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A2 verb #3,500 le plus courant 9 min de lecture

يدفع

yadfa' Top 3,500

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces يدفع en 30 secondes

Explication يدفع in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know 'يدفع' in its simplest form: paying for things. Think of it as the 'money verb'. You will use it to say 'I pay' (أدفع) or 'He pays' (يدفع). It is almost always followed by a noun like 'money' (فلوس/مال) or 'the bill' (الحساب). At this stage, don't worry about the 'pushing' meaning or complex grammar. Just focus on the transaction. For example, 'أدفع عشرة جنيهات' (I pay ten pounds). It is a vital word for survival Arabic when shopping or eating out. You should also learn the word 'ادفع' as a command, which you might see on a door, even if you don't use it in speech yet.

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At the A2 level, you begin to use 'يدفع' in more varied sentences. You will learn to use prepositions with it, such as 'يدفع لـ...' (pay to someone) or 'يدفع بـ...' (pay with/by a method). You also start to recognize the second meaning: 'to push'. You can now describe physical actions, like 'يدفع الولد العربة' (The boy pushes the cart). You should also be comfortable with basic past tense (دفع) and future tense (سيدفع). Understanding the difference between 'يدفع' and 'يعطي' (to give) becomes important here to avoid sounding like you are giving gifts when you are actually paying for groceries.

At the B1 level, you move into metaphorical and abstract uses of 'يدفع'. You will hear it used to describe motivation or causes, such as 'ما الذي يدفعك للعمل؟' (What pushes/motivates you to work?). You will also encounter the word family, including the noun 'دفع' (payment/pushing) and the adjective 'مدفوع' (paid). You should be able to handle more complex sentence structures, such as using the verb with 'أن' and a following verb. You also start to see the word in news contexts, like 'paying taxes' (يدفع الضرائب) or 'pushing the economy'. Your vocabulary expands to include synonyms like 'يسدد' for debts.

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At the B2 level, you should be able to use 'يدفع' in formal and professional contexts. This includes understanding its role in legal and economic texts (e.g., 'repelling an argument' or 'settling a claim'). You will also become familiar with many idioms, such as 'يدفع الثمن غاليا' (to pay a high price/consequence). At this level, you should have a firm grasp of the passive voice 'يُدفع' and how it differs from the active voice. You can use the verb to express nuance, such as the difference between a physical push and a psychological drive, and you can switch between 'يدفع' and its more formal synonyms like 'ينفق' or 'يسدد' with ease.

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At the C1 level, you explore the literary and philosophical depths of 'يدفع'. You will encounter it in classical literature and advanced modern prose where it might mean 'to refute' an idea or 'to ward off' evil. You understand the root's history and how it branches into words like 'مدافع' (defender) and 'تدافع' (jostling/crowding). You can use the verb in sophisticated rhetorical structures. You also have a deep understanding of the cultural nuances, such as how the act of 'paying' is tied to social status and hospitality in the Arab world, and you can discuss these topics using the verb and its derivatives fluently.

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At the C2 level, your mastery of 'يدفع' is indistinguishable from a native speaker's. You can appreciate and use the verb in poetry, high-level legal contracts, and complex political analysis. You understand the most obscure meanings of the root, such as its use in ancient theological debates about 'repelling' doubt. You can use the verb to create subtle puns or double meanings, playing on its physical and financial definitions. Your usage is perfectly attuned to the register of your audience, whether you are in a street market using dialect-inflected forms or in a university lecture using the most precise Modern Standard Arabic.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

يدفع en 30 secondes

Used for paying money in shops and restaurants.
Used for physically pushing doors or objects.
Used to mean 'motivating' or 'driving' someone.
Commonly found on 'Push' signs on doors.

The Arabic verb يدفع (yadfa'u) is a versatile and essential word that every learner must master early in their journey. At its core, the verb comes from the tri-literal root د-ف-ع (D-F-'), which fundamentally relates to the act of exerting force to move something away or forward. However, in modern usage, its most frequent application is in the realm of financial transactions. When you go to a market in Cairo, a mall in Dubai, or a restaurant in Amman, this is the word you will use to describe the act of paying for your goods or services. It is the bridge between the buyer and the seller, the mechanism of exchange that powers daily life in the Arab world.

