Meaning
To inflict harm or injury upon something or someone.
Cultural Background
The phrase is deeply tied to the 'La dharar' principle, which dictates that one cannot harm others even in retaliation. This makes 'ألحق ضرراً' a very serious moral statement. In countries like Lebanon or Syria, using this formal phrase in a social setting might be a way to 'soften' a harsh accusation by making it sound more objective and less personal. In the Gulf, formal contracts and 'Diwaniyas' (social-political gatherings) use this phrase to discuss corporate responsibility and tribal mediation for damages. Egyptian talk shows often use this phrase when discussing national security or economic crises, emphasizing the 'harm' done by external actors or bad policies.
Use with Adjectives
To sound truly advanced, always pair 'dharar' with an adjective like 'جسيم' (grave), 'بليغ' (severe), or 'دائم' (permanent).
The 'Bi' Hook
Never forget the 'bi'. Without it, the sentence falls apart grammatically and the meaning becomes unclear.
Meaning
To inflict harm or injury upon something or someone.
Use with Adjectives
To sound truly advanced, always pair 'dharar' with an adjective like 'جسيم' (grave), 'بليغ' (severe), or 'دائم' (permanent).
The 'Bi' Hook
Never forget the 'bi'. Without it, the sentence falls apart grammatically and the meaning becomes unclear.
Legal Weight
Be careful using this in an argument; it sounds like you are preparing to take someone to court!
Passive Voice
In news reports, use the passive 'أُلحِقَ' (ulhiqa) to focus on the damage rather than the perpetrator.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing preposition to complete the sentence.
ألحقَ المصنعُ ضرراً كبيراً _______ البيئةِ المحيطة.
The verb 'ألحق' always requires the preposition 'بـ' to connect to the object being harmed.
Choose the most appropriate formal word to complete the news headline.
العاصفة الثلجية _______ ضرراً بليغاً بقطاع النقل.
'ألحقت' is the standard formal collocation for inflicting damage in news reporting.
Complete the lawyer's statement in court.
القاضي: ما هي تهمة المتهم؟ المحامي: سيدي القاضي، المتهم _______ ضرراً متعمداً بموكلتي.
Form IV 'ألحق' is the causative form needed to show the defendant caused the harm.
Match the sentence to the correct context.
ألحقت الإشاعات ضرراً بكرامته.
Damage to 'dignity' (كرامة) or 'reputation' is categorized as 'ضرر معنوي' (moral harm).
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesألحقَ المصنعُ ضرراً كبيراً _______ البيئةِ المحيطة.
The verb 'ألحق' always requires the preposition 'بـ' to connect to the object being harmed.
العاصفة الثلجية _______ ضرراً بليغاً بقطاع النقل.
'ألحقت' is the standard formal collocation for inflicting damage in news reporting.
القاضي: ما هي تهمة المتهم؟ المحامي: سيدي القاضي، المتهم _______ ضرراً متعمداً بموكلتي.
Form IV 'ألحق' is the causative form needed to show the defendant caused the harm.
ألحقت الإشاعات ضرراً بكرامته.
Damage to 'dignity' (كرامة) or 'reputation' is categorized as 'ضرر معنوي' (moral harm).
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questions'ألحق ضرراً' is more formal and implies a direct, often legal, liability. 'سبب ضرراً' is more neutral and common in daily speech.
Yes, but it sounds very formal. You would say 'ألحق ضرراً معنوياً' (inflicted moral/psychological harm).
Yes, if you want to mention who or what was harmed. If you just say 'He inflicted harm,' you can stop at 'dhararan'.
ألحق ضرراً بسيارتي (Alhaqa dhararan bi-sayyarati).
Rarely. In dialects, people use 'ضرّ' (dharra) or 'خرب' (kharrab). This is a Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) phrase.
The plural is 'أضرار' (adrar). You can say 'ألحق أضراراً بـ' to mean 'inflicted multiple damages.'
No, 'dharar' is inherently negative. For positive impact, use 'ترك أثراً إيجابياً' (left a positive impact).
Because it is the direct object (Maf'ul Bihi) of the verb 'Alhaqa', so it must be in the accusative case (Mansub).
Almost. 'Adha' is often used for physical injury or personal offense, while 'Dharar' is broader, covering property and abstract rights.
لم يُلحَق أي ضرر (Lam yulhaq ayyu dharar).
Yes, it is perfect for discussing issues with products, services, or reputations in a professional manner.
It comes from 'Lahiqa' (to catch up). Form IV 'Alhaqa' means 'to make something catch up with or attach to something else.'
Related Phrases
ألحق أذىً
similarTo inflict injury/hurt
تسبب في
synonymTo cause
أضر بـ
synonymTo harm
عوض عن ضرر
builds onTo compensate for harm
ضرر معنوي
specialized formMoral/psychological harm
ضرر جسيم
specialized formGrave/severe harm
