The Arabic verb يُقَرِّر (yuqarrir) is a fundamental pillar of the Arabic language, particularly within the context of agency, intention, and action. At its core, it translates to "to decide," but its linguistic journey is far more profound than its English counterpart. Derived from the root q-r-r (ق-ر-ر), which fundamentally relates to stability, coolness, and settling in a place, the verb in its second form (Form II) signifies the active process of making something settled or firm. When you use يُقَرِّر, you are not merely choosing between options; you are effectively 'settling' a matter that was previously in a state of flux. In the Arab world, where communal consultation (shura) is highly valued, the act of 'deciding' often marks the transition from deliberation to committed action.
- Root Essence
- The root qaf-ra-ra carries the meaning of 'coldness' (برد) and 'stability' (استقرار). In ancient desert contexts, 'coolness' was synonymous with comfort and peace. Therefore, a decision is linguistically seen as something that brings 'coolness' or 'settlement' to a heated or uncertain situation.
- Grammatical Form
- This is a Form II verb (D-Stem), characterized by the doubling of the middle radical (the 'ra'). This form often adds an element of intensity or causation. In this case, it means 'to make something stay' or 'to cause something to be fixed,' hence 'to decide'.
المدير يُقَرِّر تغيير موعد الاجتماع غداً.
People use this word in almost every facet of life. In a legal context, a judge yuqarrir a sentence. In a scientific context, a researcher yuqarrir the results of an experiment (often meaning to establish or report). In daily life, it covers everything from what to eat for dinner to whether to move to a new city. The versatility of the word stems from its ability to handle both internal mental processes and external formal declarations. Unlike the verb 'to choose' (اختار), which focuses on the selection from alternatives, يُقَرِّر focuses on the finality and the establishment of the path forward.
هل تُقَرِّر الذهاب معنا أم البقاء هنا؟
- Register and Tone
- The word is neutral to formal. In very informal Egyptian or Levantine dialects, you might hear 'nawee' (intending) or 'hay'arrar' (a dialectal variation), but yuqarrir remains the gold standard for Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) in news, literature, and formal education.
القاضي يُقَرِّر براءة المتهم بعد سماع الشهود.
In summary, يُقَرِّر is about the transition from uncertainty to certainty. It is the verbal engine of progress, whether personal, professional, or judicial. By mastering this word, you gain the ability to express the most critical human function: the exercise of will.
Using يُقَرِّر (yuqarrir) correctly requires an understanding of its typical grammatical structures. The most common construction involves the particle أن (an), which functions like the English 'to' in 'to do something.' When يُقَرِّر is followed by أن, the following verb must be in the subjunctive mood (mansub), which usually means it ends with a fatha. This structure is the bread and butter of expressing intentions and plans.
- Structure: Verb + Particle + Subjunctive Verb
- This is the most frequent pattern. For example: قررتُ أن أسافر (I decided to travel). Note how 'asafira' ends with a fatha because of 'an'.
- Structure: Verb + Direct Object (Noun)
- While less common than the 'an' construction, you can decide 'on' a specific noun, often implying the decision of a fate or a result. For example: اللجنة تقرر الفائز (The committee decides the winner).
نحن نُقَرِّر أن نبدأ المشروع الجديد في الشهر القادم.
It is important to remember the conjugation of the verb. Since it is a Form II verb, the present tense prefix (ya, ta, a, na) carries a damma (u sound), making it yu-qarrir, tu-qarrir, u-qarrir, and nu-qarrir. This is a common point of confusion for beginners who are used to Form I verbs where the prefix takes a fatha (a sound). Paying attention to this small vowel change is key to sounding like a native speaker.
هل تُقَرِّرين التخصص في الطب أم الهندسة؟
In more complex sentences, يُقَرِّر can be used to mean 'to establish' or 'to state as a fact.' In academic writing, you might see يقرر الباحث أن... (The researcher states/establishes that...). This usage elevates the verb from a simple choice to a declaration of truth or finding. It implies that the researcher has 'settled' the question through their work.
المحكمة تُقَرِّر تأجيل الجلسة إلى الأسبوع المقبل.
- Negation
- To say 'he does not decide,' you use لا يُقَرِّر. To say 'he did not decide,' you can use لم يُقَرِّر (jussive) or ما قرر (past negation). Example: لم يقرر بعد (He hasn't decided yet).