Financial Exchange: This is the most common meaning for beginners. It refers to giving money to settle a debt or purchase an item. For example, 'I pay the bill' is 'أدفع الفاتورة'.

الطالب يدفع الرسوم الدراسية كل شهر.

Beyond the wallet, the word retains its physical roots. If you are standing in front of a heavy door that does not pull open, you must 'push' it. This physical action is also described by يدفع. This dual nature—the movement of money and the movement of physical objects—might seem disparate to an English speaker, but in Arabic, they are linked by the concept of 'propelling' something away from oneself. When you pay, you are propelling money out of your possession toward another. When you push a door, you are propelling it away from your body.

Physical Force: The act of applying pressure to move an object. Often seen on signs on doors in public places alongside the word 'اسحب' (pull).

يجب أن تدفع الباب بقوة ليفتح.

Furthermore, in more advanced contexts, يدفع can mean to repel or defend. In legal or military contexts, one might 'repel an attack' or 'defend against an accusation'. This demonstrates the word's strength; it is not just a passive exchange but an active exertion of will. Whether you are paying a fine, pushing a car, or defending your honor, you are engaging in the act of 'daf' (دفع).

Metaphorical Driving Force: Used when an idea, person, or situation compels someone to take action. 'The need for money pushed him to work' uses this verb.

الحاجة تدفعه للبحث عن وظيفة ثانية.

البطل يدفع عن بلده كل خطر.

Using يدفع correctly requires understanding its grammatical construction. As a present-tense verb (Muḍāri'), it changes based on the subject. For instance, 'I pay' is 'أدفع' (adfa'u), 'You pay' (masculine) is 'تدفع' (tadfa'u), and 'They pay' (masculine plural) is 'يدفعون' (yadfa'ūna). It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes a direct object—the thing being paid or the thing being pushed.

Direct Object: The Amount or Item: When talking about money, the amount or the bill itself is the direct object (Mansub case). 'يدفع الرجلُ مائةَ دولارٍ' (The man pays one hundred dollars).

هل يمكنني أن أدفع ببطاقة الائتمان؟

One interesting nuance is the use of prepositions. While you can 'pay the bill' directly, you often 'pay with' a certain method. In Arabic, we use the preposition 'بـ' (bi-) to indicate the means of payment. So, 'I pay with cash' is 'أدفع نقداً' (where 'naqdan' is an adverbial form) or 'أدفع بالبطاقة' (I pay with the card). Understanding these small connectors is what elevates your Arabic from basic to fluent.

The Recipient: 'To' Someone: To specify who receives the money, use the preposition 'لـ' (li-). For example, 'أدفع للبائع' (I pay to the seller).

هي تدفع ثمن القهوة لصديقتها.

When using the verb in its 'pushing' sense, the object is simply the physical item. 'يدفع العربة' (He pushes the cart). If you are pushing someone *to* do something, you use the preposition 'إلى' (ila) or 'لـ' (li) followed by a noun or 'أن' (an) followed by a verb. 'يدفعه إلى النجاح' (It pushes him toward success). This structural flexibility allows the verb to span from the physical world to the psychological world seamlessly.

Pushing toward an action: Structure: [Verb] + [Object] + [ila/li] + [Action]. 'يدفعني الفضول إلى القراءة' (Curiosity pushes me to read).

لا تدفع الباب، إنه يسحب!

من سـيدفع الحساب اليوم؟

In the Arab world, commerce is a social event, and يدفع is the soundtrack to these interactions. You will hear it most frequently in shops (maḥallāt) and traditional markets (aswāq). When a customer is ready to checkout, they might ask, 'أين أدفع؟' (Where do I pay?). The cashier might respond, 'يمكنك أن تدفع هنا' (You can pay here). In these settings, the word is often associated with the local currency, whether it be Dirhams, Dinars, or Pounds.

