Meaning
Indicating direction.
Cultural Background
The left hand is traditionally reserved for personal hygiene. Therefore, even if something is 'على اليسار', you should avoid pointing at it or handing things related to it with your left hand if possible. The concept of 'Yamin' (Right) and 'Shimal/Yasar' (Left) has spiritual connotations. The 'People of the Right' are the blessed. This is why 'Yasar' (Ease) is used as a positive alternative to 'Shimal'. In these regions, 'Shimal' is the everyday word for left. If you say 'Yasar', people will understand you perfectly, but they will know you are speaking 'Fusha' (Standard Arabic). In major cities like Riyadh or Dubai, road signs are bilingual. The Arabic will almost always use 'اليسار' for left to maintain standard clarity for all Arabic speakers.
The 'L' Rule
In MSA, 'al-yasar' is always preceded by 'al-'. Never say 'ala yasar' unless you are adding another word after it like 'ala yasar al-shari'.
The North Trap
If you are in Lebanon or Syria, 'Shimal' is left. If you are reading a map in MSA, 'Shimal' is North. Always check your context!
Meaning
Indicating direction.
The 'L' Rule
In MSA, 'al-yasar' is always preceded by 'al-'. Never say 'ala yasar' unless you are adding another word after it like 'ala yasar al-shari'.
The North Trap
If you are in Lebanon or Syria, 'Shimal' is left. If you are reading a map in MSA, 'Shimal' is North. Always check your context!
Gestures
When saying 'على اليسار', it's polite to gesture with your whole hand rather than just one finger.
Memory Trick
Yasar has the letter 'S' like the word 'Side'. Left Side = Ya-Sar.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 'The bank is ___ the left.'
البنك ____ اليسار.
'على' is the standard preposition for indicating location 'on' a side.
Fill in the missing word for 'left'.
المطعم على ال____.
'اليسار' means the left.
Complete the dialogue.
سارة: أين غرفتي؟ أحمد: غرفتك هي الأولى ____.
Contextually, 'على اليسار' provides the necessary direction.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You want to tell a taxi driver to stop at the building on the left.
This directly addresses the situation using the target phrase.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
MSA vs Dialect
Practice Bank
4 exercisesالبنك ____ اليسار.
'على' is the standard preposition for indicating location 'on' a side.
المطعم على ال____.
'اليسار' means the left.
سارة: أين غرفتي؟ أحمد: غرفتك هي الأولى ____.
Contextually, 'على اليسار' provides the necessary direction.
You want to tell a taxi driver to stop at the building on the left.
This directly addresses the situation using the target phrase.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIn formal Arabic (MSA), 'yasar' is the only word for left. In daily life in Egypt or the Levant, 'shimal' is more common.
Yes, just like in English, 'al-yasar' refers to the political left.
You say 'ala yasarika' (masculine) or 'ala yasariki' (feminine).
The direction isn't rude, but using the left hand for eating or shaking hands is culturally avoided.
The opposite is 'ala al-yamin' (on the right).
It comes from the same root as 'easy' (yusr), but 'yasar' specifically means the direction left.
You say 'In'atif ila al-yasar' (انعطف إلى اليسار).
This is the dialectal version. The 'A' is a contraction of 'Ala'.
The Quran mostly uses 'Shimal' for left, but 'Yusr' for ease. Modern Arabic adopted 'Yasar' for the direction.
Yes, 'Yasar' or 'Yassir' are common male names meaning 'wealthy' or 'easy-going'.
Related Phrases
على اليمين
contrastOn the right
إلى اليسار
similarTo the left
جهة اليسار
specialized formThe left side
يساراً
builds onLeftwards
اليد اليسرى
specialized formThe left hand
