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A1 preposition #500 le plus courant 9 min de lecture

لدى

laday Top 500

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces لدى en 30 secondes

Explication لدى in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'لدى' as a formal way to say 'have.' While you will mostly use 'عند' (inda) for everyday things, you will see 'لدى' in your textbooks and on signs. Focus on the basic structure: 'لدى' + [Person] + [Object]. For example, 'لدى المعلم كتاب' (The teacher has a book). You should also learn how to attach it to yourself: 'لدي' (I have). At this stage, treat it as a synonym for 'I have' that you might use in a classroom or a formal introduction. Don't worry too much about the deep grammar; just recognize it when you see it in a sentence and know it's about possession.

At the A2 level, you need to start using 'لدى' with pronouns correctly. This is where the spelling change happens: the 'ى' becomes 'ي'. Practice 'لديك' (you have), 'لديه' (he has), and 'لدينا' (we have). You should also begin to use it for abstract things like 'time' or 'questions.' For example, 'هل لديك سؤال؟' (Do you have a question?). This is more polite and formal than the casual 'عندك سؤال؟'. You should also be able to negate it using 'ليس', such as 'ليس لدي وقت' (I don't have time). Start noticing it in news headlines or short stories you read.

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At the B1 level, you should understand the 'presence' aspect of 'لدى'. It's not just about owning something; it's about something being 'at' or 'with' a person or place. You might see it used to describe locations, like 'لدى مدخل المدينة' (at the entrance of the city). You should also use it for more complex abstract concepts, like 'لديه رغبة' (he has a desire) or 'لدى الناس مخاوف' (people have fears). At this level, you should be able to distinguish between 'مع' (physical accompaniment) and 'لدى' (possession/availability) in your writing to show a higher level of vocabulary control.

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At the B2 level, you should use 'لدى' to express viewpoints and perspectives. Phrases like 'لدى البعض' (according to some) or 'المكانة التي لدى المجتمع' (the status held by society) are common in essays and debates. You should also understand its temporal use: 'لدى وصولي' (upon my arrival). This allows you to connect actions in a more sophisticated way than just using 'عندما' (when). Your usage should reflect an understanding of 'register'—knowing that 'لدى' is the appropriate choice for a business email or a formal speech, whereas 'عند' might be too casual.

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At the C1 level, you should be sensitive to the stylistic nuances of 'لدى' in literature and high-level journalism. It is often used to create a sense of 'inherent quality' or 'divine presence.' You should be able to analyze how a writer uses 'لدى' to emphasize the proximity or the official nature of a relationship. You should also be comfortable with its use in complex legal or academic structures, such as 'لدى الجهات المختصة' (with the competent authorities). Your own writing should use 'لدى' seamlessly to maintain a consistent formal tone throughout an academic paper or a professional report.

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At the C2 level, you should have a complete mastery of 'لدى' including its historical and Quranic resonances. You can use it to evoke specific classical styles or to provide precise legal definitions. You understand the subtle difference between 'لدى' and 'لدن' (ludun), another rare word for 'from the presence of.' You can use 'لدى' in highly abstract philosophical discussions about the nature of possession and existence. At this level, the word is not just a tool for communication but a brush for painting precise shades of meaning in the most complex linguistic contexts.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

لدى en 30 secondes

A formal preposition meaning 'to have' or 'at' in Modern Standard Arabic.
Changes spelling from لدى to لدي- when attaching pronouns (e.g., لديه).
Commonly used in news, legal documents, and literature rather than daily speech.
Can also mean 'upon' or 'at the time of' when followed by a verbal noun.

The Arabic preposition لدى (ladā) is a sophisticated and versatile word primarily used to denote possession, presence, or availability. While it is often translated simply as 'to have' or 'at,' its usage is more nuanced than the common word عند (ʿinda). In Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), لدى suggests a sense of immediate presence or a more formal type of possession. It is a 'non-declinable' noun used as a preposition, meaning its ending doesn't change based on its position in a sentence, though it undergoes a spelling change when attached to pronouns (the final alif maqsura becomes a regular ya).