At the Restaurant: The 'bill' or 'check' is called 'al-ḥisāb'. You will often hear friends arguing over who gets to pay: 'أنا سأدفع اليوم!' (I will pay today!). This is a hallmark of Arab hospitality (Karam).

سأذهب إلى البنك لـأدفع الإيجار.

In a completely different setting, you will see this word written in large, bold letters on doors. In modern buildings in cities like Riyadh or Amman, glass doors will have a sticker that says 'ادفع' (Push) on one side and 'اسحب' (Pull) on the other. This is one of the first environmental Arabic words a traveler learns because getting it wrong results in a minor social embarrassment! It's a practical, everyday application of the verb's physical meaning.

Public Signage: Signs on doors in malls, hospitals, and offices. 'ادفع' is the command form (Imperative) of 'يدفع'.

مكتوب على الباب: ادفع.

You will also hear this word in the news or in formal discussions regarding the economy or politics. Reporters might talk about 'government payments' (daf'āt ḥukūmiyya) or 'pushing the peace process forward' (daf' 'amaliyyat al-salām). In these contexts, the word takes on a more serious, formal tone. It represents the movement of resources or political will. Whether it is a small coin or a massive infrastructure project, the verb يدفع describes the momentum behind it.

Formal News/Economics: Used for official transactions, debt settlements between nations, or motivating political change.

الحكومة تدفع الرواتب في نهاية الشهر.

هذا القرار سـيدفع الاقتصاد نحو النمو.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with يدفع is confusing it with the verb 'to give' (يعطي - yu'ṭī). While paying involves giving money, 'يدفع' specifically implies an obligation or an exchange. If you are giving a gift, you should use 'يعطي'. If you are paying for a kebab, you must use 'يدفع'. Using 'يعطي' in a store might sound like you are making a charitable donation rather than a commercial transaction.

Confusing 'Pay' and 'Give': Mistake: 'أعطي الثمن' (I give the price). Correct: 'أدفع الثمن' (I pay the price).

هو يدفع ثمن التذكرة، لا يعطيها مجاناً.

Another common error involves prepositions. English speakers often want to say 'pay for something' and translate 'for' literally as 'لأجل' (li-ajl). However, in Arabic, the 'thing' you are paying for is usually the direct object or follows the word 'ثمن' (price). You say 'أدفع ثمن الطعام' (I pay the price of the food) or simply 'أدفع الحساب' (I pay the bill). Using 'لأجل' here sounds unnatural and overly wordy.

Preposition Overuse: Avoid: 'أدفع لأجل القهوة'. Instead use: 'أدفع ثمن القهوة'.

سـأدفع لك لاحقاً.

Lastly, learners sometimes struggle with the 'push' vs. 'pull' distinction. In the heat of the moment at a shop door, many people freeze. Remember: Daf' = Drive away (Push). If you can associate the 'D' in 'Daf'' with 'Driving' something away from you, you will never pull a door that says 'ادفع' again. Also, be careful with the passive form 'يُدفع' (yudfa'u - is paid) vs the active 'يَدفع' (yadfa'u - pays). The vowel on the first letter changes the meaning from the person doing the paying to the money being paid.

Active vs. Passive: Active: 'يَدفعُ الرجل المال' (The man pays money). Passive: 'يُدفعُ المال' (Money is paid).

كم تدفع عادةً مقابل هذه الخدمة؟

لا تدفعني إلى الغضب!

While يدفع is the most common word for paying and pushing, Arabic offers several nuanced alternatives depending on the situation. If you are 'paying off' a large debt or 'settling' an account, you might use the verb يسدد (yusaddidu). This word implies a more formal or complete settlement of a financial obligation, like paying off a bank loan or a credit card balance.

يدفع vs. يسدد: 'يدفع' is for general paying (coffee, tickets). 'يسدد' is for settling debts or official dues (loans, mortgages).

يجب أن تسدد ديونك في الوقت المحدد.

