Signification
To be unsuccessful in an attempt or effort.
Contexte culturel
Journalists use this phrase to remain neutral. By saying 'the endeavor failed' rather than 'the politician failed', they focus on the process rather than attacking the individual. The word 'Mas'a' is linked to the concept of 'Sa'y' (striving), which is a religious duty. Therefore, failing in a 'Mas'a' is seen as an honorable failure because the act of striving was performed. In a business setting, using this phrase to describe a colleague's failure is considered more polite and 'face-saving' than using the blunt verb 'fashala'. Poets often use the root 'kh-f-q' to describe the fluttering of a heart broken by failure or lost love, adding a layer of emotional depth to the word 'Akhfaqa'.
Use with Suffixes
To sound more native, attach a possessive pronoun to 'Mas'a' (e.g., مسعاه، مسعاها) instead of always using 'Al-Mas'a'.
Avoid in Slang
Never use this in a coffee shop or with friends; it sounds like you're reading a news bulletin.
Signification
To be unsuccessful in an attempt or effort.
Use with Suffixes
To sound more native, attach a possessive pronoun to 'Mas'a' (e.g., مسعاه، مسعاها) instead of always using 'Al-Mas'a'.
Avoid in Slang
Never use this in a coffee shop or with friends; it sounds like you're reading a news bulletin.
Softening the Blow
Use this phrase when you have to tell someone they didn't get what they wanted. It's much kinder than 'Fashalt'.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing preposition and noun to complete the formal phrase.
أخفق اللاعب ___ _______ لتسجيل الهدف.
The standard collocation is 'أخفق في المسعى'.
Which sentence is the most appropriate for a news report?
How would you report a failed peace talk?
This uses the correct formal register and collocation.
Match the Arabic phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
Matching failure, success, and effort.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the phrase.
المدير: هل تم توقيع العقد؟ الموظف: للأسف يا سيدي، لقد ______ __ ______.
The context 'للأسف' (unfortunately) requires a phrase indicating failure.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Failure Registers in Arabic
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesأخفق اللاعب ___ _______ لتسجيل الهدف.
The standard collocation is 'أخفق في المسعى'.
How would you report a failed peace talk?
This uses the correct formal register and collocation.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Matching failure, success, and effort.
المدير: هل تم توقيع العقد؟ الموظف: للأسف يا سيدي، لقد ______ __ ______.
The context 'للأسف' (unfortunately) requires a phrase indicating failure.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it is very common in formal academic contexts. 'أخفق في الامتحان' is standard MSA.
Yes, commentators often say 'أخفق في المسعى لتسجيل هدف' when a player misses.
'Akhfaqa' is about the result of an action; 'Khaba' (as in 'Khaba amalahu') is about the disappointment of the person.
The roots are present, but this specific collocation is a more modern development in MSA.
In MSA: 'أخفقتُ' (Akhfaq-tu). In Dialect: 'فشلت' or 'ما نجحت'.
Literally, it means a place or path of walking, but in modern contexts, it almost always means endeavor or effort.
It's better to say 'أخفق في تحقيق النجاح' (Failed in achieving success).
It is 'Akhfaqa' with a 'Qaf' (ق) at the end, which is a deep 'k' sound.
The most direct opposite is 'نجح في المهمة' (Succeeded in the mission) or 'وفق في المسعى'.
Only if you want to sound very dramatic and old-fashioned, like 'I failed in the endeavor to win your heart'.
Expressions liées
خاب أمله
similarHis hope was disappointed
لم يحالفه الحظ
similarLuck was not on his side
باء بالفشل
synonymEnded in failure
تكلل بالنجاح
contrastCrowned with success
سعى جاهداً
builds onStrived hard
