This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

Home
Learn
Arabic
Vocabulary
تَعْلِيق

B2 noun #1,200 most common 11 min read

تَعْلِيق

ta'liq Top 1,200

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips تَعْلِيق in 30 Seconds

Explanation تَعْلِيق in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know the word تَعْلِيق (ta'leeq) in the context of the internet and social media. If you use Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube in Arabic, you will see this word every single day. It simply means 'comment'. When you want to write something nice under your friend's picture, you are writing a تَعْلِيق. The plural form is تَعْلِيقَات (ta'leeqaat), which means 'comments'. You don't need to worry about complex grammar at this stage. Just know that when you see the word 'تعليق' on a button on a website, it means you can click there to type your message. You might also hear the phrase 'لا تعليق' (la ta'leeq), which means 'no comment'. It is very easy to remember because it sounds exactly like how we use it in English when we don't want to talk about something. Practice recognizing the shape of the word and its plural form, as it is one of the most important digital vocabulary words you will learn as a beginner in Arabic.

At the A2 level, your understanding of تَعْلِيق (ta'leeq) expands from just recognizing a button on a screen to actually using it in simple sentences to express yourself. You should now know that to say 'I have a comment', you say 'عندي تعليق' (indi ta'leeq). More importantly, you need to learn the preposition that goes with it. In English, we say 'a comment on something'. In Arabic, it is exactly the same: we use the preposition على ('ala), which means 'on'. So, 'a comment on the picture' is 'تعليق على الصورة' (ta'leeq 'ala al-soora). You can also start using adjectives to describe the comment. For example, 'تعليق جميل' (a beautiful comment) or 'تعليق سيء' (a bad comment). You will also start noticing this word when people talk about sports. If you watch a football match with Arabic audio, the person speaking is providing the 'تعليق' (commentary). At this level, focus on building simple phrases: 'I read your comment' (قرأت تعليقك) or 'Thank you for the comment' (شكراً على التعليق).

At the B1 level, you are ready to handle the dual meaning of تَعْلِيق (ta'leeq). Up until now, you have known it as 'comment'. Now, you must learn its second major meaning: 'suspension'. This is crucial for reading the news or understanding official announcements. When a school closes for a day because of heavy rain, the news will announce 'تعليق الدراسة' (suspension of studies/classes). When a social media platform blocks a user, it is 'تعليق الحساب' (suspension of the account). Notice how in this second meaning, we don't use the preposition على ('ala). Instead, we put the word directly next to the thing being suspended (this is called an Idafa structure). You also need to know the difference between a comment (تعليق) and a reply (رد - radd). If someone writes a comment on your post, and you write back to them, your message is a 'رد', not a new 'تعليق'. You should be comfortable using the word in both digital contexts and simple news contexts, understanding that it comes from the root meaning 'to hang'—so you are either hanging your words on a topic, or leaving a situation hanging in the air.

At the B2 level, تَعْلِيق (ta'leeq) becomes a tool for expressing nuanced opinions and understanding complex media reports. You are expected to use it fluently in academic and professional discussions. For example, during a university seminar, a professor might ask for your 'تعليق' (commentary/remarks) on a specific theory. You should be able to construct complex sentences like 'أود أن أضيف تعليقاً بسيطاً على ما قاله زميلي' (I would like to add a brief comment on what my colleague said). In the realm of news, you will encounter it in geopolitical contexts, such as 'تعليق المفاوضات' (suspension of negotiations) or 'تعليق الرحلات الجوية' (suspension of flights). You must understand that 'تعليق' implies a temporary halt, distinguishing it clearly from 'إلغاء' (cancellation), which is permanent. Furthermore, you should be familiar with the active participle 'مُعَلِّق' (mu'alliq - commentator), especially in sports or political analysis. At this stage, the word is no longer just vocabulary; it is a structural pillar of how you engage with Arabic media, debate, and formal correspondence.

At the C1 level, your grasp of تَعْلِيق (ta'leeq) must be sophisticated enough to navigate legal, diplomatic, and literary texts. In legal and diplomatic Arabic, the word is used in highly specific phrasing, such as 'تعليق العمل بالدستور' (suspension of the constitution) or 'تعليق العضوية في الأمم المتحدة' (suspension of membership in the UN). You understand the subtle pragmatic weight of the phrase 'بدون تعليق' (without comment) when used by a politician dodging a scandal, recognizing it as a deliberate rhetorical strategy rather than just a lack of words. In literary and academic contexts, you will encounter 'تعليقات' referring to marginalia—the scholarly notes written in the margins of classical manuscripts (e.g., 'تعليقات ابن سينا' - Avicenna's commentaries). You are also comfortable with the abstract, metaphorical extensions of the root ع-ل-ق, understanding how 'تعليق' relates to 'مُعَلَّق' (suspended/pending), as in 'قضية معلقة' (a pending/unresolved issue) or the famous pre-Islamic poems known as the 'المعلقات' (The Suspended Odes). Your usage is precise, grammatically flawless, and contextually appropriate across all registers.

At the C2 level, your mastery of تَعْلِيق (ta'leeq) is indistinguishable from a highly educated native speaker. You possess a deep etymological awareness of the root ع-ل-ق (ayn-lam-qaf), which revolves around the concepts of clinging, hanging, and attachment. You appreciate the semantic journey from the physical act of hanging a sword or a water skin on a camel, to the intellectual act of attaching an explanatory note to a text, to the modern digital act of posting a comment. You can engage in high-level discourse regarding concepts like 'تعليق الحكم' (suspension of judgment) in philosophical contexts, akin to the Greek concept of epoché. You are adept at using derivative forms in complex rhetorical structures, and you understand the subtle interplay between 'تعليق' and near-synonyms like 'تجميد' (freezing) or 'إرجاء' (deferment) in drafting legal contracts or diplomatic treaties. You can seamlessly transition from using the word in a casual, sarcastic meme ('لا تعليق يا جماعة') to employing it in a rigorous academic critique of a historical text, demonstrating complete sociolinguistic competence.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

تَعْلِيق in 30 Seconds

Means 'comment' on social media.
Means 'suspension' of a rule or event.
Uses the preposition 'على' (on).
Plural is 'تعليقات' (comments).