In the context of 'pushing', if the action is more of a 'shove' or a 'jostle' in a crowd, the word يزحم (yuzahimu) or يدفع بقوة might be used. If you are 'pushing' an idea or 'promoting' a cause, you might use يروج (yurawwiju). However, يدفع remains the most versatile because it can cover both the physical and the abstract 'push' (like pushing someone to succeed).

يدفع vs. يحاسب: In restaurants, 'يحاسب' (to settle up/account) is very common. 'يدفع' is the act of handing over the money; 'يحاسب' is the whole process of checking the bill and paying.

سـأحاسب على العشاء، لا تقلق.

Another word often confused with the 'push' meaning is يضغط (yadhghatu), which means 'to press'. You 'push' (يدفع) a door, but you 'press' (يضغط) a button. Knowing the difference between moving an object through space and applying pressure to a single point is vital for natural-sounding Arabic. Finally, for 'paying' in the sense of 'spending' large amounts of money, you might hear ينفق (yunfiqu), which is often used for government spending or charitable expenses.

يدفع vs. ينفق: 'يدفع' is the transaction. 'ينفق' is the act of spending or outplaying money over time (expenditure).

المؤسسة تنفق الكثير على الأبحاث.

من فضلك اضغط على الجرس.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The Arabic word for 'cannon' (مدفع - midfa') comes from this same root because it 'pushes' or 'propels' a projectile.

Guide de prononciation

UK /ˈjad.faʕ/

US /ˈjæd.fə/

Stress is on the first syllable: YAD-fa'.

Rime avec

ينفع (yanfa' - to benefit) يرفع (yarfa' - to lift) يسمع (yasma' - to hear) يصنع (yasna' - to make) يجمع (yajma' - to collect) يقطع (yaqta' - to cut) يرجع (yarja' - to return) يمنع (yamna' - to prevent)

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing 'ayn' (ع) as a glottal stop (hamza).
Confusing it with 'daffa' (to warm up).
Making the 'd' too emphatic like 'Dad'.
Dropping the final 'ayn' sound entirely.
Over-emphasizing the 'f' sound.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize on signs and bills.

Écriture 3/5

Requires remembering the 'ayn' at the end.

Expression orale 3/5

The 'ayn' sound can be tricky for beginners.

Écoute 2/5

Very common and usually clear in context.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

مال حساب باب يعطي أنا/هو/هي

Apprends ensuite

يسدد ينفق يسحب يشتري يبيع

Avancé

اندفاع تدافع مدافع استدفاع مدفعية

Grammaire à connaître

Present Tense Conjugation

أنا أدفع، نحن ندفع، هو يدفع.

The Subjunctive Mood

يجب أن يدفعَ (Note the fatha at the end).

Direct Objects (Mansub)

يدفعُ الرجلُ الحسابَ.

The Imperative (Command)

ادفع (Idfa') for masculine, ادفعي (Idfa'i) for feminine.

The Jussive Mood (Negation)

لم يدفعْ (Note the sukun at the end).

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Exemples par niveau

أنا أدفع الحساب.

I pay the bill.

Subject 'أنا' (I) matches the verb prefix 'أ'.

هو يدفع بالبطاقة.

He pays with the card.

The preposition 'بـ' indicates the method of payment.

هل تدفع كاش؟

Do you pay cash?

In many dialects, 'كاش' is used, though 'نقداً' is more formal.

هي تدفع خمسة ريال.

She pays five riyals.

The number 'خمسة' is followed by the currency.

نحن ندفع الآن.

We are paying now.

Prefix 'نـ' indicates 'we'.

ادفع الباب من فضلك.

Push the door, please.

This is the imperative (command) form.

أمي تدفع ثمن الخبز.

My mother pays the price of the bread.

The word 'ثمن' means 'price'.

يدفع الولد ثمن اللعبة.

The boy pays the price of the toy.

Standard Verb-Subject-Object order.

يجب أن تدفع الإيجار غداً.

You must pay the rent tomorrow.

The verb 'تدفع' is in the subjunctive mood after 'أن'.

يدفع الرجل العربة في السوبر ماركت.

The man pushes the cart in the supermarket.