Formal Possession: In formal writing, news reports, and legal documents, لدى is the preferred choice to indicate that someone possesses a right, an idea, or a physical object. For example, 'The witness has information' would typically use لدى to lend an air of officiality to the statement.
Immediate Presence: It can also mean 'at' or 'in the presence of.' If someone is standing 'at' the door or 'with' a specific authority figure, لدى emphasizes the proximity. It implies being 'right there' or 'in the custody of.'
Abstract Availability: When discussing skills, talents, or feelings, لدى is frequently employed. It suggests that these qualities are inherent or currently residing within the person. 'She has the talent' (لدى المرأة الموهبة) sounds more poetic and established than using simpler alternatives.

ليس لدى الحكومة أي تعليق على هذه المسألة حالياً.
— The government does not have any comment on this matter currently.

Historically, لدى is rooted in Classical Arabic and appears frequently in the Quran and ancient poetry. In these contexts, it often carries a weight of divine presence or absolute possession. For the modern learner, using لدى instead of عند is an easy way to elevate the register of your speech from 'street level' to 'educated/professional level.' It is rarely used in local dialects (Ammiya), where عند or مع are dominant, making it a hallmark of Fusha (Modern Standard Arabic).

هل لديك وقت للتحدث عن المشروع الجديد؟
— Do you have time to talk about the new project?

Understanding the spatial aspect of لدى is also vital. While عند can mean 'at' in a general sense (at the house, at the time of), لدى often implies a more direct point of contact or a specific location of occurrence. In news reports, you might hear 'at the meeting' (لدى الاجتماع) or 'upon arrival' (لدى وصوله), where it functions almost like a temporal marker, indicating the exact moment or place something happened.

Using لدى (ladā) correctly requires understanding its role as a 'quasi-verb' in Arabic sentence structure. Because Arabic doesn't have a direct equivalent to the English verb 'to have,' it uses prepositions like لدى followed by the subject to express possession. This creates a 'nominal sentence' where the prepositional phrase acts as the predicate (khabar) and the thing possessed acts as the subject (mubtada).

Basic Possession (Noun + Noun): When the possessor is a noun, لدى precedes it. Example: لدى الطالب كتاب (The student has a book). Literally, this translates to 'With the student [is] a book.'
Pronominal Possession (Preposition + Pronoun): When the possessor is a pronoun, it attaches directly to the word. Note the spelling change: لديك (you have), لدينا (we have), لديهم (they have). This is the most common way you will encounter the word in dialogue.
Negation: To say 'I don't have,' you simply add ليس (laysa) or لا (la) before it. Example: ليس لدي مال (I don't have money). In formal MSA, ليس is the standard negator for this structure.

كان لدى المدير رؤية واضحة لمستقبل الشركة.
— The manager had a clear vision for the company's future.

Another advanced use of لدى is in temporal clauses. It can function similarly to 'upon' or 'at the time of.' For instance, لدى سماع الخبر means 'upon hearing the news.' This usage is very common in journalism and formal storytelling. It connects an action immediately to the moment of its occurrence, creating a sense of cause and effect or chronological sequence.

سأكون لدى مدخل الفندق في تمام الساعة الثامنة.
— I will be at the hotel entrance at exactly eight o'clock.

When using لدى to describe people's opinions or perspectives, it acts like 'according to' or 'in the eyes of.' For example, لدى البعض means 'according to some' or 'in the view of some.' This allows speakers to distance themselves from a statement or to attribute a belief to a specific group, which is a key skill in academic and analytical Arabic writing.

If you are traveling through the Arab world, you might notice a discrepancy between the Arabic you hear in the streets and the Arabic you hear on television. لدى (ladā) is a quintessential 'Fusha' (Modern Standard Arabic) word. You will almost never hear a taxi driver in Cairo or a shopkeeper in Amman use it in casual conversation; they will use and or ma'ak. However, as soon as you turn on the news, open a newspaper, or attend a university lecture, لدى becomes ubiquitous.

News and Media: News anchors on Al Jazeera or Al Arabiya use لدى constantly. Phrases like 'The President has a plan' or 'There is a desire among the people' will almost always use لدى. It provides a level of professional distance and grammatical precision required for journalism.
Legal and Official Documents: Contracts, visas, and official government announcements rely heavily on لدى. It is used to define who holds certain powers or who is in possession of specific documents. If you are applying for a residency permit, the form might ask if you have (لديك) certain qualifications.
Literature and Poetry: Modern Arabic novels use لدى to describe the internal states of characters. Instead of saying 'He felt sad,' a writer might say 'He had a feeling of sadness' (كان لديه شعور بالحزن), which sounds more evocative and literary.

