Meaning
To be informed about current events.
Cultural Background
News is often discussed in public spaces like 'Ahwa' (cafés). It is common for strangers to join a conversation if they 'hear news' being discussed. The phrase 'Shu al-akhbar?' is the most common greeting, even more so than 'How are you?'. The 'Majlis' is a formal setting where men gather to 'hear news' of the community and the state. Egyptians often use 'Eh al-akhbar?' and might follow up with 'Eh al-dunya?' (What's the world?), showing the scale of news they are interested in.
Use with 'An'
Always use the preposition 'عن' ('an) to say what the news is about.
Tanween Matters
Don't forget the 'an' sound at the end of 'akhbaran' in formal speech.
Meaning
To be informed about current events.
Use with 'An'
Always use the preposition 'عن' ('an) to say what the news is about.
Tanween Matters
Don't forget the 'an' sound at the end of 'akhbaran' in formal speech.
Social Greeting
Use 'Eh al-akhbar?' as a cool, casual way to say 'What's up?' to friends.
Radio Culture
In many Arab cities, you will hear news coming from every shop window; it's a shared soundscape.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb 'Sami'a' in the past tense.
أنا _______ أخباراً سارة أمس.
The subject is 'أنا' (I), so the past tense verb must end with 'tu'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct sentence:
'Sami'a' does not take 'ila' and the object must be 'akhbaran' (accusative).
Complete the dialogue.
ليلى: هل سمعت أخباراً عن سارة؟ مريم: _________.
The response should address the news about Sara.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are at a café and want to know what's happening in the world.
Hearing news is the relevant action for wanting to know what's happening.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Types of News
News Types
- • أخبار سارة (Good)
- • أخبار سيئة (Bad)
- • أخبار عاجلة (Breaking)
Practice Bank
4 exercisesأنا _______ أخباراً سارة أمس.
The subject is 'أنا' (I), so the past tense verb must end with 'tu'.
Choose the correct sentence:
'Sami'a' does not take 'ila' and the object must be 'akhbaran' (accusative).
ليلى: هل سمعت أخباراً عن سارة؟ مريم: _________.
The response should address the news about Sara.
Situation: You are at a café and want to know what's happening in the world.
Hearing news is the relevant action for wanting to know what's happening.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, 'akhbar' is the plural of 'khabar'. We usually use the plural even for a single piece of news in general contexts.
Yes, that would be 'أستمع إلى الأخبار' (astami'u ila al-akhbar).
'Khabar' is one piece of news; 'Akhbar' is news in general or multiple pieces.
Yes, the core verb 'sami'a' and noun 'akhbar' are understood and used across the Arab world.
You say 'سمعت أخباراً عنك' (sama'tu akhbaran 'anka).
Yes, 'yasma' musiqa' is correct, but 'yastami' ila musiqa' is more common for intentional listening.
It is neutral. It is used in both the newsroom and the street.
It means 'Breaking News'.
That is the 'tanween', which marks the word as indefinite and in the object position.
Yes: 'أسمع الأخبار' (asma'u al-akhbara).
Related Phrases
يستمع إلى
similarTo listen to
ينقل أخباراً
builds onTo relay/transfer news
أخبار عاجلة
specialized formBreaking news
موجز الأخبار
specialized formNews summary
خبير
similarExpert