Physical use of the verb.

أدفع للصيدلي ثمن الدواء.

I pay the pharmacist the price of the medicine.

Use of 'لـ' to indicate the recipient.

هل دفعت فاتورة الكهرباء؟

Did you pay the electricity bill?

Past tense 'دفعت' (you paid).

سأدفع لك ثمن القهوة.

I will pay you the price of the coffee.

Future prefix 'سـ' added to the verb.

لا تدفع الباب، اسحبه.

Don't push the door, pull it.

Negative command using 'لا' + jussive.

يدفع الطلاب رسوم الرحلة.

The students pay the trip fees.

Plural subject with a singular verb (at the start of the sentence).

من يدفع ثمن الغداء اليوم؟

Who is paying for lunch today?

Interrogative 'من' (who).

الحاجة تدفع الإنسان إلى العمل الشاق.

Need pushes humans to hard work.

Metaphorical use meaning 'to motivate/drive'.

سأدفع لك كل ما أدين به لك.

I will pay you everything I owe you.

Relative clause 'ما أدين به'.

يدفعني الفضول لتعلم اللغة العربية.

Curiosity pushes me to learn the Arabic language.

The object pronoun 'ني' (me) is attached to the verb.

هل يمكنني الدفع عبر الإنترنت؟

Can I pay via the internet?

The verbal noun 'الدفع' (the paying) is used here.

يدفع الجندي الخطر عن وطنه.

The soldier repels the danger from his homeland.

Meaning 'to repel/ward off'.

دفعني صديقي لتجربة هذا الطعام.

My friend encouraged (pushed) me to try this food.

Past tense with object pronoun.

يتم دفع الرواتب في الخامس من الشهر.

Salaries are paid on the fifth of the month.

Passive-style construction using 'يتم' + Masdar.

لا تدفع نفسك إلى الإرهاق.

Don't push yourself to exhaustion.

Reflexive use with 'نفسك'.

هذه السياسة ستدفع الاقتصاد نحو الازدهار.

This policy will push the economy toward prosperity.

Abstract usage in a political/economic context.

دفع المتهم ببراءته أمام القاضي.

The defendant pleaded (pushed) his innocence before the judge.

Legal idiom 'دفع بـ' meaning to plead or argue.

يجب دفع الضرائب في موعدها القانوني.

Taxes must be paid by their legal deadline.

Formal usage of the verbal noun.

دفعني هذا الموقف إلى إعادة التفكير.

This situation pushed me to rethink.

Causal relationship expressed with the verb.

يدفع البنك فوائد على الودائع.

The bank pays interest on deposits.

Financial terminology.

دفع الخصم بكل قوته ليربح المباراة.

The opponent pushed with all his might to win the match.

Physical and metaphorical effort.

سيدفع المجرم ثمن أفعاله.

The criminal will pay the price for his actions.

Idiomatic use for consequences.

يدفع المدير الموظفين لتحقيق الأهداف.

The manager pushes the employees to achieve the goals.

Management context.

يدفع الكاتب في كتابه الجديد عن حقوق الإنسان.

The author defends (pushes for) human rights in his new book.

Advanced usage meaning to advocate or defend.

دفع الشك باليقين هو هدف الفلسفة.

Repelling doubt with certainty is the goal of philosophy.

Philosophical/Literary usage.

تدافعت الحشود عند مدح الملعب.

The crowds jostled (pushed each other) at the stadium entrance.

Form VI verb 'تدافع' indicating reciprocal action.

دفع بالقول إن المشروع غير مجدٍ.

He argued (pushed the statement) that the project is not feasible.

Formal rhetorical structure.

لا بد من دفع المفاسد قبل جلب المصالح.

It is necessary to repel harms before seeking benefits.

Legal maxim in Islamic jurisprudence.

دفعته الأقدار إلى هذا المصير المحتوم.

Destiny pushed him to this inevitable fate.

Literary/Poetic usage.

يدفع النظام الجديد نحو الشفافية المطلقة.

The new system pushes toward absolute transparency.

Institutional usage.