أكد المتحدث الرسمي أنه ليس لدى الوزارة أي نية لتغيير القانون.
— The official spokesperson confirmed that the ministry has no intention of changing the law.

In religious contexts, لدى is also significant. It appears in the Quran to describe things that are 'with God' or in His presence. This gives the word a spiritual weight that persists even in modern usage. When someone says 'I have hope,' using لدى can sometimes carry a more profound, existential meaning than the everyday 'I have a pen.'

إن الموهبة التي لدى هذا الفنان استثنائية حقاً.
— The talent that this artist possesses is truly exceptional.

While لدى (ladā) is a relatively straightforward preposition, English speakers often stumble on its spelling, its distinction from similar words, and its grammatical behavior when negated. Avoiding these common pitfalls will help you sound more like a native speaker of Modern Standard Arabic.

Spelling with Pronouns: The most frequent error is forgetting that the alif maqsura (ى) changes to a ya (ي) when a suffix is added. Students often write لدىه instead of the correct لديه (ladayhi). Remember: if a pronoun is attached, the 'hook' of the ya must be present.
Confusing with 'Inda' (عند): While they are often interchangeable, لدى is strictly formal. Using لدى in a casual dialect conversation might sound 'stiff' or even slightly pretentious, like saying 'I am in possession of' instead of 'I have' while buying groceries.
Incorrect Negation: Learners often try to use ما (ma) to negate لدى, as they might with verbs. However, since لدى creates a nominal sentence, it should be negated with ليس (laysa) or لا (la). Correct: ليس لدي. Incorrect: ما لدي (though this can occur in some dialects, it's non-standard for MSA).

خطأ: لدىه سيارة جديدة.
صح: لديه سيارة جديدة.

Another mistake is using لدى for 'ownership' in a way that implies permanent legal title when لـ (li-) might be more appropriate. لدى implies having something 'on hand' or 'in one's presence.' If you want to say 'This house belongs to me' (as in, I own the deed), هذا البيت لي is better. If you say هذا البيت لدي, it sounds more like 'I have this house [available/with me right now].'

خطأ: ليس ما لدي وقت.
صح: ليس لدي وقت.

Arabic has several ways to express the concept of 'having' or 'being with.' Choosing the right one depends on the context, the level of formality, and the type of possession you are describing. Here is how لدى (ladā) compares to its closest relatives.

لدى vs. عند (ʿinda): لدى is more formal and often implies immediate physical presence or abstract possession. عند is the 'workhorse' of the language, used in both formal and informal contexts for all types of possession (physical, abstract, temporal). If in doubt, عند is safer, but لدى is more 'elegant.'
لدى vs. مع (maʿa): مع literally means 'with.' It is used for things you are physically carrying right now. If you say معي كتاب, the book is in your hand or bag. If you say لدي كتاب, you might own it but it could be at home. لدى is more about possession/availability, while مع is about accompaniment.
لدى vs. لـ (li-): لـ is used for belonging and kinship. You use لي for 'I have a brother' or 'The book belongs to me.' لدى is rarely used for family members. You wouldn't typically say لدى أخ; you would say لي أخ.

المقارنة:
1. معي مفاتيح (I have the keys on me).
2. عندي سيارة (I have/own a car).
3. لدي فكرة (I have an idea - formal).

Finally, consider بيد (bi-yad), which literally means 'in the hand of.' This is even more formal than لدى and is used to indicate control or authority. For example, 'The matter is in the hands of the judge' (الأمر بيد القاضي). While لدى is formal, بيد is almost exclusively reserved for literary or legal rhetoric. Understanding these gradients of 'having' will make your Arabic much more precise and expressive.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

"لدى سيادته رغبة في التعاون."

Neutre

"لدى الشركة فروع كثيرة."

Informel

"عندي فكرة."

Child friendly

"لدى الأرنب جزرة."

Argot

"معي قرشين."

Le savais-tu ?