Ultimately, the power of يُقَرِّر lies in its flexibility across tenses and subjects. Whether you are talking about a personal choice or a governmental decree, the syntax remains remarkably consistent, making it a reliable tool for any Arabic learner's arsenal.
If you tune into an Arabic news broadcast like Al Jazeera or Al Arabiya, you will hear the word يُقَرِّر or its noun form قرار (qarār) every few minutes. In the realm of politics and international relations, decisions are the primary currency. News anchors frequently use it to describe the actions of parliaments, presidents, and international bodies. For instance, "The Security Council decides to extend the mission" would use يقرر مجلس الأمن. It carries a weight of authority in these contexts that other verbs lack.
مجلس الوزراء يُقَرِّر فرض حظر التجوال.
In the corporate world, يُقَرِّر is the language of the boardroom. During business meetings, when a consensus is reached or a leader takes a stand, this is the verb of choice. It is often paired with financial or strategic terms. If you are working in an Arabic-speaking office, you might hear your supervisor say, "I am deciding to hire a new team," or "We are deciding to pivot our strategy." It signals a move from discussion to execution.
Socially, the word appears in family discussions. While dialects might use more local terms, يُقَرِّر is used when the conversation takes a serious or definitive turn. When a family is deciding where to spend the summer or which university a child should attend, the gravity of the choice is reflected in the use of this verb. It signifies that the 'settling' of the matter is a significant event for the collective unit.
العائلة تُقَرِّر شراء بيت جديد في الريف.
- Legal and Judicial
- In a courtroom, the verb is used by the judge to issue rulings. It is the moment of legal 'settling.' تقرر المحكمة... (The court decides...) is the standard opening for the verdict.
- Scientific Reports
- In formal reports, يُقَرِّر can mean 'to document' or 'to establish as a finding.' It suggests that the data has led to a firm conclusion.
Whether it's the high-stakes world of diplomacy, the structured environment of a business, or the intimate setting of a home, يُقَرِّر is the word that bridges the gap between 'what if' and 'what is.' Listening for it will help you identify the moments when actions are being defined and futures are being shaped.
For English speakers learning Arabic, the verb يُقَرِّر (yuqarrir) presents several linguistic hurdles. The most frequent mistake is related to the shadda (the doubling of the 'ra'). Many students pronounce it as 'yuqarir' with a single 'r', which not only sounds wrong but can actually change the meaning or render the word unrecognizable. The 'r' must be held slightly longer, with a vibrating sound, to indicate the Form II structure.
- Vowel Confusion
- As mentioned before, Form II verbs have a damma on the present tense prefix. Learners often mistakenly say 'yaqarrir' (with a fatha) because they are generalizing from Form I verbs like 'yaktub' or 'yashrab'. Correct: yu-qarrir.
- Preposition Errors
- English speakers often want to say 'decide on' and try to translate 'on' literally as 'ala (على). While قرر على exists in some very specific archaic contexts, in modern Arabic, you usually decide أن (to) or simply use the direct object. Avoid قررت على السفر; instead, use قررت السفر or قررت أن أسافر.
خطأ: أنا يَقَرِّر الذهاب. (Wrong prefix vowel and person agreement)
صح: أنا أُقَرِّر الذهاب. (Correct: 'u-qarrir')
Another common confusion involves the root itself. The root q-r-r is shared with the verb يقرأ (yaqra' - to read) in the minds of some beginners due to the visual similarity of the letters qaf and ra. However, يقرأ has an alif-hamza at the end, whereas يُقَرِّر has a second ra. Always look for that final 'r' to distinguish 'deciding' from 'reading'.
خطأ: هو يُقَرِّرُ أن يدرسُ الطب.
صح: هو يُقَرِّرُ أن يدرسَ الطب.
Lastly, be careful with the passive form يُقَرَّر (yuqarrar - it is decided/scheduled). While it looks almost identical to the active يُقَرِّر, the vowel on the second 'ra' changes from an 'i' to an 'a'. If you say الاجتماع يُقَرِّر, you are saying "The meeting decides," which is nonsensical. You mean الاجتماع يُقَرَّر (The meeting is scheduled/decided).
By being mindful of the shadda, the prefix vowels, the following particle, and the difference between active and passive, you will avoid the most common pitfalls and use this powerful verb with confidence.
While يُقَرِّر (yuqarrir) is the most common way to say "to decide," Arabic offers a rich palette of synonyms that carry slightly different nuances. Understanding these alternatives will help you choose the precise word for the right context, whether you're talking about a casual choice, a firm intention, or a final resolution.