دفع بصره نحو الأفق البعيد.

He cast (pushed) his gaze toward the far horizon.

Poetic description of looking.

تكمن عبقرية النص في كيفية دفعه للتأويلات المتعددة.

The genius of the text lies in how it prompts (pushes for) multiple interpretations.

Sophisticated literary criticism.

دفع صولة الباطل بالحق واجب أخلاقي.

Repelling the assault of falsehood with truth is a moral duty.

High-level ethical/theological discourse.

إنها تدفع ببراعة عن وجهة نظرها المثيرة للجدل.

She masterfully defends her controversial point of view.

Nuanced rhetorical description.

دفع الغالي والنفيس في سبيل قضية وطنه.

He paid the most precious things for the sake of his country's cause.

Idiomatic expression for extreme sacrifice.

تدافع الأفكار في ذهنه منعه من النوم.

The jostling of ideas in his mind prevented him from sleeping.

Metaphorical use of the reciprocal form.

دفع الله مكروهاً عنكم.

May God ward off any harm from you.

Traditional religious supplication.

دفع بكل ثقله السياسي لتمرير القانون.

He used (pushed with) all his political weight to pass the law.

Political idiom.

يدفع هذا الاكتشاف بحدود العلم إلى آفاق جديدة.

This discovery pushes the boundaries of science to new horizons.

Scientific/Academic discourse.

Synonymes

يسدد يعطي يصرف يحفز

Antonymes

يقبض يأخذ يسحب

Collocations courantes

يدفع الحساب

يدفع الثمن

يدفع نقداً

يدفع بالبطاقة

يدفع الباب

يدفع العربة

يدفع ضرائب

يدفع إيجار

يدفع الرسوم

يدفع غرامة

Phrases Courantes

أنا سأدفع

— I will pay. Often used to offer hospitality.

لا، أنا سأدفع اليوم.

ادفع الباب

— Push the door. Common instruction.

ادفع الباب لتدخل.

دفع مسبق

— Pre-paid. Common in phone plans or services.

هذا الكارت دفع مسبق.

دفع عند الاستلام

— Cash on delivery. Common in e-commerce.

أفضل الدفع عند الاستلام.

دفع بالتقسيط

— Payment in installments.

يمكنك الدفع بالتقسيط المريح.

دفع دفعة أولى

— To pay a down payment.

دفعت دفعة أولى للشقة.

دفع بلا فائدة

— To pay without interest.

اشترى السيارة بالدفع بلا فائدة.

دفع تعويض

— To pay compensation.

دفعوا له تعويضاً عن الحادث.

دفع رشوة

— To pay a bribe (negative context).

حاول أن يدفع رشوة للشرطي.

دفع كفالة

— To pay bail.

دفع المحامي الكفالة.

Souvent confondu avec

يدفع vs يعطي

Means 'to give' as a gift or transfer, not necessarily a payment.

يدفع vs يدفئ

Means 'to warm up'. Sounds similar but has a different root (D-F-').

يدفع vs يضع

Means 'to put'. Sometimes confused by beginners due to the 'd' sound.

Expressions idiomatiques

"يدفع الثمن غاليا"

— To suffer severe consequences for a mistake.

إذا كذبت، ستدفع الثمن غاليا.

Neutral

"يدفع بالتي هي أحسن"

— To respond to evil with good. A Quranic concept.

كن صبوراً وادفع بالتي هي أحسن.

Formal/Religious

"يدفع الغالي والنفيس"

— To give everything precious for a cause.

دفع الغالي والنفيس لتربية أولاده.

Literary

"يدفع في الصدر"

— To confront directly or oppose strongly.

دفع في صدر الظلم.

Literary

"دفع به إلى الهاوية"

— To push someone to ruin or disaster.

قراراته الخاطئة دفعت به إلى الهاوية.

Neutral

"دفع الوقت"

— To pass the time (less common than 'يقضي').

يدفع الوقت بالقراءة.

Informal

"دفع الشبهة"

— To remove or clear suspicion.

حاول دفع الشبهة عن نفسه.