The Arabic word تَعْلِيق (ta'leeq) is a highly versatile and frequently used verbal noun (masdar) derived from the Form II verb عَلَّقَ ('allaqa), which fundamentally means to hang, suspend, or attach something to something else. In contemporary Arabic, this root concept of 'hanging' has evolved to encompass several distinct but conceptually related meanings that are essential for any learner aiming for fluency, particularly at the B2 level and beyond. The most common everyday usage of تَعْلِيق translates to 'comment' or 'commentary.' When you leave a remark on a social media post, express an opinion on a news article, or provide feedback on a student's essay, you are providing a تَعْلِيق. The conceptual leap from 'hanging' to 'commenting' is quite poetic; you are essentially 'hanging' or 'attaching' your thoughts, words, or opinions onto the original subject matter.

Digital Context: In the digital age, this word is ubiquitous across all Arabic interfaces for social media platforms, representing the 'Comment' button or section.

كتبت تَعْلِيق جميل على صورتك في إنستغرام.

Beyond the digital realm, تَعْلِيق is heavily used in academic and professional environments to mean 'commentary' or 'remarks.' A professor might offer a تَعْلِيق on a research paper, or a political analyst might provide a تَعْلِيق on recent election results. In these contexts, the word carries a tone of thoughtful analysis rather than just a passing remark.

Sports Context: The word is also the standard term for sports commentary, with the commentator being referred to as a مُعَلِّق (mu'alliq).

أحب الاستماع إلى تَعْلِيق عصام الشوالي على مباريات كرة القدم.

The second major meaning of تَعْلِيق is 'suspension' or 'postponement.' This is where the literal idea of 'leaving something hanging in the air' is most apparent. When a government halts a policy, a school closes temporarily due to bad weather, or a social media platform blocks a user's account, the action is described as تَعْلِيق.

أعلنت الوزارة تَعْلِيق الدراسة بسبب العاصفة.

This dual nature of the word makes it incredibly important for comprehension in news media, where you might read about the تَعْلِيق (suspension) of peace talks in one paragraph, and read a political analyst's تَعْلِيق (commentary) on that very suspension in the next. Furthermore, in legal and administrative contexts, you will frequently encounter phrases like 'تعليق العضوية' (suspension of membership) or 'تعليق الرحلات الجوية' (suspension of flights).

Literal Context: Though less common in abstract conversation, the word still retains its literal meaning of hanging physical objects, such as hanging a picture on a wall.

انتهيت من تَعْلِيق اللوحات في المعرض.

Understanding when people use this word requires paying attention to the surrounding context and prepositions. If it is followed by the preposition على ('ala - on/about), it almost always means 'commenting on' something. If it is followed by a direct object like a noun representing an activity, policy, or account, it almost always means 'suspending' that thing.

عندما سأله الصحفي عن الفضيحة، قال: بدون تَعْلِيق.

Mastering this word unlocks a significant portion of modern Arabic discourse, bridging the gap between casual internet slang and formal geopolitical news reporting.

Using تَعْلِيق (ta'leeq) correctly in Arabic sentences requires a solid understanding of its grammatical properties as a verbal noun (masdar) and the specific prepositions that govern its different meanings. Because it is a noun, it can function as a subject, object, or part of a prepositional phrase. When you want to use it to mean 'a comment' or 'commentary', the most critical rule to remember is that it pairs with the preposition على ('ala), which translates to 'on' or 'about'. You do not comment 'in' or 'to' something in Arabic; you comment 'on' it.

Preposition Rule: Always use 'على' after 'تعليق' when referring to the subject being commented upon.

لدي تَعْلِيق بسيط على هذا الموضوع.

In this sentence, 'لدي تعليق' means 'I have a comment', and 'على هذا الموضوع' specifies what the comment is about. You can also pluralize the word to تَعْلِيقَات (ta'leeqaat) when referring to multiple comments. This is a regular feminine plural form, which makes it very predictable to use.

قرأت كل الـتَعْلِيقَات تحت الفيديو.

When you shift the meaning to 'suspension', the grammatical structure changes. In this context, تَعْلِيق is usually placed in an Idafa (genitive construction) with the noun that is being suspended. An Idafa is the Arabic equivalent of saying 'the suspension of [something]'.

Idafa Construction: Place 'تعليق' immediately before the definite noun being suspended to create the 'suspension of X' meaning.

قررت المحكمة تَعْلِيق الحكم حتى إشعار آخر.

Here, 'تعليق الحكم' literally means 'the suspension of the verdict'. Notice that no preposition is needed between the two words in an Idafa. This is a very formal and common structure in news Arabic. Another important syntactic pattern involves using the word in negative constructions to express refusal to engage. The phrase 'بدون تعليق' (without comment) functions as an adverbial phrase or a standalone interjection.

لا تَعْلِيق لدي على هذه الاتهامات السخيفة.

Furthermore, if you want to describe the act of writing a comment, you typically use verbs like كَتَبَ (kataba - to write) or أَضَافَ (adhaafa - to add) or تَرَكَ (taraka - to leave). For example, 'ترك تعليقاً' (He left a comment). If you are using the verb form عَلَّقَ ('allaqa), you bypass the noun entirely: 'عَلَّقَ على الصورة' (He commented on the picture).

Verb vs Noun: Remember that 'تعليق' is the noun. If you want to say 'I am commenting', you must use the verb 'أُعَلِّق' (u'alliq).

المدير يرفض الـتَعْلِيق على أسباب الاستقالة.

In this sentence, the noun is used with the definite article 'ال' (al-) to mean 'the act of commenting'. By mastering these distinct sentence patterns—the prepositional phrase for opinions, the Idafa for suspensions, and the negative phrases for refusals—you will be able to deploy this word with native-like accuracy across a wide spectrum of conversational and formal situations.

