أبدًا

'أبدًا' is an adverb used primarily to express absolute negation in the future or to emphasize an eternal state. When used in a negative sentence, it translates to 'never,' such as 'لن أذهب أبدًا' (lan adhhab ʾabadan - I will never go). The particle 'لن' (lan) is crucial here, as 'أبدًا' typically reinforces a future negation. Without a preceding negative particle (like 'لن' for future, or 'لم' (lam) for past/present perfect, or 'لا' (lā) for general negation), 'أبدًا' can sometimes imply 'ever' or 'always,' particularly in rhetorical questions or conditional statements, though this usage is less common in modern colloquial Arabic for simple affirmation. For example, 'هل ستفعل هذا أبدًا؟' (hal satafʿal hādhā ʾabadan? - Will you ever do this?). In everyday conversation, its primary function remains to emphatically state 'never.' It is a strong word, so context and tone are important to avoid sounding overly dramatic or definitive when a softer negation might be more appropriate.