Formal

"دفع البلاء"

— To ward off calamity (often through prayer/charity).

الصدقة تدفع البلاء.

Religious

"دفع عجلة التنمية"

— To push the wheel of development/progress.

هذا المشروع سيدفع عجلة التنمية.

Political

"دفع عنه الأذى"

— To protect someone from harm.

الأب يدفع عن أطفاله الأذى.

Neutral

Facile à confondre

يدفع vs يدافع

Looks similar and shares the same root.

'يدفع' is to push/pay; 'يدافع' is specifically to defend someone or something.

يدافع الجندي عن الوطن.

يدفع vs يسحب

It is the opposite action.

'يدفع' is push; 'يسحب' is pull.

اسحب المقبض لتفتح.

يدفع vs يضغط

Both involve force.

'يدفع' moves an object; 'يضغط' applies pressure (like a button).

اضغط على الزر.

يدفع vs يسدد

Both mean paying.

'يدفع' is the general act; 'يسدد' is specifically for debts or scoring a goal.

سدد اللاعب الكرة.

يدفع vs يقدم

Can mean to offer or provide.

'يقدم' is to present; 'يدفع' is to settle a cost.

يقدم المطعم خدمة جيدة.

Structures de phrases

[Subject] + يدفع + [Money/Object]

أحمد يدفع الحساب.

يدفع + [Subject] + بـ + [Method]

يدفع المسافر بالبطاقة.

[Something] + يدفع + [Person] + إلى + [Verb]

الطموح يدفعني أن أدرس.

يجب أن + تدفع + [Object]

يجب أن تدفع الرسوم.

دفع + [Subject] + بـ + [Argument/Idea]

دفع المحامي ببراءة موكله.

دفع + [Subject] + [Object] + عن + [Target]

دفع الله السوء عنكم.

تدافع + [Plural Subject]

تدافع الناس في السوق.

يدفع + [Subject] + بـ + [Limits]

يدفع العلم بحدود الممكن.

Famille de mots

Noms

دفع (Daf' - Payment/Pushing)

دافعة (Dafi'a - Motive/Impulse)

مدافع (Mudafi' - Defender)

دفاع (Difa' - Defense)

مدفع (Midfa' - Cannon/Gun)

Verbes

دفع (Dafa'a - Paid/Pushed)

دافع (Dafa'a - Defended)

تدافع (Tadafa'a - Jostled)

اندفع (Indafa'a - Rushed forward)

Adjectifs

مدفوع (Madfu' - Paid)

دفاعي (Difa'i - Defensive)

مندفع (Mundafi' - Impulsive)

Apparenté

مال

حساب

باب

قوة

ثمن

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Extremely high in daily transactions and physical navigation.

Erreurs courantes

Using 'يعطي' for paying a bill. → يدفع
'يعطي' is to give a gift; 'يدفع' is for a transaction.
Saying 'أدفع لأجل القهوة'. → أدفع ثمن القهوة
In Arabic, we pay the 'price' of something, not 'for' it using 'li-ajl'.
Pulling a door that says 'ادفع'. → Pushing the door.
'ادفع' is push; 'اسحب' is pull.
Pronouncing it 'yad-fa' without the 'ayn'. → yad-fa' (ع)
The final 'ayn' is a consonant and must be pronounced.
Confusing 'يدفع' (active) with 'يُدفع' (passive). → Depends on context.
'yadfa' is 'he pays'; 'yudfa' is 'it is paid'.

Astuces

Check the Case

The thing being paid (like 'the bill') should be in the accusative case (fatha) in formal Arabic: 'يدفعُ الحسابَ'.

Push vs Pull

Remember: 'Idfa' (Push) vs 'Is-hab' (Pull). Associate 'D' in 'Daf' with 'Distance' (moving it away).

The Payment Fight

Don't be shocked if friends fight over the bill. It's a sign of generosity. You can say 'أنا سأدفع' to join in.

The Deep 'Ayn'

Make sure the 'ع' at the end is audible. It sounds like a slight constriction in the throat.

