harm) to reassure them.
In Arab legal systems, 'darrar' is categorized into 'maddi' (material) and 'ma'nawi' (moral/psychological), and compensation can be sought for both.
Practica en la vida real
Contextos reales
Inicios de conversación
"هل تعتقد أن وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي تسبب ضرراً أكثر من النفع؟"
"ما هو أكبر ضرر بيئي في مدينتك؟"
"كيف يمكننا إصلاح الضرر الذي حدث؟"
"هل تعرضت سيارتك لأي ضرر في الحادث؟"
"ما رأيك في قاعدة 'لا ضرر ولا ضرار'؟"
Temas para diario
اكتب عن موقف تسببت فيه بضرر غير مقصود وكيف أصلحته.
ناقش الأضرار المحتملة للتكنولوجيا الحديثة على الأطفال.
صف الأضرار التي خلفتها عاصفة قوية في منطقتك.
كيف يمكن للشركات تعويض العمال عن الأضرار الصحية؟
تأمل في معنى 'أخف الضررين' في اتخاذ القرارات الصعبة.
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntas'ضرر' (darrar) is a general term for any kind of damage or harm, physical or abstract. 'تلف' (talaf) specifically refers to spoilage, ruin, or degradation, often used for perishable goods like food, or crops that have gone bad.
You can say 'أضرار جانبية' (adrar janibiyya), which literally translates to 'collateral damages' or 'side harms'. It is widely used in medical contexts to mean side effects of medication.
The most common and natural verbs are 'ألحق' (alhaqa) followed by the preposition 'بـ' (bi), or 'تسبب في' (tasabbaba fi). Avoid literally translating 'did damage' as 'فعل ضرر'.
Yes, it is understood and used in almost all Arabic dialects, though pronunciation might vary slightly. Phrases like 'ما في ضرر' (ma fi darar - there is no harm) are very common in Levantine and Egyptian dialects.
The plural is 'أضرار' (adrar). It follows the common 'af'al' pattern for plural nouns in Arabic. It is frequently used in news reporting.
It is a famous Islamic legal maxim and Hadith meaning 'No harm and no reciprocating harm'. It means you should not initiate harm against others, nor should you respond to harm with disproportionate harm.
Yes. 'ضرر مادي' (material damage) often encompasses financial loss. However, the word 'خسارة' (khasara) is more directly translated as 'financial loss'.
The first letter is 'ض' (Daad), an emphatic 'D' sound. Your tongue should press against the upper molars. It is deeper and heavier than the English 'D'.
The most common opposites are 'نفع' (naf' - benefit) or 'فائدة' (fa'ida - benefit/usefulness).
Yes, you can say 'ضرر نفسي' (psychological harm) or 'ضرر معنوي' (moral harm). However, 'أذى' (atha) is also very commonly used for emotional or personal hurt.
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Summary
The word 'ضرر' (darrar) is the standard Arabic term for any form of damage or harm. Mastering its collocations, especially 'ألحق ضرراً بـ' (inflicted damage upon), is essential for discussing accidents, health, and consequences in Arabic.
- Means 'harm' or 'damage'.
- Used for physical, financial, or abstract loss.
- Often paired with the verb 'ألحق' (inflicted).
- Plural form is 'أضرار' (adrar).
Verb Collocation
Always memorize 'ضرر' with its verb 'ألحق' and preposition 'بـ'. Saying 'ألحق ضرراً بالسيارة' sounds native, while 'عمل ضرر للسيارة' sounds translated.
Emphatic Daad
Practice the heavy 'ض' sound. If you pronounce it like a light 'د', you will say 'درر' which means pearls, completely changing the meaning!
Plural Usage
Use the plural 'أضرار' when talking about the aftermath of large events like storms, wars, or economic crashes.
Legal Context
In business Arabic, 'تعويض عن الضرر' (compensation for damage) is a must-know phrase for contracts and negotiations.
Ejemplo
التدخين يسبب ضرراً كبيراً للصحة.
Contenido relacionado
Esta palabra en otros idiomas
Gramática relacionada
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Más palabras de health
عافية
A1Estar sano y fuerte, disfrutando de un buen estado físico.
أعمى
A2Ciego; que no tiene el sentido de la vista.
عانى
B2Sufrir de algo desagradable o difícil.
إعياء
A2El agotamiento es un estado de cansancio físico o mental extremo.
عضلي
A2Relacionado con los músculos o que tiene músculos desarrollados. 'Tiene una complexión muscular fuerte.'
عضوي
A2Relativo a los órganos o derivado de materia viva. En agricultura, producido sin productos químicos sintéticos.
عكاز
A2Un bastón o muleta utilizado como apoyo al caminar.
علاجي
A2Relativo a la curación de enfermedades; terapéutico. 'La música tiene un fin terapéutico.'
علاجياً
A2Esto significa que se hace para ayudar a alguien a recuperarse de una enfermedad o lesión.
عملية جراحية
A2Un procedimiento médico en el que un doctor interviene el cuerpo para tratar una dolencia.
