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ينفصل

A2 verb #4,000 most common 9 min read

ينفصل

yanfaSil Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips ينفصل in 30 Seconds

Explanation ينفصل in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'ينفصل' (yanfaṣil) is introduced as a simple way to say things 'come apart' or 'go away from each other'. Think of it like a toy car losing a wheel or a child moving away from a group. At this stage, you don't need to worry about complex grammar. Just remember that it means 'to separate'. You will mostly see it used with physical things. For example, 'The book separates from the bag'. It's a useful word for describing basic actions where one thing is no longer attached to another. You should learn it alongside the preposition 'an' (عن), which means 'from' in this context. It's a building block for describing the world around you in simple terms.

At the A2 level, you start using 'ينفصل' to describe people and simple social situations. You might use it to talk about a couple who is not living together anymore or a student leaving a group project. You should be able to conjugate it in the present tense: 'أنا أنفصل' (I separate), 'هو ينفصل' (he separates), 'هي تنفصل' (she separates). You will also notice it in basic science contexts, like oil and water not mixing. It's important at this level to distinguish it from 'يذهب' (to go). 'ينفصل' implies that the two things were together before. It's about the ending of a connection. You will also begin to see the noun form 'انفصال' (separation) in simple texts.

At the B1 level, you use 'ينفصل' in more formal and abstract ways. You can describe a company splitting into two branches or a political party having internal issues. You should be comfortable using the past tense 'انفصل' (infaṣala) and the future 'سينفصل' (sa-yanfaṣilu). You'll start to hear this word in news broadcasts about international relations or regional news. For example, 'The region wants to separate'. You should also understand the reflexive nature of Form VII verbs; the subject is doing the action to itself or undergoing the change. It is a key verb for expressing independence and the breaking of ties in professional and social environments.

At the B2 level, 'ينفصل' becomes a tool for discussing complex social and scientific phenomena. You can use it to describe the 'separation of powers' in a government (انفصال السلطات) or 'cell division' in biology. You should be able to use it in conditional sentences (e.g., 'If they separate, the project will fail'). You will also encounter it in literature to describe emotional or spiritual distance. At this level, you should be able to distinguish 'ينفصل' from more specific verbs like 'ينشق' (to defect) or 'يعتزل' (to retire). Your vocabulary is becoming more precise, and you use 'ينفصل' when a structural or formal bond is being severed.

At the C1 level, you use 'ينفصل' with high precision in academic and professional writing. You might discuss the philosophical 'separation of mind and body' or the legal nuances of 'legal separation' versus 'divorce'. You are expected to use the word in complex sentence structures, including passive-like Form VII constructions and nominalized forms. You understand the historical and political weight of the word, especially in the context of 'separatist movements' (حركات انفصالية) in the Middle East and beyond. You can use it to describe subtle shifts in diplomatic relations where two countries 'distance themselves' or 'separate' their interests without a total break.

At the C2 level, 'ينفصل' is used with total native-like fluency, including its metaphorical and idiomatic applications. You can use it in high-level legal, political, and philosophical debates. You might analyze how a text 'separates' from its author's intent or how a currency 'decouples' (separates) from a gold standard. You understand the root's deep connections to other words like 'Fasl' (season/chapter/judgment) and can use this knowledge to appreciate wordplay or rhetorical devices in classical Arabic. Your use of 'ينفصل' is nuanced, reflecting an understanding of the subtle differences between physical, legal, emotional, and structural separation in any given context.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

ينفصل in 30 Seconds

A versatile verb meaning 'to separate' or 'to detach' from a whole.
Used in physical, social, political, and scientific contexts across all levels.
Requires the preposition 'an' (عن) to indicate the source of separation.
Follows the Form VII (Infi'al) pattern, making it reflexive or intransitive.

The Arabic verb ينفصل (yanfaṣilu) is a Form VII verb derived from the root ف-ص-ل (f-ṣ-l). At its core, this verb describes the act of one thing becoming detached, separated, or disconnected from another. Unlike its Form I counterpart يَفْصِل (yafaṣilu), which means 'to separate something' (transitive), ينفصل is intransitive and reflexive, meaning the subject itself undergoes the separation. It is a versatile word used in physical, social, political, and scientific contexts. For instance, you might use it to describe a trailer unhooking from a truck, a child moving away from their parents to live independently, or a political entity seceding from a union. The beauty of this verb lies in its inherent sense of 'self-separation' or the state of becoming apart.