The word تَعْلِيق (ta'leeq) is deeply embedded in the daily linguistic landscape of the Arab world, bridging the gap between highly informal digital interactions and strictly formal institutional announcements. If you spend any time on the Arabic internet, this word is inescapable. It is the standard localization for the 'Comment' feature on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok. Whenever a content creator asks their audience to engage, they will invariably say something like 'اكتبوا لي في التعليقات' (Write to me in the comments).

Social Media: The plural form 'تعليقات' is one of the most frequently read words by any Arabic speaker with a smartphone.

لا تنسى الإعجاب وترك تَعْلِيق أسفل الفيديو.

Moving away from the screen and into the living room, you will hear this word constantly during sports broadcasts. Football (soccer) is a massive cultural phenomenon in the Middle East and North Africa, and the art of sports commentary is highly respected. The commentary itself is called تَعْلِيق رِيَاضِي (sports commentary). Famous commentators are celebrities in their own right, and fans often debate whose تَعْلِيق is the most exciting or poetic.

الـتَعْلِيق الصوتي في هذه المباراة كان حماسياً جداً.

In the realm of news and politics, the word takes on its more serious meanings. You will hear news anchors on Al Jazeera or Al Arabiya use it when bringing in a political analyst or expert. The anchor might say, 'ننتقل الآن إلى ضيفنا للحصول على تعليقه' (We now turn to our guest to get his commentary).

News Media: In news, it frequently denotes expert analysis or the official suspension of state activities.

أفادت وكالة الأنباء بـتَعْلِيق المفاوضات بين الطرفين.

Furthermore, you will hear it in administrative and educational settings. If there is a severe sandstorm in Riyadh or heavy rain in Cairo, students and parents will anxiously wait for an official announcement regarding 'تعليق الدراسة' (the suspension of classes). In the workplace, HR departments might issue a notice about the 'تعليق' of a specific employee's access badge pending an investigation.

تم تَعْلِيق حسابك بسبب انتهاك شروط الخدمة.

Finally, in everyday conversational Arabic, the phrase 'لا تعليق' (No comment) is used exactly as it is in English, often with a sarcastic or exasperated tone when someone is presented with a ridiculous situation or a question they simply do not want to answer.

Pop Culture: 'لا تعليق' is a common punchline in Arabic memes and comedy sketches when words fail to describe absurdity.

بصراحة، بعد ما رأيته اليوم، أنا بدون تَعْلِيق.

By exposing yourself to Arabic social media, sports, and news, you will quickly find that تَعْلِيق is a cornerstone of modern Arabic communication.

When learning the word تَعْلِيق (ta'leeq), English speakers often stumble upon a few predictable pitfalls, mostly related to prepositions, confusing it with similar words, and misunderstanding its dual meanings. The most frequent grammatical error involves using the wrong preposition when trying to say 'a comment about' or 'a comment on'. English speakers often instinctively translate 'about' to عن ('an) or 'in' to في (fi). However, in Arabic, you must 'hang' your comment 'upon' the subject. Therefore, the only correct preposition to use is على ('ala).

Preposition Error: Incorrect: تعليق عن الموضوع (Comment about the topic). Correct: تعليق على الموضوع (Comment on the topic).

أريد أن أضيف تَعْلِيقاً على كلامك.

Another major source of confusion is the difference between a 'comment' (تعليق) and a 'reply' (رد - radd). On social media, these two functions are distinct. A تَعْلِيق is an initial remark on a post, whereas a رد is a response to someone else's comment. Learners often use them interchangeably, which can cause confusion when navigating Arabic digital interfaces or asking someone to reply to a message.

كتبت له رسالة ولكنه لم يرسل أي رد (وليس تعليق).

The third common mistake relates to the word's secondary meaning: suspension. Learners often confuse تَعْلِيق (suspension) with إلغاء (ilghaa' - cancellation) or تأجيل (ta'jeel - postponement). While they are related administrative actions, they are legally and practically different. تَعْلِيق implies that something has been stopped temporarily but remains in a state of limbo—it could be resumed or it could be cancelled later. إلغاء means it is completely terminated. تأجيل means it has been specifically moved to a later, usually defined, date.

Vocabulary Nuance: Using 'تعليق' when a flight is permanently cancelled will give people false hope that it might still fly.

تم تَعْلِيق الرحلة مؤقتاً بسبب الضباب، ولم يتم إلغاؤها.

Finally, learners sometimes struggle with the pronunciation, specifically the guttural 'ع' (ayn) and the emphatic 'ق' (qaf). Pronouncing the 'ayn' as a simple glottal stop (like an 'a') or the 'qaf' as a 'k' changes the phonological structure of the word entirely, making it sound like 'taleek', which sounds like a mispronunciation of words related to 'ticking' or 'destruction' depending on the exact vowel sounds used.

Pronunciation: Ensure you articulate the deep throat sound of the 'ع' and the back-of-the-throat click of the 'ق'.

تدرب على نطق حرف العين في كلمة تَعْلِيق.

By being mindful of the preposition 'على', distinguishing it from 'رد' and 'إلغاء', and practicing the challenging consonants, you can avoid the most common traps associated with this word.

To truly master the nuances of تَعْلِيق (ta'leeq), it is highly beneficial to map out its synonyms and related terms, understanding exactly when to use an alternative to sound more precise or natural. While تَعْلِيق is the perfect catch-all word for 'comment', there are several other words that cover specific shades of meaning. If you are talking about an 'opinion' rather than just a passing comment, the word رَأْي (ra'y) is more appropriate. A تَعْلِيق is the vehicle through which you express your رَأْي.

Opinion vs Comment: Use 'رأي' for the internal belief or stance, and 'تعليق' for the external expression of it.

هذا مجرد تَعْلِيق عابر، وليس رأيي النهائي.