Pre-paid

Look for 'دفع مسبق' on SIM card packages or internet plans.

Root Recognition

Recognizing the D-F-' root helps you understand words like 'Defense' (Difa') and 'Cannon' (Midfa').

Contextual Clues

If you hear 'فاتورة' (bill), 'يدفع' definitely means pay.

The Drive Mnemonic

Daf' = Drive away. You drive money to the shop or drive a door open.

Paying Back

To say 'I will pay you back', use 'سأدفع لك'.

Metaphorical Push

Use 'يدفع' to describe what motivates you: 'يدفعني الشغف' (Passion pushes me).

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of the 'D' and 'F' in 'Daf'a' as 'Driving Forward'. Whether it's driving a car (pushing) or driving money to a clerk.

Association visuelle

Imagine a person 'pushing' a giant coin toward a cash register.

Word Web

يدفع مال فاتورة باب عربة ثمن دفاع مدفوع

Défi

Try to use 'يدفع' in three different ways today: once for money, once for a door, and once for a motivation.

Origine du mot

From the Proto-Semitic root D-P-'. It has cognates in other Semitic languages meaning to push or propel.

Sens originel : To drive away, to repel, or to apply force to move something.

Afroasiatic, Semitic, Central Semitic, Arabic.

Contexte culturel

Avoid using 'يدفع' in the context of 'bribes' (رشوة) unless you are discussing corruption legally, as it is a sensitive topic.

English speakers use 'pay' and 'push' as two separate words. In Arabic, they are one concept of 'moving something away'.

The Quran mentions 'دفع' in the context of God repelling harm. Arabic proverbs about paying the price of one's actions. Common signs in every Arab mall.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Shopping

أين أدفع؟
كم أدفع؟
أدفع كاش.
أريد الدفع.

At a Door

ادفع الباب.
لا تسحب، ادفع.
الباب لا يفتح بالدفع.
ادفع بقوة.

Work/Motivation

ماذا يدفعك؟
يدفعني النجاح.
يدفع العمل للأمام.
دفع الموظفين.

Legal/Bills

دفع الغرامة.
دفع الضرائب.
موعد الدفع.
إيصال الدفع.

Socializing

أنا سأدفع.
دفعنا بالتساوي.
من دفع؟
لا تدفع شيئاً.

Amorces de conversation

"هل تفضل أن تدفع نقداً أم بالبطاقة عادة؟"

"من يدفع الحساب عادة عندما تخرج مع أصدقائك؟"

"ما الذي يدفعك لتعلم اللغة العربية كل يوم؟"

"هل سبق ودفعت الباب وهو مكتوب عليه 'اسحب'؟"

"هل يجب أن ندفع ثمن كل شيء في هذه الحياة؟"

Sujets d'écriture

اكتب عن موقف مضحك حدث لك عندما حاولت دفع باب بدلاً من سحبه.

هل تعتقد أن المال يدفع الناس ليكونوا أفضل أم أسوأ؟ ولماذا؟

صف شعورك عندما تدفع ثمن شيء كنت تحلم بشرائه لفترة طويلة.

ما هي الأشياء التي تدفعك للاستيقاظ مبكراً كل صباح؟

تحدث عن ثقافة 'دفع الحساب' في بلدك مقارنة بالدول العربية.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No. While very common for money, it also means to physically push an object or to motivate someone metaphorically.

You say 'أنا دفعتُ' (ana dafa'tu).

'يدفع' is for general payments (coffee, groceries), while 'يسدد' is more formal, used for debts, loans, or bills.

Yes, it is understood everywhere, though some dialects have local words for 'push' like 'يزق'.

For 'she', it is 'هي تدفع' (hiya tadfa'u).

'مدفوع' is the passive participle meaning 'paid' (e.g., a paid bill).

Yes, but be careful; it can mean a physical push or a metaphorical encouragement.

You say 'أين أدفع؟' (Ayna adfa'u?).

Yes, the noun is 'دفع' (daf').

The command is 'ادفع' (idfa') for a male and 'ادفعي' (idfa'i) for a female.

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