In the Quran, 'lada' is often used to describe the absolute presence of God, distinguishing it from 'inda' which can be more metaphorical.

Guide de prononciation

UK /la.daː/

US /ləˈdɑː/

Stress is on the second syllable (da).

Rime avec

هدى (huda) ندى (nada) صدى (sada) مدى (mada) عدى (ada) فدى (fida) ردى (rada) بدى (bada)

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing it as 'lada-i' when no pronoun is attached.
Failing to double the 'y' sound in 'ladayya' (I have).
Confusing the 'a' sound with 'u' (luda).
Shortening the final vowel too much in formal recitation.
Misplacing the stress on the first syllable.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize in text once you know the pronoun forms.

Écriture 3/5

Requires remembering the spelling change with pronouns.

Expression orale 4/5

Hard to remember to use it instead of 'inda' in real-time conversation.

Écoute 2/5

Very common in news; easy to pick up.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

عند مع لي أنا هو

Apprends ensuite

بيد حيث منذ خلال

Avancé

لدن تلقاء إزاء

Grammaire à connaître

Nominal Sentence Predicate

In 'Ladayya kitab', 'Ladayya' is the khabar (predicate).

Alif Maqsura Transformation

Lada + hu = Ladayhi (ى becomes ي).

Negation with Laysa

Laysa ladayya (I don't have).

Temporal Masdar

Lada + Arrival = Upon arrival.

Prepositional Attachment

Pronouns attach directly to the end of the word.

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Exemples par niveau

لدي كتاب.

I have a book.

Ladayya = Lada + I (me).

لدى أحمد سيارة.

Ahmed has a car.

Lada precedes the noun possessor.

هل لديك قلم؟

Do you have a pen?

Ladayka is the masculine singular 'you'.

لدينا بيت كبير.

We have a big house.

Ladayna = Lada + na (we).

لدى المعلمة فكرة.

The teacher has an idea.

Lada is used for both genders.

ليس لدي وقت.

I don't have time.

Laysa is used to negate possession.

لدى الطالب درس.

The student has a lesson.

Basic nominal sentence structure.

هل لديكي قطة؟

Do you (fem.) have a cat?

Ladayki is the feminine singular 'you'.

لديه موعد مع الطبيب.

He has an appointment with the doctor.

Ladayhi = Lada + hu (him).

لديها الكثير من العمل.

She has a lot of work.

Ladayha = Lada + ha (her).

لديهم اجتماع الآن.

They have a meeting now.

Ladayhim = Lada + hum (them).

ليس لدى المطعم طعام.

The restaurant doesn't have food.

Negation of a noun possessor.

لديك رسالة جديدة.

You have a new message.

Common in digital interfaces.

هل لدى المدير وقت؟

Does the manager have time?

Formal inquiry.

لدينا مشكلة صغيرة.

We have a small problem.

Abstract possession.

لدى الطفل لعبة.

The child has a toy.

Simple physical possession.

لدى وصولي إلى المطار، اتصلت بك.

Upon my arrival at the airport, I called you.

Temporal use of Lada.

كان لدى الشعب أمل كبير.

The people had great hope.

Past tense with Kan.

ليس لدي أي اعتراض على الخطة.

I don't have any objection to the plan.

Formal expression of opinion.

لدى هذه الشركة سمعة طيبة.

This company has a good reputation.

Abstract possession for entities.

سأنتظرك لدى باب المكتبة.

I will wait for you at the library door.

Lada as a spatial preposition.

لدى كل إنسان حقوق.

Every human has rights.

Universal statement.

هل لديك خبرة في هذا المجال؟

Do you have experience in this field?

Professional context.

لدى الحكومة خطة جديدة.

The government has a new plan.

Formal news style.

لدى مقارنة النتائج، نجد فرقاً واضحاً.

Upon comparing the results, we find a clear difference.

Lada + Masdar (verbal noun).

الموهبة التي لدى هذا الشاب مذهلة.

The talent that this young man has is amazing.

Relative clause with Lada.

ليس لدى الدولة نية لرفع الضرائب.

The state has no intention of raising taxes.

Official political statement.

لدى البعض وجهة نظر مختلفة.

Some have a different point of view.

Expressing diversity of opinion.

يجب أن يكون لدى القائد رؤية.

