Meaning
Indicating that an action or state continues to exist or happen.
Cultural Background
In daily speech, people rarely say 'ma zala'. Instead, they use 'ba'd' + a suffix pronoun. For example, 'ba'dni' means 'I am still'. Egyptians favor the word 'lissa' (لسه) for 'still'. It is derived from 'li-hadha al-sa'a' (until this hour). In the Maghreb, 'ma zala' is actually used more frequently in dialect than in the East, often shortened to 'mazal'. While 'lissa' is used, 'ba'd' is also very common. In formal Gulf media, 'ma zala' is the standard for reporting on oil prices or royal decrees.
The Case Rule
Always remember: Ma zala + Noun (Nominative) + Adjective (Accusative).
Don't drop the 'Ma'
Dropping 'ma' turns 'still' into 'vanished'. It's a 180-degree meaning shift!
Meaning
Indicating that an action or state continues to exist or happen.
The Case Rule
Always remember: Ma zala + Noun (Nominative) + Adjective (Accusative).
Don't drop the 'Ma'
Dropping 'ma' turns 'still' into 'vanished'. It's a 180-degree meaning shift!
News Listening
Listen for 'ma zala' in news broadcasts; it's the most common way they describe ongoing conflicts or negotiations.
Dialect Swap
If you are in Egypt, use 'lissa'. If you are writing an essay, use 'ma zala'.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the adjective (Accusative).
ما زال الجوّ ________ (جميل).
The predicate of 'ma zala' must be in the accusative case (mansub).
Choose the correct conjugation for 'I am still'.
________ أدرس في المكتبة.
'Ma ziltu' is the first-person singular conjugation (I).
Complete the dialogue.
أحمد: هل انتهى الاجتماع؟ سارة: لا، ________.
This correctly states that the meeting is still ongoing.
Match the sentence to the situation.
ما زال المريض تحت المراقبة.
'Under observation' is a medical context.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesما زال الجوّ ________ (جميل).
The predicate of 'ma zala' must be in the accusative case (mansub).
________ أدرس في المكتبة.
'Ma ziltu' is the first-person singular conjugation (I).
أحمد: هل انتهى الاجتماع؟ سارة: لا، ________.
This correctly states that the meeting is still ongoing.
ما زال المريض تحت المراقبة.
'Under observation' is a medical context.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, even though it looks like a past tense verb, it is used to describe a present state that is continuing.
Yes, you can say 'ma zala yadrus' (he is still studying). The verb must be in the present tense.
They are mostly interchangeable, but 'la yazalu' is slightly more common in modern news for ongoing situations.
You conjugate it as 'ma ziltu' (ما زلتُ).
Because 'ma zala' is a Sister of Kana, and its predicate must be in the accusative case (mansub).
No, it is for actions that have already started and are continuing.
Yes, variations like 'la yazaluna' appear in the Quran to describe ongoing states.
Yes, it is formal (MSA), but understood by everyone.
The opposite would be 'lam ya'ud' (no longer) or 'intaha' (ended).
No, that would be redundant. To say 'I am still not', you say 'ma ziltu ghayra...' or 'la azalu la...'.
Related Phrases
لا يزال
similarStill (present tense focus)
ما برح
synonymStill / Has not left
ظل
similarRemained / Stayed
استمر
builds onTo continue
ما فتئ
specialized formStill (with persistence)