Another very close synonym in academic or professional settings is مُلاحَظَة (mulaahadha), which translates to 'note', 'observation', or 'remark'. When a teacher grades a paper, they might leave 'ملاحظات' (notes) rather than 'تعليقات', although both are perfectly understood. مُلاحَظَة implies that you have observed something specific and are pointing it out, whereas a تَعْلِيق can be a broader reaction.

المدير كتب ملاحظات هامة على التقرير.

If we look at the other major meaning of تَعْلِيق—suspension—we must compare it to words like تَأْجِيل (ta'jeel - postponement) and إِلْغَاء (ilghaa' - cancellation). As discussed in the common mistakes section, these are not interchangeable. تَأْجِيل implies a specific future resumption, while تَعْلِيق leaves the future ambiguous. Another related word in the legal or administrative domain is تَجْمِيد (tajmeed), which literally means 'freezing'. You might hear about the 'تجميد' of bank accounts or assets, which is functionally very similar to 'تعليق', but 'تجميد' carries a harsher, more punitive connotation.

Freezing vs Suspending: 'تجميد' is often used for financial assets, while 'تعليق' is used for policies, memberships, or activities.

تم تجميد أموال الشركة بعد التحقيق.

For the concept of a 'reply' or 'response', the word رَدّ (radd) is the exact alternative you need when someone is answering a specific question or previous comment. Finally, if you are looking for a highly formal word for 'commentary' in a literary or religious context (like an exegesis or detailed explanation of a text), the word شَرْح (sharh - explanation) or تَفْسِير (tafseer - interpretation) might be used instead of تَعْلِيق, though a scholar might write a 'تعليق' (marginal note/commentary) on an older manuscript.

Classical Texts: In classical Arabic literature, a 'تعليق' often refers to notes written in the margins of a primary text.

قرأت تَعْلِيق ابن خلدون على هذه الحادثة التاريخية.

Understanding this web of synonyms allows you to choose the exact word for the exact situation, elevating your Arabic from merely functional to highly articulate.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"أعلنت الوزارة تعليق الرحلات الجوية حتى إشعار آخر."

Neutral

"قرأت تعليقك على الفيسبوك."

Informal

"يا أخي، شفت التعليقات؟ تموت ضحك!"

Child friendly

"اكتب تعليقاً صغيراً لمعلمتك."

Slang

"لا تعليق يا باشا، الموضوع خربان."

Fun Fact

The most famous poems in Arabic literature are called the 'Mu'allaqaat' (المعلقات), which translates to 'The Suspended Ones'. Legend says they were so beautiful that they were written in gold and physically 'hung' on the Kaaba in Mecca before Islam. This is one of the earliest and most prestigious uses of the root.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /taʕˈliːq/

US /taʕˈliːq/

The stress falls on the second syllable: ta'-LEEQ.

Rhymes With

تَحْقِيق (tahqeeq - investigation) تَطْبِيق (tatbeeq - application) تَدْقِيق (tadqeeq - auditing/checking) تَوْفِيق (tawfeeq - success/reconciliation) تَصْدِيق (tasdeeq - ratification/believing) تَضْيِيق (tadhyeeq - narrowing/restriction) تَلْفِيق (talfeeq - fabrication) تَنْسِيق (tanseeq - coordination)

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'ع' (ayn) as a glottal stop or 'a', making it sound like 'ta'leeq' (with a catch in the breath) instead of the smooth, throaty 'ayn'.
Pronouncing the 'ق' (qaf) as a 'k' (kaf), making it sound like 'taleek', which changes the root entirely.
Shortening the long 'ee' vowel, making it sound like 'taliq' (which means divorced in Arabic).
Putting the stress on the first syllable (TA'-leeq) instead of the second.
Failing to double the 'l' if trying to say the verb form (u'alliq) instead of the noun.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Very easy to recognize, especially on digital platforms. The plural form is regular and predictable.

Writing 3/5

Easy to spell, but learners often struggle with choosing the correct preposition (على) when writing sentences.

Speaking 4/5

Pronunciation is challenging due to the combination of the pharyngeal 'ع' and the uvular 'ق'.

Listening 3/5

Easy to hear in sports and news, but might be missed in fast, casual speech if the 'ق' is dropped in local dialects.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

عَلَى (on) كَتَبَ (to write) قَرَأَ (to read) صُورَة (picture) مَدْرَسَة (school)

Learn Next

رَدّ (reply) إِعْجَاب (like/admiration) مُشَارَكَة (share/participation) إِلْغَاء (cancellation) تَأْجِيل (postponement)

Advanced

مُعَلَّقَات (Suspended Odes) تَجْمِيد (freezing/suspension of assets) إِرْجَاء (deferment) حَظْر (ban/block) مُقَاطَعَة (boycott)

Grammar to Know

The Preposition 'على'

تعليق على الصورة (Comment on the picture). Never use 'في' (in) or 'عن' (about).

Idafa (Genitive Construction)

تعليق الدراسة (Suspension of classes). Used when 'تعليق' means suspension. No preposition is used between the words.

Regular Feminine Plural

تعليقات (Comments). Formed by adding 'ات' to the root, dropping the unwritten masculine ending.

Passive Construction with 'تم'

تم تعليق الحساب (The account was suspended). A common way to form the passive in modern standard Arabic.

Absolute Negation (لا النافية للجنس)

لا تعليقَ (No comment). The noun following 'لا' takes a fatha and no tanween.

Examples by Level

هذا تَعْلِيق جميل.

This is a beautiful comment.

Noun used as a subject complement with an adjective.

أين الـتَعْلِيق؟

Where is the comment?

Definite noun with the 'al-' prefix.

عندي تَعْلِيق.

I have a comment.

Used with the preposition 'indi' (I have).

لا يوجد تَعْلِيق.

There is no comment.

Used with the verb 'yoojad' (exists).

اكتب تَعْلِيق هنا.

Write a comment here.

Object of the imperative verb 'uktub'.

شكراً على الـتَعْلِيق.

Thank you for the comment.

Used after the preposition 'ala'.

قرأت الـتَعْلِيق.

