بحسب المعلومات
bihasab al-ma'lumat
According to the information
Literally: By according the information
In 15 Seconds
- Used to cite data or reports objectively.
- Common in news, business, and professional contexts.
- Helps you sound informed while avoiding personal blame for errors.
Meaning
This phrase is used to introduce facts or news based on specific data or reports. It's like saying 'based on what we know' or 'according to the records' to sound more objective.
Key Examples
3 of 6Discussing a project deadline
بحسب المعلومات المتوفرة، سينتهي المشروع الشهر القادم.
According to the available information, the project will end next month.
Checking flight details with a friend
بحسب المعلومات، الطائرة ستتأخر ساعتين.
According to the info, the plane will be delayed two hours.
Reporting news in a formal setting
بحسب المعلومات الأولية، لا توجد إصابات.
According to preliminary information, there are no injuries.
Cultural Background
In channels like Al Jazeera (Qatar) or Al Arabiya (Saudi), this phrase is the 'neutral' standard. It allows reporters to share sensitive political news without appearing to take a side. In daily life, people might say 'Hasab ma 'reft' (According to what I knew), but in formal TV interviews, they switch strictly to 'Bi-hasabi al-ma'lumat'. Egyptians often use 'Ala hasab' for 'it depends', but for citing facts in a professional setting, 'Bi-hasab' is used to show education and authority. In these regions, French influence is high, but 'Bi-hasabi al-ma'lumat' remains the standard in the Arabic-language press and government statements.
Add Adjectives
To sound like a pro, add adjectives like 'الأولية' (preliminary) or 'المؤكدة' (confirmed) after 'المعلومات'.
Don't skip the 'Al-'
Saying 'bi-hasab ma'lumat' sounds incomplete. Always use 'al-ma'lumat' for the general body of info.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to cite data or reports objectively.
- Common in news, business, and professional contexts.
- Helps you sound informed while avoiding personal blame for errors.
What It Means
بحسب المعلومات is your go-to phrase for sounding objective and informed. It literally means "according to the information." When you use it, you are signaling that you aren't just guessing. You are relaying something you've read, heard, or seen in a report. It’s a way to distance yourself slightly from the claim. If the information turns out to be wrong, hey, it wasn't you—it was the "information."
How To Use It
You usually place this phrase at the very beginning of a sentence. It sets the stage for the fact you’re about to share. You can also drop it in the middle for a bit of flair. For example, بحسب المعلومات، الاجتماع غداً (According to the info, the meeting is tomorrow). It works beautifully with adjectives like المتوفرة (available) or الأولية (preliminary). It makes you sound like a professional news anchor or a very organized project manager.
When To Use It
Use this in professional settings or when discussing news and logistics. It’s perfect for office meetings when you're discussing deadlines. It’s also great when you're traveling and checking flight statuses. If you're gossiping but want to sound like a serious journalist, this is your secret weapon. "According to the information... she's actually moving to Dubai!" It adds a layer of unearned authority to your daily chats.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for personal feelings or opinions. You wouldn't say, "According to the information, I am hungry." That sounds like you’re a robot reading your own stomach sensors. Avoid it in very casual, high-energy settings like a football match or a loud party. It’s too stiff for those moments. Also, if you are 100% certain and it's common knowledge, using this might make you sound unnecessarily cautious or even suspicious.
Cultural Background
This phrase is a staple of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). It is the bread and butter of Arabic news channels like Al Jazeera or Al Arabiya. In Arab culture, citing a source—even a vague one like "information"—is a sign of a polite, educated speaker. It avoids the bluntness of stating a fact as absolute truth. It reflects a cultural nuance of leaving room for error or "Inshallah" (God willing) moments where things might change.
Common Variations
You will often hear حسب المعلومات (without the 'bi' prefix), which is slightly more common in spoken dialects. Another common one is وفقاً للمعلومات, which is even more formal and sounds very official. If you want to be specific about where the info came from, you might say بحسب التقارير (according to the reports). Each variation shifts the weight of authority slightly, but they all serve the same purpose: making you look like you've done your homework.
Usage Notes
This phrase sits comfortably in the 'formal' to 'neutral' range. In very casual settings, it can be used ironically to make a trivial fact sound important. Always follow it with a clear statement of fact.
Add Adjectives
To sound like a pro, add adjectives like 'الأولية' (preliminary) or 'المؤكدة' (confirmed) after 'المعلومات'.
Don't skip the 'Al-'
Saying 'bi-hasab ma'lumat' sounds incomplete. Always use 'al-ma'lumat' for the general body of info.
The Shield of Objectivity
Use this phrase if you are sharing news that might be wrong; it protects you from being called a liar!
Examples
6بحسب المعلومات المتوفرة، سينتهي المشروع الشهر القادم.
According to the available information, the project will end next month.
Using 'available' makes it sound even more professional.
بحسب المعلومات، الطائرة ستتأخر ساعتين.
According to the info, the plane will be delayed two hours.
A common way to relay bad news without being the 'source' of it.
بحسب المعلومات الأولية، لا توجد إصابات.
According to preliminary information, there are no injuries.
Standard phrase used by news reporters during breaking events.
بحسب المعلومات، المدير سيستقيل قريباً!
According to the information, the manager will resign soon!
Using formal language for gossip makes it sound more 'reliable'.
بحسب المعلومات في النظام، حجزك مؤكد.
According to the information in the system, your reservation is confirmed.
Specific and reassuring in a customer service context.
بحسب المعلومات، الوضع في المدينة صعب جداً.
According to the information, the situation in the city is very difficult.
Used to discuss serious topics with a sense of gravity.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase to complete the news report.
________ الواردة من وزارة الصحة، تم تطعيم مليون شخص.
A news report about vaccination numbers requires an objective source-citing phrase.
Which sentence is the most appropriate for a business presentation?
Choose the best option:
The third option uses formal MSA and cites financial data, which is professional.
Match the Arabic phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are common variations using different adjectives.
Complete the dialogue between a journalist and an editor.
Editor: هل الخبر مؤكد؟ Journalist: نعم، ________ التي حصلنا عليها من المصدر.
Journalists confirm news by citing information obtained from sources.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercises________ الواردة من وزارة الصحة، تم تطعيم مليون شخص.
A news report about vaccination numbers requires an objective source-citing phrase.
Choose the best option:
The third option uses formal MSA and cites financial data, which is professional.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are common variations using different adjectives.
Editor: هل الخبر مؤكد؟ Journalist: نعم، ________ التي حصلنا عليها من المصدر.
Journalists confirm news by citing information obtained from sources.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsOnly if the conversation is serious or professional. For casual gossip, people say 'سمعت إنو' (I heard that).
Yes, you can say 'بحسب أحمد' (According to Ahmed), but 'بحسب المعلومات من أحمد' is more formal.
They are almost identical. 'Bi-hasab' is slightly more formal and common in written media.
Usually, yes. 'Information' is treated as a collective plural in Arabic news contexts.
Related Phrases
وفقاً لـ
synonymIn accordance with
بناءً على
similarBased on
نقلاً عن
specialized formQuoting from / Transmitting from
على ذمة
similarOn the authority of