- اختار (Ikhtara) - To Choose
- This verb focuses on the act of selection from a group of options. If you are picking a shirt from a closet, you use ikhtara. If you are making a life-changing commitment, yuqarrir is better. Ikhtara implies preference; yuqarrir implies conclusion.
- حسم (Hassama) - To Settle/Resolve
- This is a much stronger word. It means to cut off debate or to decide something once and for all. You hear this in sports (settling the score) or in heated arguments. It comes from the root meaning 'to cut'.
- اعتزم (I'tazama) - To Firmly Intend
- This verb is more about the internal state of mind. It means you have made up your mind and are resolved to do something. It is often used in formal or literary contexts to show strong willpower.
بدلاً من يُقَرِّر، يمكنك استخدام يَحْسِم للمواقف القوية.
In legal or official contexts, you might encounter أقرَّ (aqarra - Form IV). Although it shares the same root, it means 'to confess,' 'to acknowledge,' or 'to ratify.' For example, a parliament yuqirru (ratifies) a law that has already been yuqarraru (decided upon). This is a subtle but important distinction in bureaucratic Arabic.
Another interesting alternative is عزم على ('azama 'ala). This is similar to i'tazama but is more common in classical literature and religious texts. It implies a sacred or profound commitment to a course of action. When someone says they have 'azama' on a journey, they are expressing more than just a decision; they are expressing a soul-deep resolve.
المسافر يَعْتَزِمُ العودة إلى وطنه قريباً.
By learning these synonyms, you expand your expressive range. You move from simply stating facts to conveying the intensity, the finality, and the underlying intention of the decisions being made. يُقَرِّر remains your reliable base, but these alternatives are the spices that bring your Arabic to life.
Exemples par niveau
أنا أُقَرِّرُ أَنْ آكُلَ الآن.
I decide to eat now.
Simple present tense with 'an' + subjunctive verb.
هُوَ يُقَرِّرُ الذَّهابَ إِلَى المَدْرَسَةِ.
He decides to go to school.
Verb + direct object (the going).
هَلْ تُقَرِّرُ أَنْ تَشْرَبَ قَهْوَةً؟
Do you decide to drink coffee?
Interrogative sentence for the second person.
نَحْنُ نُقَرِّرُ أَنْ نَلْعَبَ كُرَةَ القَدَمِ.
We decide to play football.
First person plural conjugation.
هِيَ تُقَرِّرُ أَنْ تَنَامَ مُبَكِّراً.
She decides to sleep early.
Third person feminine conjugation.
أنا لا أُقَرِّرُ شَيْئاً اليَوْمَ.
I am not deciding anything today.
Negation using 'la'.
هُمْ يُقَرِّرُونَ أَنْ يَشْتَرُوا خُبْزاً.
They decide to buy bread.
Third person plural conjugation.
أَنْتِ تُقَرِّرِينَ أَنْ تَقْرَئِي كِتاباً.
You (f) decide to read a book.
Second person feminine conjugation.
قَرَّرْتُ أَنْ أُسافِرَ إِلَى مِصْرَ في الصَّيْفِ.
I decided to travel to Egypt in the summer.
Past tense 'qarrartu' with 'an'.
الأُسْرَةُ تُقَرِّرُ شِراءَ سَيَّارَةٍ جَديدَةٍ.
The family decides to buy a new car.
Noun phrase as the object of the decision.
لَمْ يُقَرِّرِ الطَّالِبُ بَعْدُ أَيَّ جَامِعَةٍ يَخْتارُ.
The student hasn't decided yet which university to choose.
Negation with 'lam' in the jussive mood.
هَلْ قَرَّرْتُمْ مَوْعِدَ الرِّحْلَةِ؟
Have you (plural) decided on the time of the trip?
Past tense second person plural.
تُقَرِّرُ المَدْرَسَةُ إِغْلاقَ الأَبْوابِ في السَّاعَةِ الرَّابِعَةِ.
The school decides to close the doors at four o'clock.
Feminine subject with present tense.
قَرَّرَ أَخي أَنْ يَتَعَلَّمَ اللُّغَةَ العَرَبِيَّةَ.
My brother decided to learn the Arabic language.
Past tense third person masculine.
نَحْنُ نُقَرِّرُ أَنْ نَزُورَ جَدَّنا كُلَّ أُسْبُوعٍ.