I read the comment.

Direct object of the past tense verb.

تَعْلِيق واحد فقط.

Only one comment.

Noun followed by the number one as an adjective.

أريد أن أكتب تَعْلِيقاً على صورتك.

I want to write a comment on your picture.

Accusative case (tanween fatha) as the object of 'aktoob'.

كل الـتَعْلِيقَات كانت إيجابية.

All the comments were positive.

Plural form 'ta'leeqaat' used as the subject.

لماذا حذفت الـتَعْلِيق؟

Why did you delete the comment?

Direct object of the verb 'hadhafta'.

هذا الـتَعْلِيق مضحك جداً.

This comment is very funny.

Definite noun as the subject of a nominal sentence.

لا أستطيع رؤية الـتَعْلِيقَات.

I cannot see the comments.

Plural object in a negative sentence.

أعجبني تَعْلِيق صديقي.

I liked my friend's comment.

Subject of the verb 'a'jabani' (it pleased me).

هل قرأت تَعْلِيق الأستاذ؟

Did you read the teacher's comment?

First part of an Idafa (genitive construction).

الـتَعْلِيق على هذا الفيديو مغلق.

Commenting on this video is closed.

Verbal noun used to mean the action of commenting.

أعلنت المدرسة تَعْلِيق الدراسة بسبب المطر.

The school announced the suspension of classes due to rain.

Used in the sense of 'suspension' in an Idafa.

الـتَعْلِيق الرياضي في هذه المباراة رائع.

The sports commentary in this match is wonderful.

Used with the adjective 'riyadhi' (sports).

تم تَعْلِيق حسابي على تويتر بالخطأ.

My Twitter account was suspended by mistake.

Used with 'tamma' to form a passive meaning.

ليس لدي أي تَعْلِيق على هذا الموضوع.

I have no comment on this topic.

Used with 'ay' (any) for emphasis in a negative sentence.

أضاف المدير تَعْلِيقاً هاماً في نهاية الاجتماع.

The manager added an important comment at the end of the meeting.

Accusative object with an adjective.

تَعْلِيق الرحلات الجوية سيستمر ليومين.

The suspension of flights will continue for two days.

Subject of the sentence in an Idafa construction.

ردت الشركة على كل الـتَعْلِيقَات السلبية.

The company replied to all negative comments.

Plural form following the preposition 'ala'.

قال الوزير: بدون تَعْلِيق.

The minister said: No comment.

The fixed phrase 'bidoon ta'leeq'.

أثار تَعْلِيق الصحفي جدلاً واسعاً في الأوساط السياسية.

The journalist's comment sparked widespread controversy in political circles.

Subject of the verb 'athaara' (sparked).

قرار تَعْلِيق المفاوضات جاء مفاجئاً للجميع.

The decision to suspend negotiations came as a surprise to everyone.

Second part of an Idafa (decision of suspension).

طلب الأستاذ الجامعي كتابة تَعْلِيق نقدي على المقال.

The university professor asked for a critical commentary to be written on the article.

Used with the adjective 'naqdi' (critical).

تَعْلِيق العقوبات الاقتصادية خطوة إيجابية نحو السلام.

The suspension of economic sanctions is a positive step towards peace.

Subject of a nominal sentence in an Idafa.

يرجى ترك تَعْلِيق يوضح سبب رفض الطلب.

Please leave a comment explaining the reason for rejecting the request.

Indefinite object followed by a verbal sentence acting as an adjective.

الـتَعْلِيق الصوتي في الأفلام الوثائقية يتطلب مهارة خاصة.

Voice-over commentary in documentaries requires special skill.

The phrase 'al-ta'leeq al-sawti' means voice-over.

تم تَعْلِيق العمل بالقرار لحين مراجعته قانونياً.

The implementation of the decision was suspended until it is legally reviewed.

The phrase 'ta'leeq al-'amal bi' means suspending the execution of.

تجنب كتابة تَعْلِيقَات مسيئة لتفادي الحظر.

Avoid writing offensive comments to prevent being banned.

Plural accusative object (takes kasra instead of fatha because it's a regular feminine plural).

إن تَعْلِيق الدستور في أوقات الأزمات يثير مخاوف حقوقية عميقة.

The suspension of the constitution during times of crisis raises deep human rights concerns.

Subject of 'inna' in a formal legal context.

قدم الناقد الأدبي تَعْلِيقاً لاذعاً على الرواية الجديدة.

The literary critic provided a scathing commentary on the new novel.

Used with the advanced adjective 'laathi'' (scathing/biting).

تَعْلِيق العضوية في المنظمة الدولية يعتبر إجراءً تأديبياً صارماً.

Suspension of membership in the international organization is considered a strict disciplinary measure.

Formal administrative usage in an Idafa.

اكتفى المتحدث الرسمي بعبارة 'لا تَعْلِيق' للتهرب من الأسئلة المحرجة.

The official spokesperson settled for the phrase 'no comment' to evade embarrassing questions.

Used as a quoted noun phrase within a complex sentence.

تحتوي المخطوطة القديمة على تَعْلِيقَات بخط يد المؤلف نفسه.

The ancient manuscript contains marginal commentaries in the author's own handwriting.

Used to mean 'marginalia' or scholarly notes.

قرار تَعْلِيق الإضراب جاء بعد التوصل إلى تسوية مبدئية.

The decision to suspend the strike came after reaching a preliminary settlement.

Used in the context of labor disputes.

يعتبر تَعْلِيق الحكم في الفلسفة خطوة أساسية للوصول إلى اليقين.

The suspension of judgment in philosophy is considered a fundamental step to reaching certainty.

Translates the philosophical concept of 'epoché'.

الـتَعْلِيق المتبادل بين الشركاء أدى إلى تجميد المشروع بالكامل.

The mutual suspension (of activities) between the partners led to the complete freezing of the project.

Used as a verbal noun indicating a reciprocal action.

تتجلى براعة المترجم في تَعْلِيقَاته الهامشية التي تفكك الرموز الثقافية للنص الأصلي.