A leader must have a vision.

Modal expression with Lada.

لدى مراجعة الملفات، اكتشفنا الخطأ.

Upon reviewing the files, we discovered the error.

Temporal/Procedural Lada.

هناك قلق لدى المستثمرين.

There is concern among investors.

Existential 'there is' with Lada.

لدى بلوغه سن العشرين، سافر للخارج.

Upon reaching the age of twenty, he traveled abroad.

Age/Time marker.

تكمن المشكلة لدى غياب التنسيق.

The problem lies in the absence of coordination.

Abstract locative use.

لدى استعراض التاريخ، نرى أنماطاً متكررة.

Upon reviewing history, we see repeating patterns.

Academic introductory phrase.

إن القوة التي لدى الكلمة لا تستهان.

The power that the word possesses is not to be underestimated.

Philosophical usage.

ليس لدى الباحث ما يثبت هذه النظرية.

The researcher has nothing to prove this theory.

Scientific/Academic context.

لدى تأمل الطبيعة، يشعر المرء بالسلام.

Upon contemplating nature, one feels peace.

Literary/Reflective style.

المسؤولية تقع لدى عاتق الإدارة.

The responsibility lies with the management.

Metaphorical placement.

لدى استقصاء الحقائق، تبين زيف الادعاء.

Upon investigating the facts, the falsehood of the claim became clear.

Formal investigative tone.

لدى انقضاء المدة، يجب تسليم المفاتيح.

Upon the expiration of the period, the keys must be handed over.

Legal/Contractual language.

إن الحقوق المكتسبة لدى الأفراد لا يمكن المساس بها.

The rights acquired by individuals cannot be infringed upon.

High legal register.

لدى تجلي الحقيقة، تذوب الأوهام.

Upon the manifestation of truth, illusions dissolve.

Mystical/Philosophical register.

ليس لدى الفلسفة الوجودية إجابات قاطعة.

Existential philosophy does not have definitive answers.

Academic discourse.

لدى استقراء النصوص القديمة، نلمس عمق الفكر.

Upon inducing from ancient texts, we touch the depth of thought.

Philological usage.

تتجلى عظمة الخالق لدى تأمل الكون.

The greatness of the Creator is manifested upon contemplating the universe.

Theological register.

لدى احتدام الصراع، تضيع الحكمة.

Upon the intensification of conflict, wisdom is lost.

Rhetorical/Literary.

لدى استنطاق الشهود، ظهرت تفاصيل جديدة.

Upon interrogating the witnesses, new details emerged.

Formal judicial term.

لدى تضافر الجهود، يمكننا تحقيق المستحيل.

Upon the joining of efforts, we can achieve the impossible.

Diplomatic/Motivational register.

Collocations courantes

لدى البعض

ليس لدي

لدى وصوله

لدى الضرورة

لدى سماع

لدى مقارنة

لدى الحاجة

لدى النظر

لدى انتهاء

لدى الجميع

Phrases Courantes

لديك الحق

— You have the right (to do something).

لديك الحق في الصمت.

ليس لدي مانع

— I have no objection / I don't mind.

ليس لدي مانع من الحضور.

لدى فلان خبر

— Someone has news/information.

لدى المدير خبر سار.

لدى الإمكان

— If possible / upon possibility.

ساعده لدى الإمكان.

لدى الطلب

— Available on request.

الكتيب متاح لدى الطلب.

لدى الاقتضاء

— As necessary / if required.

سنقوم بذلك لدى الاقتضاء.

لدى الفحص

— Upon examination.

تبين المرض لدى الفحص.

لدى السؤال

— When asked.

قال الحقيقة لدى السؤال.

لدى الفجر

— At dawn (temporal).

استيقظ لدى الفجر.

لدى الباب

— At the door.

الضيف لدى الباب.

Souvent confondu avec

لدى vs عند (inda)

Inda is for general use; Lada is for formal/immediate use.

لدى vs إلى (ila)

Ila means 'to'; Lada means 'at/with'.

لدى vs لـ (li)

Li is for belonging/kinship; Lada is for possession/presence.

Expressions idiomatiques

"لدى فلان باع طويل"

— To have long experience or great influence in a field.

لديه باع طويل في التجارة.