We decide to visit our grandfather every week.
Habitual action expressed with 'yuqarrir'.
تُقَرِّرُ صَديقَتي أَنْ تَعْمَلَ في المَكْتَبَةِ.
My friend (f) decides to work in the library.
Present tense feminine subject.
يُقَرِّرُ المُديرُ تَوْظيفَ خَمْسَةِ مُوَظَّفينَ جُدُدٍ.
The manager decides to hire five new employees.
Professional context, using a verbal noun (masdar) as object.
قَرَّرَتِ الحُكومَةُ بِنَاءَ مَشْفَى جَديدٍ في القَرْيَةِ.
The government decided to build a new hospital in the village.
Formal context, government as feminine subject.
مِنَ الصَّعْبِ أَنْ أُقَرِّرَ بَيْنَ هذَيْنِ العَرْضَيْنِ.
It is difficult for me to decide between these two offers.
Using 'bayna' (between) for comparison.
يُقَرِّرُ المَرْءُ مَصيرَهُ بِنَفْسِهِ في كَثيرٍ مِنَ الأَحْيانِ.
One decides one's own fate in many instances.
General/philosophical statement using 'al-mar' (one/man).
هَلْ تَعْتَقِدُ أَنَّكَ سَتُقَرِّرُ البَقاءَ هُنا لِلأَبَدِ؟
Do you think you will decide to stay here forever?
Future tense 'sa-' combined with 'yuqarrir'.
قَرَّرَ الفَريقُ أَنْ يَنْسَحِبَ مِنَ المُسابَقَةِ.
The team decided to withdraw from the competition.
Collective noun 'al-fariq' with masculine verb.
يُقَرِّرُ القاضي بَعْدَ مُراجَعَةِ كُلِّ الأَدِلَّةِ.
The judge decides after reviewing all the evidence.
Temporal clause with 'ba'da'.
قَرَّرَتِ الشَّرِكَةُ تَغْييرَ شِعارِها السَّنَةَ القادِمَةَ.
The company decided to change its logo next year.
Use of 'taghyir' (changing) as a masdar object.
يُقَرِّرُ الدُّسْتورُ الحُقوقَ والواجِباتِ لِكُلِّ المُواطِنينَ.
The constitution establishes the rights and duties for all citizens.
Abstract usage meaning 'to establish' or 'to define'.
لَمْ يُقَرَّرْ بَعْدُ مَنْ سَيَتَوَلَّى مَنْصِبَ الرَّئيسِ التَّنْفيذيِّ.
It has not yet been decided who will take over the CEO position.
Passive voice 'yuqarrar' in the jussive.
تُقَرِّرُ اللَّجْنَةُ المَعاييرَ اللازِمَةَ لِقَبولِ الطُّلابِ.
The committee decides the necessary criteria for student admission.
Bureaucratic context with 'ma'ayir' (criteria).
قَرَّرَ العُلَماءُ أَنَّ هذِهِ الظَّاهِرَةَ طَبيعيَّةٌ تَماماً.
The scientists decided (concluded) that this phenomenon is completely natural.
Meaning 'to conclude' or 'to state as a fact'.
يُقَرِّرُ المَجْلِسُ المَحَلِّيُّ تَوْسيعَ الشَّوارِعِ الرَّئيسِيَّةِ.
The local council decides to expand the main streets.
Formal administrative usage.
مَتَى سَتُقَرِّرُونَ مَصِيرَ هَذَا المَشْرُوعِ؟
When will you decide the fate of this project?
Future interrogative with an abstract object.
قَرَّرَتِ المَحْكَمَةُ العُلْيا أَنَّ القانُونَ غَيْرُ دُسْتورِيٍّ.
The Supreme Court decided that the law is unconstitutional.
Legal ruling context.
يُقَرِّرُ الكاتِبُ في رِوايَتِهِ أَنَّ الحُبَّ يَنْتَصِرُ في النِّهايَةِ.
The writer establishes in his novel that love triumphs in the end.
Literary analysis context.
يُقَرِّرُ الفَيْلَسوفُ أَنَّ الإِرادَةَ الحُرَّةَ هي أَساسُ الأَخْلاقِ.
The philosopher establishes that free will is the basis of morality.
Highly abstract philosophical usage.
قَرَّرَتِ الاتِّفاقِيَّةُ الدَّوْلِيَّةُ بَعْضَ القَواعِدِ المُلْزِمَةِ.