The translator's brilliance is evident in his marginal commentaries that deconstruct the cultural symbols of the original text.

Plural with a possessive pronoun and adjective in a highly academic context.

إن تَعْلِيق العمل بالمعاهدة الثنائية ينذر بتصعيد دبلوماسي غير مسبوق.

The suspension of the bilateral treaty portends an unprecedented diplomatic escalation.

Complex legal phrasing 'ta'leeq al-'amal bi' (suspension of the operation of).

استخدم الكاتب تقنية تَعْلِيق السرد لخلق حالة من الترقب النفسي لدى القارئ.

The author used the technique of narrative suspension to create a state of psychological suspense for the reader.

Literary criticism context: 'suspension of narrative'.

في الفقه الإسلامي، تَعْلِيق الطلاق على شرط يجعله نافذاً بوقوع ذلك الشرط.

In Islamic jurisprudence, making divorce contingent (suspended) upon a condition makes it effective upon the occurrence of that condition.

Classical legal usage meaning 'making contingent upon'.

الـتَعْلِيق المنهجي للأحكام المسبقة هو جوهر الظاهريات الهوسرلية.

The systematic suspension of prejudices is the core of Husserlian phenomenology.

Deep philosophical context translating complex Western concepts.

لا يمكن فهم القصيدة الجاهلية دون الرجوع إلى تَعْلِيقَات الشراح الأوائل.

The pre-Islamic poem cannot be understood without referring to the commentaries of the early expositors.

Reference to classical Arabic literary tradition.

أسفرت المناورات السياسية عن تَعْلِيق مؤقت للأزمة، وليس حلاً جذرياً لها.

The political maneuvers resulted in a temporary suspension of the crisis, not a radical solution to it.

Abstract usage where a situation or crisis itself is suspended.

إن تَعْلِيق الأمل على وعود واهية هو ضرب من السذاجة السياسية.

Hanging hope on flimsy promises is a form of political naivety.

Metaphorical usage returning to the root meaning of 'hanging' (hanging hope).

Synonyms

تعقيب ملاحظة رأي تجميد

Antonyms

صمت تجاهل استمرار

Common Collocations

تَعْلِيق الدِّرَاسَة

بِدُون تَعْلِيق

تَعْلِيق صَوْتِي

تَعْلِيق رِيَاضِي

تَعْلِيق الحِسَاب

تَعْلِيق الرَّحَلَات

تَعْلِيق العُضْوِيَّة

تَرْك تَعْلِيق

كِتَابَة تَعْلِيق

تَعْلِيق الحُكْم

Common Phrases

لا تَعْلِيق

— No comment. Used to express refusal to speak on a matter, or to express speechlessness at something absurd.

بعد رؤية هذا التصرف الغريب، أقول فقط: لا تعليق.

قسم التَّعْلِيقَات

— The comments section. Refers to the area below an article or video where users interact.

حدث شجار كبير في قسم التعليقات.

تَعْلِيق مُثَبَّت

— Pinned comment. A comment that the author has fixed to the top of the comments section.

اقرأ التعليق المثبت لمعرفة التفاصيل.

تَعْلِيقَات سَلْبِيَّة

— Negative comments. Criticism or hate speech left on digital platforms.

المشاهير يتعرضون للكثير من التعليقات السلبية.

تَعْلِيقَات إِيجَابِيَّة

— Positive comments. Praise or supportive remarks left on digital platforms.

تلقيت تعليقات إيجابية على مشروعي الجديد.

تَعْلِيق مُؤَقَّت

— Temporary suspension. Emphasizes that the halt in activity is not permanent.

هذا مجرد تعليق مؤقت للعمل حتى إشعار آخر.

في اِنْتِظَار تَعْلِيقِك

— Waiting for your comment/feedback. A polite way to ask for someone's opinion.

أرسلت لك التقرير وأنا في انتظار تعليقك.

تَعْلِيق سَاخِر

— Sarcastic comment. A remark intended to mock or be ironic.

كتب تعليقاً ساخراً أضحك الجميع.

تَعْلِيق العَمَل بِـ

— Suspension of the implementation of (a law/rule). Legal phrasing for halting a policy.

تم تعليق العمل بالقرار القديم.

مُجَرَّد تَعْلِيق

— Just a comment. Used to downplay the importance or aggression of a remark.

لا تغضب، إنه مجرد تعليق بسيط.

Often Confused With

تَعْلِيق vs رَدّ (radd)

A 'radd' is a reply to a comment. A 'ta'leeq' is the initial comment itself.

تَعْلِيق vs إِلْغَاء (ilghaa')

'Ilghaa' means permanent cancellation. 'Ta'leeq' means temporary suspension.

تَعْلِيق vs تَأْجِيل (ta'jeel)

'Ta'jeel' means postponing to a specific later time. 'Ta'leeq' is an indefinite halt.

Idioms & Expressions

"بِدُون تَعْلِيق"

— Without comment. A direct calque from English, used exactly the same way to refuse to answer or show exasperation.

سألني عن رأيي في مديري، فقلت: بدون تعليق.

Neutral

"الصُّورَة تُغْنِي عَنِ التَّعْلِيق"

— The picture spares the need for comment. Similar to 'a picture is worth a thousand words'.

انظر إلى حجم الدمار، الصورة تغني عن التعليق.

Formal/Journalistic

"مُعَلَّق في الهَوَاء"

— Hanging in the air. Used to describe a situation that is unresolved or pending (uses the passive participle of the same root).

مستقبل الشركة لا يزال معلقاً في الهواء.

Idiomatic

"تَعْلِيق الآمَال"

— Hanging hopes (on something). To place one's expectations or trust in a specific outcome.

لا يجب تعليق الآمال على وعود كاذبة.

Formal/Literary

"تَعْلِيق الجَرَس"

— Hanging the bell. Refers to the fable of 'belling the cat', meaning to take on a dangerous task.