Physical Detachment: Used when an object physically breaks away or is removed from a larger structure, such as a part of a machine or a branch from a tree.

ينفصل الجزء القديم عن المحرك تلقائياً. (The old part separates from the engine automatically.)

Social and Personal: Frequently used to describe couples separating before a formal divorce or individuals distancing themselves from a group or family unit.

قرر الزوجان أن ينفصلا لفترة قصيرة. (The couple decided to separate for a short period.)

In a broader philosophical sense, ينفصل can describe the separation of the soul from the body or the separation of ideas from their context. It carries a weight of finality but also of transition. In modern standard Arabic (MSA), you will encounter this word daily in news reports regarding 'separatist movements' (حركات انفصالية) or scientific journals discussing 'cell division' (انفصال الخلايا). Understanding this word requires recognizing that the separation is usually a process that results in two or more distinct entities where there was previously one unified whole.

ينفصل الزيت عن الماء عند خلطهما. (Oil separates from water when they are mixed.)

Political Secession: Used to describe regions or states breaking away from a central government or union to gain independence.

هل تعتقد أن الإقليم سينفصل عن الدولة؟ (Do you think the region will separate from the state?)

ينفصل التيار الكهربائي أحياناً بسبب العواصف. (The electric current sometimes disconnects because of storms.)

Mastering ينفصل requires a firm grasp of subject-verb agreement and the use of the preposition عن. Since it is a Form VII verb, it follows a very predictable conjugation pattern. In the present tense (Imperfective), the stem is -نفصل-. For a singular male subject, it is ينفصل (yanfaṣilu); for a singular female, تنفصل (tanfaṣilu); and for a plural subject, ينفصلون (yanfaṣilūna). The verb is often used to describe natural phenomena or mechanical processes where human agency is not the primary focus.

The 'An' Preposition: Always remember: Subject + ينفصل + عن + Object. For example: 'The moon separates from the earth' would be 'ينفصل القمر عن الأرض'.

تنفصل القشرة عن الثمرة بسهولة. (The peel separates from the fruit easily.)

When using the verb in a plural context, especially with people, it often implies a mutual decision or a collective action. For example, 'The two teams separate' (ينفصل الفريقان). Note that in Arabic, the dual form is used for two entities. If you are talking about a divorce-like separation, the verb remains the same, but the context clarifies the gravity of the situation. It is less formal than يطلق (to divorce) but more formal than يترك (to leave).

Scientific Usage: In chemistry or biology, this verb is essential. It describes substances precipitating or cells dividing into new units.

ينفصل الهيدروجين عن الأكسجين في هذه العملية. (Hydrogen separates from oxygen in this process.)

Furthermore, in business contexts, ينفصل can describe a partner leaving a firm or a subsidiary becoming an independent company. It conveys a sense of legal and structural change. The verb can also be used in the future tense by adding the prefix سـ or the word سوف, which is common in news forecasts or strategic planning. For example: 'The company will separate into two entities next year' (سوف تنفصل الشركة إلى كيانين العام المقبل).

ينفصل الشريك عن الشركة بعد الخلاف. (The partner separates from the company after the dispute.)

Negation: To say something does not separate, use لا ينفصل for general truths or لم ينفصل for the past negative. Example: 'The soul does not separate from the body easily' (لا تنفصل الروح عن الجسد بسهولة).

لا ينفصل النجاح عن العمل الجاد. (Success does not separate from hard work.)

You will encounter ينفصل in a wide variety of real-world scenarios, ranging from the mundane to the highly technical. In everyday life, it is most common in discussions about relationships and family dynamics. If a friend tells you that a mutual acquaintance is 'separating', they will likely use the past tense انفصل or the present ينفصل. In the news, this word is a staple of political reporting. Whenever there is talk of a region seeking independence (like South Sudan's secession or debates in Catalonia), the verb ينفصل and its noun form انفصال (infisāl) dominate the headlines.

News Media: Journalists use it to describe diplomatic rifts, countries leaving international organizations (like Brexit), or internal political splits.

المتظاهرون يطالبون بأن ينفصل الإقليم. (The protesters are demanding that the region separates.)