The international agreement established some binding rules.
Diplomatic context with 'mulzima' (binding).
يُقَرِّرُ النَّقْدُ الأَدَبِيُّ أَهَمِّيَّةَ هَذا العَمَلِ في تاريخِ الفَنِّ.
Literary criticism establishes the importance of this work in art history.
Academic/Critical usage.
لَمْ يَكُنْ مِنَ السَّهْلِ أَنْ يُقَرِّرَ المَصِيرَ السِّياسِيَّ لِلْبِلادِ.
It was not easy to decide the political fate of the country.
Complex sentence with nested infinitive.
يُقَرِّرُ البَحْثُ العِلْمِيُّ ضَرورَةَ الحِفاظِ عَلَى البِيئَةِ.
Scientific research establishes the necessity of preserving the environment.
Declarative scientific usage.
هَلْ يُمْكِنُ لِلإِنْسانِ أَنْ يُقَرِّرَ لَحْظَةَ سَعادَتِهِ؟
Can a human being decide the moment of their happiness?
Rhetorical philosophical question.
قَرَّرَ التَّاريخُ أَنَّ العَدْلَ هو سَبيلُ النَّجاةِ لِلأُمَمِ.
History has established that justice is the path of salvation for nations.
Personification of 'history' as the decider.
يُقَرِّرُ التَّقْريرُ نِقاطَ الضَّعْفِ والقُوَّةِ في النِّظامِ.
The report identifies/establishes the points of weakness and strength in the system.
Analytic/Technical usage.
يُقَرِّرُ الفِقْهُ الإِسْلامِيُّ أَحْكاماً دَقيقَةً في المَواريثِ.
Islamic jurisprudence establishes precise rulings in inheritance.
Specialized theological/legal usage.
قَرَّرَتِ الأَقْدارُ أَنْ يَلْتَقِيَا بَعْدَ طُولِ غِيَابٍ.
Fate decided that they should meet after a long absence.
Poetic/Literary personification of 'fate' (al-aqdar).
يُقَرِّرُ المَنْطِقُ أَنَّ النَّتيجَةَ تَتْبَعُ المُقَدِّماتِ.
Logic dictates that the conclusion follows the premises.
Purely logical/deductive usage.
لَقَدْ قَرَّرَ الواقِعُ الجَدِيدُ تَحَدِّياتٍ جَسِيمَةً عَلَى المُجْتَمَعِ.
The new reality has imposed/established grave challenges on society.
Abstract sociological usage.
يُقَرِّرُ النَّصُّ القُرْآنِيُّ مَبادِئَ العَدالَةِ الاجْتِماعِيَّةِ.
The Quranic text establishes the principles of social justice.
High literary/religious context.
قَرَّرَ العَقْلُ الجَمْعِيُّ رَفْضَ هَذِهِ الأَفْكارِ الدَّخيلَةِ.
The collective mind decided to reject these foreign ideas.
Psychological/Sociological terminology.
يُقَرِّرُ عِلْمُ الاجْتِماعِ أَنَّ البِيئَةَ تُؤَثِّرُ في السُّلُوكِ.
Sociology establishes that the environment influences behavior.
Academic discipline as the subject.
قَرَّرَ النِّظامُ العالَمِيُّ قَواعِدَ جَديدَةً لِلتِّجارَةِ.
The global system established new rules for trade.
Macro-political/economic context.
Exemple
علينا أن نقرر بسرعة.
Contenu associé
Plus de mots sur general
عادةً
A1Habituellement, normalement; dans des conditions normales.
عادةً ما
B2Cet adverbe signifie généralement que quelque chose se produit la plupart du temps.
إعداد
B2C'est le processus de préparation de quelque chose, comme cuisiner un plat ou un projet.
عاضد
B2Ce verbe signifie aider ou soutenir quelqu'un, surtout quand il en a besoin.
عادي
A1C'est un jour ordinaire.
عاقبة
B1Le résultat ou l'effet d'une action, souvent désagréable. Il faut assumer la conséquence de ses choix.
أعلى
A1Plus haut, supérieur, ou le plus haut.
عال
B1Ce mot signifie 'haut' en termes de niveau ou de volume, comme un son aigu ou un prix élevé.
عالٍ
A2Signifie 'haut' pour la hauteur physique ou 'fort' pour le volume sonore.
عَالَمِيّ
B1Relatif à l'ensemble du monde; mondial ou global.