الجميع يشتكي من المدير، ولكن من سيقوم بتعليق الجرس؟

Literary/Proverbial

"مَسْأَلَة مُعَلَّقَة"

— A pending issue. A matter that has not yet been decided (uses the passive participle).

موضوع الترقية لا يزال مسألة معلقة.

Formal/Business

"تَعْلِيق النَّشَاط"

— Suspension of activity. A formal way to say a group or business has stopped working temporarily.

أعلن الحزب تعليق نشاطه السياسي.

News/Politics

"تَعْلِيق المَشَانِق"

— Hanging the gallows. A dramatic phrase meaning to prepare for executions or severe punishments.

بدأ الديكتاتور في تعليق المشانق لمعارضيه.

Historical/Journalistic

"تَعْلِيق الأَحْكَام"

— Suspension of judgments. A philosophical or diplomatic stance of not deciding immediately.

يجب تعليق الأحكام حتى تظهر كل الحقائق.

Academic

"تَعْلِيق عَلَى شَمَّاعَة"

— Hanging on a coat rack. An idiom meaning to use something as an excuse or scapegoat.

لا تعلق أخطاءك على شماعة الظروف.

Idiomatic

Easily Confused

تَعْلِيق vs عَلَاقَة ('alaaqa)

Shares the same root (ع-ل-ق) and looks similar.

'Alaaqa means 'relationship' or 'connection', whereas 'ta'leeq' means 'comment' or 'suspension'.

لا توجد علاقة بين الموضوعين.

تَعْلِيق vs مُعَلَّق (mu'allaq)

It is the passive participle of the same verb.

Mu'allaq is an adjective meaning 'suspended' or 'pending', while ta'leeq is the noun 'suspension'.

الملف لا يزال معلقاً.

تَعْلِيق vs تَحْلِيق (tahleeq)

Differs by only one letter (ح instead of ع) and sounds similar.

Tahleeq means 'flying' or 'soaring' (like a bird or plane), completely unrelated to commenting.

تحليق الطائرات ممنوع هنا.

تَعْلِيق vs تَلْفِيق (talfeeq)

Rhymes with ta'leeq and has a similar rhythm.

Talfeeq means 'fabrication' or 'making things up' (like fake news).

هذه القصة مجرد تلفيق.

تَعْلِيق vs عَلَقَة ('alaqa)

Same root, often encountered in religious texts (Quran).

'Alaqa means a 'clot of blood' or 'leech', referring to the literal clinging aspect of the root.

خلق الإنسان من علق.

Sentence Patterns

هذا + تعليق + [Adjective]

هذا تعليق جميل.

عندي + تعليق + على + [Noun]

عندي تعليق على الموضوع.

تم + تعليق + [Noun]

تم تعليق الرحلات.

أريد أن + أترك + تعليقاً

أريد أن أترك تعليقاً.

قرار + تعليق + [Noun] + كان + [Adjective]

قرار تعليق المفاوضات كان مفاجئاً.

ليس لدي + أي + تعليق + على + [Noun]

ليس لدي أي تعليق على هذا القرار.

إن + تعليق + [Noun] + يؤدي إلى + [Noun]

إن تعليق الدستور يؤدي إلى الفوضى.

لا يمكن + فهم + [Noun] + دون + الرجوع إلى + تعليقات + [Noun]

لا يمكن فهم النص دون الرجوع إلى تعليقات الشراح.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely High. Ranked among the top 500 most used words in modern Arabic due to social media and news.

Common Mistakes

Saying 'تعليق في الصورة' (Comment in the picture). → Saying 'تعليق على الصورة' (Comment on the picture).
English speakers naturally translate 'in the comments' or 'comment in the post'. Arabic strictly requires the preposition 'على' (on) for the subject being commented upon.
Using 'تعليق' when you mean 'reply'. → Using 'رد' (radd) for a reply.
If someone says 'Hello' and you say 'Hi' back, that is a 'رد' (reply). A 'تعليق' is the initial statement or opinion. Don't tell someone 'أنتظر تعليقك' if you just want them to reply to your text message.
Saying 'تم تعليق الرحلة' when the flight is permanently cancelled. → Saying 'تم إلغاء الرحلة' (The flight was cancelled).
'تعليق' means suspended. If you tell someone their flight is 'معلقة', they will wait at the airport thinking it will fly later. Use 'إلغاء' for cancellations.
Pronouncing it 'taleek' with a 'k' sound. → Pronouncing it 'ta'leeq' with a deep 'qaf' (ق).
Replacing the 'ق' with a 'ك' changes the word completely and sounds like a mispronunciation of words related to destruction or ticking. Ensure the sound comes from the back of the throat.
Using 'تعليق' as a verb: 'أنا تعليق على هذا'. → Using the verb form: 'أنا أُعَلِّق على هذا' (I comment on this).
'تعليق' is a noun. You cannot use it as an action verb directly. You must either use the verb 'أعلق' or say 'لدي تعليق' (I have a comment).

Tips

The Golden Preposition

Never forget that 'تعليق' pairs with 'على'. Tattoo this rule in your brain: Comment ON the picture, not IN the picture.

Digital Survival

If your phone is in Arabic, 'تعليقات' is the word you click to read what people are saying. It's the ultimate digital survival word.

Master the Throat

Practice the 'ع' (ayn) sound. It should feel like a slight constriction deep in your throat. Don't just say 'a'.

Suspension vs Cancellation

Use 'تعليق' for temporary stops (like a rain delay) and 'إلغاء' for permanent stops (like a cancelled concert).

The Politician's Phrase

Use 'بدون تعليق' when you want to playfully refuse to answer a friend's embarrassing question. It sounds very native.

Sports Context

Tune into an Arabic football match. You will hear the word 'معلق' (commentator) and 'تعليق' constantly. It's great listening practice.

Formal Emails

End professional emails with 'أنتظر تعليقاتكم' (I await your comments/feedback) to sound highly professional and polite.

News Headlines

Scan Arabic news sites for the word 'تعليق'. It almost always signals breaking news about something being stopped or paused.