In academic and scientific settings, ينفصل is used to explain complex processes. In a biology lecture, a professor might explain how chromosomes separate during mitosis. In a chemistry lab, a student might observe how a precipitate separates from a solution. This technical usage highlights the word's precision. It isn't just about 'leaving'; it's about the structural division of a whole into parts. Even in technology, you might hear it regarding hardware: 'The screen separates from the keyboard' (تنفصل الشاشة عن لوحة المفاتيح) when describing a 2-in-1 laptop.

Academic Discourse: In sociology or philosophy, it describes the separation of spheres, like the public vs. private life, or the secular vs. the religious.

كيف ينفصل الفكر عن الواقع؟ (How does thought separate from reality?)

Finally, in sports, you might hear it during a race when one athlete 'breaks away' or 'separates' from the pack. The commentator might say: 'The runner is beginning to separate from the rest' (بدأ العداء ينفصل عن البقية). This usage emphasizes the gap or distance being created. Whether it's a physical distance or a metaphorical one, ينفصل is the go-to verb for describing the creation of a boundary or a gap between two things that were once together.

ينفصل اللاعب عن فريقه السابق لينضم لفريق جديد. (The player separates from his former team to join a new one.)

Legal and Formal: Used in courtrooms to describe legal separation (انفصال قانوني) which is a step before a final divorce decree.

ينفصل الموظف عن العمل بعد انتهاء عقده. (The employee separates from work after his contract ends.)

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with ينفصل is confusing it with the Form I verb يَفْصِل (yafaṣilu). While they share the same root, their grammar and meaning differ significantly. يَفْصِل is transitive, meaning it requires an object that is being separated (e.g., 'The judge separates the two parties'). In contrast, ينفصل is intransitive, meaning the subject is the one doing the separating or undergoing the separation (e.g., 'The party separates'). If you say 'ينفصل القاضي' when you mean 'The judge separates [the people]', you are actually saying 'The judge [himself] is separating/breaking away'.

Preposition Confusion: Many learners try to use من (min - from) instead of عن (an - from/away from). While 'min' sometimes works in English translation, in Arabic, عن is the grammatically correct preposition for 'separating from'.

خطأ: ينفصل من الفريق. صح: ينفصل عن الفريق. (Wrong: Separates 'min' the team. Right: Separates 'an' the team.)

Another common error involves gender agreement. Because ينفصل often describes abstract nouns or collective entities, learners sometimes forget that the verb must match the gender of the subject. For example, 'The company' (الشركة) is feminine, so the verb must be تنفصل (tanfaṣilu), not ينفصل. Similarly, for plural human subjects, ensure you use the masculine plural ينفصلون or feminine plural ينفصلن as appropriate. Misusing these can lead to confusion about who or what is actually separating.

Confusing with 'Yatafarraq': Learners often use ينفصل when they mean يتفرق (yatafarraq - to disperse). ينفصل implies two distinct parts coming apart, whereas يتفرق implies a crowd or group scattering in many directions.

تنفصل الدولة إلى قسمين. (The state separates into two parts - Correct for two entities.)

Finally, avoid using ينفصل for purely emotional 'feeling apart' unless there is an actual social or physical distancing. For simple emotional distance without physical separation, words like يتباعد (yatabā'adu - to grow distant) are more appropriate. ينفصل is quite literal; it implies a break in the bond or the connection that was previously holding things together. Use it when the 'oneness' of the entity has been compromised.

لا ينفصل المقطع عن القصيدة. (The stanza does not separate [meaningfully] from the poem.)

Arabic is rich with synonyms for 'separation', each with its own nuance. While ينفصل is the most general and common term, understanding its alternatives will help you sound more native. The word يتباعد (yatabā'adu) means 'to move away from each other' or 'to grow distant', focusing on the distance created rather than the act of breaking apart. Another alternative is ينقطع (yanqaṭi'u), which means 'to be cut off' or 'to be interrupted', often used for communication, electricity, or physical lines.

Yanfaṣil vs. Yatafarraq: Yanfaṣil: Usually implies a clean break into two or more distinct, identifiable parts.
Yatafarraq: Implies a scattering or dispersion, like a crowd leaving a stadium.

يتفرق المتظاهرون بعد الاحتجاج. (The protesters disperse after the protest.)

Yanfaṣil vs. Ya'tazil: Yanfaṣil: Neutral separation from a group or person.
Ya'tazil: To retire or isolate oneself, often for moral, political, or professional reasons (e.g., retiring from sports).

يعتزل اللاعب كرة القدم. (The player retires/isolates from football.)