Formal/Literary

"لدى فلان ما يقوله"

— To have something to say (often implying a secret or objection).

أعتقد أن لدى الشاهد ما يقوله.

Neutral

"ليس لديه ما يخسره"

— To have nothing to lose.

هو يغامر لأنه ليس لديه ما يخسره.

Neutral

"لدى فلان يد في الأمر"

— To have a hand in something (usually something bad).

نشك أن لديه يداً في الجريمة.

Informal/Neutral

"لدى فلان وجهة نظر"

— To have a valid point.

لديك وجهة نظر جديرة بالاهتمام.

Formal

"لدى فلان قلب كبير"

— To be very kind/generous.

لدى جدتي قلب كبير.

Neutral

"لدى فلان عقل راجح"

— To have a sound/wise mind.

لدى القاضي عقل راجح.

Formal

"لدى فلان أذن موسيقية"

— To have a musical ear.

لدى ابنتي أذن موسيقية.

Neutral

"لدى فلان نفس طويل"

— To have patience or endurance.

المفاوضات تحتاج لشخص لديه نفس طويل.

Neutral

"لدى فلان كلمة مسموعة"

— To have an influential voice/word.

لدى الشيخ كلمة مسموعة في القرية.

Formal

Facile à confondre

لدى vs لدن (ludun)

Similar sound and meaning.

Ludun is extremely formal/archaic and usually means 'from the presence of'.

من لدن حكيم خبير.

لدى vs لذا (lidha)

Similar spelling.

Lidha means 'therefore' or 'so'.

كنت متعباً لذا نمت.

لدى vs لدي (ladayya)

Confused with the base form 'lada'.

Ladayya specifically means 'I have'.

لدي كتاب.

لدى vs على (ala)

Both are prepositions.

Ala means 'on'; Lada means 'at/with'.

الكتاب على الطاولة.

لدى vs لي (li)

Both express 'having'.

Li is for permanent belonging; Lada is for current possession/presence.

لي أخ (I have a brother).

Structures de phrases

لدى + [Noun] + [Noun]

لدى الولد كرة.

ليس + لدى + [Pronoun] + [Noun]

ليس لديه وقت.

لدى + [Masdar]

لدى وصولي.

هناك + [Noun] + لدى + [Noun]

هناك أمل لدى الناس.

لدى + [Masdar] + [Noun] + [Verb]

لدى سماع الخبر بكى.

إن + [Noun] + لدى + [Noun] + [Adjective]

إن القوة لدى الكلمة عظيمة.

هل + لدى + [Noun] + [Noun]؟

هل لدى الشركة فروع؟

كان + لدى + [Pronoun] + [Noun]

كان لدينا بيت.

Famille de mots

Apparenté

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

High in written MSA; Low in spoken dialects.

Erreurs courantes

Writing لدىه instead of لديه. → لديه
The alif maqsura must change to a ya when a suffix is added.
Using لدى in casual spoken dialect. → عندي
Lada is strictly formal (Fusha) and sounds unnatural in daily conversation.
Negating with 'ma' (ما لدى). → ليس لدى
Laysa is the standard negator for nominal sentences involving prepositions in MSA.
Using لدى for family relations (e.g., لدى أخ). → لي أخ
The preposition 'li' is the standard way to express kinship.
Confusing لذا (therefore) with لدى (at/have). → لدى
Lidha is a conjunction for causality; Lada is a preposition for possession.

Astuces

Pronoun Spelling

Always remember that the ى changes to ي when you add a pronoun. Writing لدىه is a common beginner mistake; it must be لديه.

Elevate Your Register

In professional emails, use 'لدى' instead of 'عند'. It makes your Arabic sound much more polished and sophisticated.

Temporal Lada

Use 'لدى' + Masdar to mean 'upon doing something'. Example: 'لدى سماع الخبر' (Upon hearing the news). It's a great transition phrase.

Abstract Possession

Use 'lada' for abstract things like 'talent', 'hope', or 'doubt'. It sounds more natural in formal MSA than 'inda'.

News Keywords

When listening to news, 'lada' is a signal that the speaker is about to mention who has the power or the information.

The Shadda

When saying 'ladayya' (I have), make sure to emphasize the double 'y'. It's a key part of correct MSA pronunciation.