Form II Masdar

Recognize that words starting with 'تَ' and having a 'ي' before the last letter (تَفْعِيل) are often Form II verbal nouns. This helps you guess meanings.

The Weight of Words

In Arab culture, a public 'تعليق' carries weight. Be mindful of leaving negative comments, as digital etiquette is taken very seriously.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine you have a TALL LEEK (ta'leeq) vegetable. You HANG it on the wall, and everyone leaves a COMMENT on how weird it is, until the police come and SUSPEND your vegetable-hanging privileges.

Visual Association

Visualize a literal speech bubble hanging from a string attached to a computer screen. The string represents the 'suspension' and 'hanging' meaning, while the speech bubble represents the 'comment' meaning.

Word Web

تَعْلِيق (Center) -> رأي (Opinion) -> إنترنت (Internet) -> إيقاف (Stopping) -> مدرسة (School) -> رياضة (Sports) -> على (Preposition 'on') -> تعليقات (Plural)

Challenge

Go to any Arabic YouTube video. Scroll down to the comments section. Find the word 'التعليقات' (Comments). Write a simple comment in Arabic, such as 'تعليق جميل' (Beautiful comment), to solidify the digital context in your mind.

Word Origin

The word derives from the ancient Semitic root ع-ل-ق (ayn-lam-qaf), which fundamentally revolves around the physical concepts of clinging, adhering, getting stuck, or hanging. In ancient desert life, this root was used to describe a leech clinging to skin, a camel getting stuck in mud, or hanging a water skin from a saddle.

Original meaning: The original meaning of the Form II verb عَلَّقَ ('allaqa) was strictly physical: to hang something up, such as hanging a sword on a wall or a pot over a fire.

Afroasiatic > Semitic > Central Semitic > Arabic.

Cultural Context

Be careful when using the word 'تعليق' in a work environment. If you tell a colleague 'تم تعليق عملك' (Your work is suspended), it sounds like they are being disciplined or fired. Use 'تأجيل' (postponed) if you just mean delayed.

English speakers separate 'comment' and 'suspension' into two completely unrelated words. You must train your brain to see them as the same concept in Arabic: leaving something hanging.

The 'Mu'allaqaat' (المعلقات) - The seven (or ten) famous pre-Islamic poems. Essam El Shawaly - One of the most famous sports commentators (معلق رياضي) in the Arab world. 'بدون تعليق' (No Comment) - A popular phrase and sometimes the title of satirical news segments in Arab media.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Social Media

اكتب تعليقاً
قسم التعليقات
تعليق مسيء
تعليق مثبت

News & Politics

تعليق المفاوضات
تعليق العضوية
بدون تعليق
تعليق العمل بالدستور

Education & Administration

تعليق الدراسة
تعليق الرحلات
تم تعليق الحساب
تعليق مؤقت

Sports & Media

تعليق رياضي
معلق المباراة
تعليق صوتي
غرفة التعليق

Academic & Professional

تعليق نقدي
ملاحظات وتعليقات
أود إضافة تعليق
تعليق على التقرير

Conversation Starters

"هل قرأت التعليقات على هذا الخبر العجيب؟"

"ما هو تعليقك على قرار الشركة الأخير؟"

"لماذا تم تعليق حسابك على تويتر؟"

"هل تفضل التعليق الرياضي العربي أم الإنجليزي؟"

"ليس لدي أي تعليق، ماذا عنك؟"

Journal Prompts

اكتب تعليقاً نقدياً على آخر فيلم شاهدته.

صف شعورك عندما تم إعلان تعليق الدراسة بسبب المطر.

هل تعتقد أن قسم التعليقات في وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي مفيد أم مضر؟

تخيل أنك معلق رياضي، اكتب تعليقاً قصيراً لهدف حاسم.

متى كانت آخر مرة قلت فيها 'بدون تعليق' ولماذا؟

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

You must always use 'على' (ala) when saying 'a comment on' something. For example, 'تعليق على الصورة' (a comment on the picture). Using 'في' is a direct translation from English 'comment in the chat' but is grammatically incorrect in Arabic when referring to the subject of the comment.

The exact equivalent is 'بدون تعليق' (bidoon ta'leeq), which literally translates to 'without comment'. You can also say 'لا تعليق' (la ta'leeq). Both are used exactly as they are in English, often by politicians or people avoiding a question.

'Ta'leeq' (تعليق) is a general comment or remark. 'Radd' (رد) specifically means a 'reply' or 'response'. On Facebook, you write a ta'leeq on a post, and someone might write a radd to your ta'leeq.

Both meanings come from the root verb 'allaqa, which means 'to hang'. When you comment, you are metaphorically 'hanging' your words onto a topic. When you suspend a rule, you are leaving it 'hanging' in the air, unresolved.

Yes, absolutely. Sports commentary is called 'تعليق رياضي' (ta'leeq riyadhi), and the commentator is called a 'مُعَلِّق' (mu'alliq). It is one of the most common contexts for the word outside of the internet.

The plural is 'تعليقات' (ta'leeqaat). It follows the regular feminine plural pattern by adding 'ات' (aat) to the end. This is very common for verbal nouns (masdars) of Form II verbs.

Not exactly. 'Ta'leeq الرحلات' means flights are suspended temporarily (e.g., due to fog). If a flight is permanently cancelled, the word is 'إلغاء' (ilghaa'). Using ta'leeq implies they might resume soon.

It means 'suspension of classes' or 'school closure'. You will hear this frequently in Arab countries during severe weather events like sandstorms or heavy rain.

In formal Arabic (MSA), yes. However, in many urban dialects (like in Egypt, Lebanon, or Syria), the 'ق' is pronounced as a glottal stop. So 'ta'leeq' sounds like 'ta'lee''.

Yes, the literal meaning still exists. You can say 'تعليق اللوحة' (hanging the painting). However, in everyday conversation, the verb form 'عَلَّقَ' is more commonly used for physical hanging than the noun form.