In a legal or religious context, يبين (yabīnu) or يطلق (yuṭalliqu) are used specifically for marital dissolution. ينفصل is the softer, more social term. For things that were never meant to be together but are currently mixed, like sand and salt, you might use يفرز (yafrizu - to sort/isolate). Understanding these differences allows for much more precise communication. For example, 'The soul separates from the body' (تنفسل الروح) is a natural transition, whereas 'The soul is torn from the body' (تنتزع الروح) implies a painful or forced event.

Yanfaṣil vs. Yanshariq: Yanfaṣil: General separation.
Yanshaq: To split or defect, often used for political parties or military units (e.g., 'He defected from the army').

ينشق الجندي عن الجيش. (The soldier defects/splits from the army.)

Finally, consider يستقل (yastaqillu - to become independent). While ينفصل focuses on the act of leaving, يستقل focuses on the resulting state of autonomy. Choosing between them depends on whether you want to emphasize the 'breakup' or the 'independence'.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word for 'eloquence' (Fasahah) comes from this root because an eloquent speaker 'separates' their words clearly so they are easily understood. Also, the word 'Faysal' (a popular name) means a sword or a judge that separates truth from lie.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /janˈfa.sˤil/

US /jænˈfɑ.sɪl/

The stress is typically on the second syllable 'fa'.

Rhymes With

يتصل (yattaṣil) يصل (yaṣil) ينتقل (yantaqil) يعتدل (ya'tadil) يحتمل (yaḥtamil) يكتمل (yaktamil) يشتعل (yashta'il) يحتفل (yaḥtafil)

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'sad' (ص) as a light 's' (seen). It should be deep and emphatic.
Over-emphasizing the 'n' sound. It should flow quickly into the 'f'.
Using an English 'o' sound for the 'a' in 'fa'.
Failing to pronounce the 'l' clearly at the end.
Adding a vowel between 'n' and 'f'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The word is common but its Form VII structure can be tricky for beginners to recognize.

Writing 4/5

Correctly spelling the 'sad' and using the right preposition is essential.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation of the emphatic 'sad' requires practice.

Listening 3/5

Easily confused with Form I 'yafsil' in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

فصل (faṣala) عن (an) من (min) خرج (kharaja) مع (ma'a)

Learn Next

انقطع (yanqaṭi'u) انكسر (yankasiru) استقل (yastaqillu) اتصل (yattaṣilu) وزع (wazza'a)

Advanced

انشطار (inshiṭār) تجزئة (tajzi'ah) طلاق (ṭalāq) اعتزال (i'tizāl) اغتراب (ightirāb)

Grammar to Know

Form VII (Infi'al) Verbs

انفصل (infaṣala) follows the pattern of being reflexive/passive.

The preposition 'An'

Always use 'عن' after 'ينفصل' to denote separation from a source.

Subject-Verb Agreement

تنفصل الشركة (Fem) vs ينفصل القسم (Masc).

Dual Conjugation

ينفصلان (They two separate).

Present Tense (Imperfective)

The prefix 'ya-' indicates third-person masculine singular.

Examples by Level

ينفصل الولد عن أمه.

The boy separates from his mother.

Simple present tense, Form VII.

ينفصل الغطاء عن القلم.

The cap separates from the pen.

The subject is 'al-ghita' (the cap).

ينفصل الكتاب عن الحقيبة.

The book separates from the bag.

Used with the preposition 'an'.

ينفصل اللاعب عن الفريق.

The player separates from the team.

Indicates leaving a group.

ينفصل الماء عن الثلج.

Water separates from ice.

Describes a physical change.

ينفصل المفتاح عن السلسلة.

The key separates from the chain.

Focuses on detachment.

ينفصل اللون عن الورقة.

The color separates from the paper.

Abstract use of physical separation.

ينفصل الغصن عن الشجرة.

The branch separates from the tree.

Natural separation.

ينفصل الزوجان بسبب المشاكل.

The couple separates because of problems.

Dual subject 'al-zawjan'.

ينفصل الطالب عن زملائه في الدراسة.

The student separates from his classmates in study.

Social distancing.

ينفصل الزيت عن الخل في السلطة.

Oil separates from vinegar in the salad.

Chemical/physical separation.

تنفصل الغرفة عن الصالة بباب.

The room separates from the hall by a door.

Feminine subject 'al-ghurfa'.

ينفصل الهاتف عن الشاحن.

The phone separates from the charger.

Common everyday action.

ينفصل العمال عن المصنع القديم.