Negation Choice

Stick to 'ليس' for negating 'lada' in writing. 'ما' is occasionally used but 'ليس' is the hallmark of good MSA grammar.

Context Matters

Don't use 'lada' at the market. It's like wearing a tuxedo to the beach. Use 'inda' for casual daily life.

Identify the Subject

In sentences starting with 'lada', look for the noun after the prepositional phrase; that is the thing being possessed.

The Presence Link

Associate 'lada' with 'location'. It's about where something is 'at'—whether that's at a place or with a person.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'Lada' as a 'Ladder'. You have a ladder 'with' you to reach high formal Arabic.

Association visuelle

Visualize a formal office desk. On the desk is the word 'لدى'. It represents formal possession in a professional setting.

Word Web

Possession Presence Formal Standard Arabic News Legal Abstract Temporal

Défi

Try to replace every 'عند' (inda) in a formal paragraph with 'لدى' (lada) and see how the tone changes.

Origine du mot

From the Proto-Semitic root L-D, relating to presence or proximity. It is a fossilized noun used as a preposition.

Sens originel : In the immediate vicinity or presence of.

Semitic -> Arabic.

Contexte culturel

None. It is a neutral, formal preposition.

English speakers often use 'have' for everything. In Arabic, 'lada' helps you distinguish between 'owning' and 'having available'.

Quranic verses (e.g., 'Ma 'indakum yanfadu wa ma 'inda Allahi baq' - though this uses 'inda', 'lada' appears in similar contexts of divine presence). Modern Arabic news broadcasts. Legal codes of Arab nations.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Business

لدى الشركة
لدى المدير
ليس لدينا مانع
لدى الحاجة

News

لدى وصوله
لدى البعض
هناك قلق لدى
أكد المصدر لدى

Legal

لدى المحكمة
لدى الجهات
الحقوق لدى
لدى الاقتضاء

Academic

لدى مقارنة
لدى تحليل
المشكلة لدى
لدى استعراض

Daily Formal

لديك سؤال؟
ليس لدي وقت
لدى الباب
لديك الحق

Amorces de conversation

"هل لديك أي فكرة عن هذا الموضوع؟ (Do you have any idea about this topic?)"

"هل لدى عائلتك أي تقاليد خاصة؟ (Does your family have any special traditions?)"

"ما هي المهارات التي لديك؟ (What are the skills that you have?)"

"هل لديك وقت لتناول القهوة غداً؟ (Do you have time for coffee tomorrow?)"

"هل لدى بلدك قوانين صارمة بخصوص هذا؟ (Does your country have strict laws regarding this?)"

Sujets d'écriture

اكتب عن المهارات التي لديك والتي تفتخر بها. (Write about the skills you have and are proud of.)

هل لديك حلم تسعى لتحقيقه؟ صفه. (Do you have a dream you seek to achieve? Describe it.)

ما هي المشاعر التي لديك اليوم؟ (What are the feelings you have today?)

صف المكان الذي تود أن تكون لديه الآن. (Describe the place you would like to be at right now.)

اكتب عن المسؤوليات التي لدى الشباب في مجتمعك. (Write about the responsibilities that young people have in your society.)

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Rarely. In dialects like Egyptian or Levantine, people use 'and' or 'ma'ak'. 'Lada' is reserved for Modern Standard Arabic (MSA).

Formality and nuance. 'Lada' is more formal and often implies physical proximity or an abstract quality. 'Inda' is the general word for 'have'.

You say 'Ladayya' (لديّ). Note the spelling change and the double 'y' sound.

Yes, it can mean 'at' a location, like 'at the door' (لدى الباب) or 'at the time of' (لدى وصوله).

Use 'laysa' (ليس) in formal Arabic. For example: 'Laysa ladayya' (I don't have).

The word itself doesn't change, but the pronoun attached to it does (e.g., ladayka for male, ladayki for female).

No, it is a preposition (specifically a 'zarf' or adverbial noun of place/time), but it functions like a verb in English sentences.

It's unusual. 'Li' (لي) is better for family. 'Lada' is for objects, ideas, or presence.

It turns into a 'ya' whenever any pronoun is attached to the end of the word.

Yes, frequently, to denote things that are in the presence of God or immediate possession.

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