Meaning
To arrange and conduct a formal gathering.
Cultural Background
Meetings are often less about the clock and more about the relationship. Don't be surprised if a 'held meeting' starts 15 minutes late but lasts an hour longer than planned. The 'Majlis' is a traditional setting for meetings. Even in modern offices, the spirit of the Majlis—where everyone has a voice but the elder/leader presides—is often felt. In Lebanon or Syria, business meetings are often accompanied by 'Ahwa' (coffee). The phrase 'عقد اجتماع' might be followed by 'على فنجان قهوة' (over a cup of coffee). Arabic is one of the six official languages of the UN. 'عقد اجتماع' is perhaps one of the most frequently used phrases in UN Arabic documents.
The 'An' Rule
Always remember the Tanween Fatha (ً) on 'Ijtima'an'. It's the most common mistake for A2 learners.
Don't be too casual
If you use this with your friends, they will think you are joking or being sarcastic about how 'serious' your hangout is.
Meaning
To arrange and conduct a formal gathering.
The 'An' Rule
Always remember the Tanween Fatha (ً) on 'Ijtima'an'. It's the most common mistake for A2 learners.
Don't be too casual
If you use this with your friends, they will think you are joking or being sarcastic about how 'serious' your hangout is.
Passive Power
In news, you'll hear 'عُقِدَ' (Uqida). Learning this passive form will instantly boost your listening comprehension of Al Jazeera.
Hospitality First
Even if you 'hold a meeting', always start with 'Kaif al-hal?' (How are you?). Jumping straight to business is considered rude.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb 'عقد'.
المدير _______ اجتماعاً طارئاً يوم أمس.
The sentence mentions 'يوم أمس' (yesterday), so we need the past tense masculine singular form 'عقد'.
Choose the correct grammatical ending for the word 'اجتماع'.
قررنا أن نعقد _________.
The word is the direct object (Maf'ul Bihi) of the verb 'نعقد', so it must be in the accusative case with Tanween Fatha.
Match the verb with the appropriate noun to form a collocation.
Match the following:
While all are valid, 'عقد اجتماعاً' is the specific collocation we are studying.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
أحمد: لماذا أنت مشغول؟ خالد: لأنني يجب أن ________ مع الفريق الآن.
'أعقد اجتماعاً' is the only phrase that logically fits the context of being busy with a team.
Which situation is appropriate for using 'عقد اجتماعاً'?
Select the best context:
This phrase is reserved for formal, organized gatherings.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Formal vs Informal
Practice Bank
5 exercisesالمدير _______ اجتماعاً طارئاً يوم أمس.
The sentence mentions 'يوم أمس' (yesterday), so we need the past tense masculine singular form 'عقد'.
قررنا أن نعقد _________.
The word is the direct object (Maf'ul Bihi) of the verb 'نعقد', so it must be in the accusative case with Tanween Fatha.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
While all are valid, 'عقد اجتماعاً' is the specific collocation we are studying.
أحمد: لماذا أنت مشغول؟ خالد: لأنني يجب أن ________ مع الفريق الآن.
'أعقد اجتماعاً' is the only phrase that logically fits the context of being busy with a team.
Select the best context:
This phrase is reserved for formal, organized gatherings.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes! You can say 'عقد اجتماعاً عبر زووم' or 'عقد اجتماعاً افتراضياً' (virtual meeting).
No, it's used for anything binding: contracts, deals, and even marriage.
You say 'أنا في اجتماع'. You don't use the verb 'عقد' to describe your current state, only the act of convening it.
The plural is 'Ijtima'at' (اجتماعات). So, 'عقد اجتماعات' means 'holding meetings'.
It is 'Aqada' with a Qaf (ق), not a Kaf (ك). 'Akada' (أكد) means 'to confirm', which is a different word!
No, for a class use 'أعطى درساً' (gave a lesson) or 'حضر حصة' (attended a class).
Because it is the object of the verb. In Arabic, objects take the accusative case (Fatha).
Yes, it is understood everywhere, though in daily speech, people might use local variations like 'سوى' or 'عمل'.
An 'Ijtima' is a meeting (smaller, specific); a 'Mu'tamar' is a conference (larger, public).
Use the passive: 'عُقِدَ الاجتماع' (Uqida al-ijtima').
Related Phrases
عقد صفقة
similarTo strike a deal
عقد قران
specialized formTo perform a marriage contract
ألغى اجتماعاً
contrastTo cancel a meeting
أجّل اجتماعاً
builds onTo postpone a meeting
ترأس اجتماعاً
specialized formTo chair/preside over a meeting