The workers separate from the old factory.

Plural subject 'al-ummal'.

ينفصل الجزء المكسور عن اللعبة.

The broken part separates from the toy.

Describing damage.

ينفصل القطار عن المحطة.

The train separates from the station.

Movement away from a fixed point.

ينفصل الشريك عن المشروع لعدم الاتفاق.

The partner separates from the project due to lack of agreement.

Professional context.

ينفصل الإقليم عن الدولة الأم قريباً.

The region will separate from the mother state soon.

Political context, implies future.

ينفصل التيار الكهربائي عند حدوث عطل.

The electric current separates (cuts off) when a fault occurs.

Technical usage.

ينفصل الفكر الديني عن السياسة في بعض الدول.

Religious thought separates from politics in some countries.

Abstract/Philosophical.

ينفصل الموظفون عن الشركة بعد التقاعد.

Employees separate from the company after retirement.

Institutional separation.

ينفصل الحطام عن السفينة الغارقة.

Debris separates from the sinking ship.

Descriptive/Narrative.

تنفصل الخلايا الحية لتنمو.

Living cells separate to grow.

Scientific fact.

ينفصل الملح عن الماء بالتبخير.

Salt separates from water by evaporation.

Process description.

ينفصل المسار المهني عن الهوايات الشخصية أحياناً.

The professional path sometimes separates from personal hobbies.

Conceptual separation.

ينفصل الضوء الأبيض إلى ألوان الطيف.

White light separates into the colors of the spectrum.

Scientific/Optical.

ينفصل المتمردون عن الجيش النظامي.

The rebels separate from the regular army.

Military/Conflict context.

ينفصل العقل عن العاطفة عند اتخاذ القرار.

The mind separates from emotion when making a decision.

Psychological/Philosophical.

ينفصل الغلاف الجوي عن الفضاء الخارجي تدريجياً.

The atmosphere separates from outer space gradually.

Environmental/Space.

ينفصل الوريث عن عائلته ليؤسس حياته الخاصة.

The heir separates from his family to establish his own life.

Socio-economic context.

ينفصل الفيروس عن الخلية المضيفة بعد التكاثر.

The virus separates from the host cell after replication.

Biological/Medical.

ينفصل الواقع عن الخيال في هذه الرواية.

Reality separates from fantasy in this novel.

Literary analysis.

ينفصل الخطاب السياسي عن الواقع المعيش للمواطنين.

Political discourse separates from the lived reality of citizens.

Sociopolitical critique.

ينفصل الوعي عن الجسد في حالات التأمل العميق.

Consciousness separates from the body in cases of deep meditation.

Spiritual/Metaphysical.

ينفصل المكون الثقافي عن الهوية الوطنية في عصر العولمة.

The cultural component separates from national identity in the era of globalization.

Globalization theory.

ينفصل النسيج العمراني للمدينة عن بيئتها الطبيعية.

The urban fabric of the city separates from its natural environment.

Urban planning/Ecology.

ينفصل النص عن سياقه التاريخي عند القراءة المعاصرة.

The text separates from its historical context during contemporary reading.

Hermeneutics/Literary theory.

ينفصل الجهاز التنفيذي عن التشريعي لضمان النزاهة.

The executive branch separates from the legislative to ensure integrity.

Legal/Constitutional.

ينفصل المنتج عن العلامة التجارية في الأسواق الثانوية.

The product separates from the brand in secondary markets.

Economic/Marketing.

ينفصل الفرد عن الجماعة لتحقيق الذات.

The individual separates from the group to achieve self-actualization.

Psychological/Individualism.

ينفصل الوجود عن الماهية في الفلسفة الوجودية.

Existence separates from essence in existentialist philosophy.

High-level philosophical terminology.

ينفصل الدال عن المدلول في النظرية اللسانية الحديثة.

The signifier separates from the signified in modern linguistic theory.

Semiotics/Linguistics.

ينفصل الفن عن الغاية النفعية ليصبح غاية في ذاته.

Art separates from utilitarian purpose to become an end in itself.

Aesthetics/Art theory.

ينفصل الزمن النفسي عن الزمن الفيزيائي في لحظات الخوف.

Psychological time separates from physical time in moments of fear.

Advanced psychology.

ينفصل الفعل عن النية في بعض المذاهب القانونية المتشددة.

The act separates from the intent in some strict legal schools.

Jurisprudence.

