Meaning
The action of commuting or travelling to one's workplace.
Cultural Background
The work week typically starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday. Friday is the holy day and a day off. Due to extreme heat, many people 'go to work' very early, sometimes as early as 6:30 or 7:00 AM. Commuting in Cairo is a major part of the 'going to work' experience, often involving long hours in traffic or the metro. It is common to stop for a 'Fairuz' song on the radio and a small coffee while going to work.
The 'Ila' Rule
Always remember that 'Go' needs 'To'. In Arabic, that's 'Yadhhab' + 'Ila'.
Don't forget the 'Al'
Saying 'ila amal' sounds like you are going to 'a work' (any work). 'Ila al-amal' means your specific job.
Meaning
The action of commuting or travelling to one's workplace.
The 'Ila' Rule
Always remember that 'Go' needs 'To'. In Arabic, that's 'Yadhhab' + 'Ila'.
Don't forget the 'Al'
Saying 'ila amal' sounds like you are going to 'a work' (any work). 'Ila al-amal' means your specific job.
Dialect Shortcut
If you struggle with 'Yadhhab', most people in the street will understand 'Rayih' (going).
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing preposition.
أنا أذهب ___ العمل في الصباح.
The verb 'yadhhab' (go) always takes 'ila' (to) when indicating a destination.
Choose the correct conjugation for 'We'.
نحن ____ إلى العمل بالحافلة.
The prefix 'na-' is used for the first-person plural (we) in the present tense.
Complete the dialogue.
أحمد: أين أنت الآن؟ خالد: أنا ____ إلى العمل.
Contextually, 'I am going to work' is the only logical answer to 'Where are you?'.
Match the Arabic to the English.
Match the following:
Matching pronouns to their correct verb forms.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesأنا أذهب ___ العمل في الصباح.
The verb 'yadhhab' (go) always takes 'ila' (to) when indicating a destination.
نحن ____ إلى العمل بالحافلة.
The prefix 'na-' is used for the first-person plural (we) in the present tense.
أحمد: أين أنت الآن؟ خالد: أنا ____ إلى العمل.
Contextually, 'I am going to work' is the only logical answer to 'Where are you?'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Matching pronouns to their correct verb forms.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, for school you say 'يذهب إلى المدرسة' (Yadhhab ila al-madrasa).
It is masculine. So you say 'العمل الجميل' (The beautiful work).
You can say 'أنا ذاهب إلى العمل' (Ana dhahib ila al-amal).
Amal is more formal/MSA. Shughl is more common in daily dialects.
In formal reading, yes. In conversation, it's usually silent: 'Yadhhab'.
لا أريد أن أذهب إلى العمل (La uridu an adhab ila al-amal).
Yes, it is understood from Morocco to Iraq.
Yes, any verb of movement like 'travel' (yusafir) or 'run' (yajri) can use 'ila'.
You can say 'أذهب إلى المستشفى' (I go to the hospital).
ذهب إلى العمل (Dhahaba ila al-amal).
Related Phrases
يعود من العمل
contrastTo return from work
يبدأ الدوام
similarTo start the shift
يبحث عن عمل
builds onTo look for work
عطلة عن العمل
contrastA break/holiday from work