ينفصل الرأسمال عن الإنتاج المادي في الاقتصاد المالي المعاصر.

Capital separates from material production in contemporary financial economics.

Macroeconomics.

ينفصل الرمز عن مرجعيته الأصلية عبر القرون.

The symbol separates from its original reference over the centuries.

Cultural evolution/History.

ينفصل الذكاء الاصطناعي عن السيطرة البشرية تدريجياً.

Artificial intelligence separates from human control gradually.

Modern technology/Ethics.

Common Collocations

ينفصل عن الواقع

ينفصل تماماً

ينفصل سياسياً

ينفصل قانونياً

ينفصل تلقائياً

ينفصل تدريجياً

ينفصل كلياً

ينفصل جسدياً

ينفصل فكرياً

ينفصل عن المجموعة

Common Phrases

لا ينفصلان

— Inseparable; used for two things that always go together.

العلم والعمل لا ينفصلان.

يريد أن ينفصل

— He wants to separate; common in relationship contexts.

هو يريد أن ينفصل عن شريكه.

بدأ ينفصل

— He/It started to separate; describes a beginning of a process.

بدأ الجليد ينفصل عن الجبل.

صعب أن ينفصل

— Difficult to separate; used for strong bonds.

من الصعب أن ينفصل الصديقان.

انفصل عن العالم

— To isolate oneself from the world.

قرر أن ينفصل عن العالم ويعيش في الغابة.

ينفصل بالاتفاق

— To separate by mutual agreement.

ينفصل الشركاء بالاتفاق الودي.

ينفصل قسراً

— To be forced to separate.

ينفصل اللاجئون عن ديارهم قسراً.

ينفصل مؤقتاً

— To separate temporarily.

سوف ينفصل الفريق مؤقتاً للراحة.

ينفصل نهائياً

— To separate permanently/finally.

ينفصل المذنب عن المدار نهائياً.

ينفصل عن الجذور

— To separate from one's roots/origins.

لا ينفصل الإنسان عن جذوره بسهولة.

Often Confused With

ينفصل vs يَفْصِل (yafaṣilu)

Form I: To separate something else. (e.g., The judge separates them).

ينفصل vs يُفصّل (yufaṣṣilu)

Form II: To detail or to tailor (cloth).

ينفصل vs ينقطع (yanqaṭi'u)

To be cut off (like a line or electricity).

Idioms & Expressions

"ينفصل عن السرب"

— To stray from the flock; to act differently from the group.

دائماً ما ينفصل هذا الكاتب عن السرب بآرائه.

Literary

"لا ينفصل قيد أنملة"

— Not to separate even an inch; to be extremely close or tied.

هذا القرار لا ينفصل قيد أنملة عن سياسة الشركة.

Formal

"ينفصل عن الواقع المرير"

— To disconnect from a bitter reality; often used for escapism.

يحاول ينفصل عن الواقع المرير بالقراءة.

Neutral

"ينفصل عروة عروة"

— To fall apart piece by piece; to disintegrate slowly.

بدأ النظام ينفصل عروة عروة.

Literary

"ينفصل عن جلده"

— To shed one's skin/identity; to change completely.

يحاول أن ينفصل عن جلده القديم ليصبح شخصاً جديداً.

Metaphorical

"ينفصل عن الماضي"

— To break away from the past.

يجب أن ينفصل عن الماضي ليبدأ من جديد.

Neutral

"ينفصل عن صمته"

— To break one's silence (rare, but used poetically).

أخيراً ينفصل عن صمته ويتكلم.

Poetic

"ينفصل عن التيار"

— To go against the current/mainstream.

هو ينفصل عن التيار السائد في الفن.

Intellectual

"ينفصل عن مداره"

— To go off track or lose focus.

بدأ تفكيره ينفصل عن مداره الصحيح.

Abstract

"ينفصل عن عهده"

— To break one's promise or covenant.

لا ينفصل المؤمن عن عهده.

Religious/Formal

Easily Confused

ينفصل vs يتفرق (yatafarraq)

Both involve things being apart.

'Yanfaṣil' is usually into two distinct parts; 'Yatafarraq' is many parts scattering.

الناس يتفرقون (The people disperse).

ينفصل vs ينشق (yanshaq)

Both used for political splits.

'Yanshaq' implies a rebellion or defection; 'Yanfaṣil' can be a peaceful or natural separation.

ينشق الجندي عن الجيش.

ينفصل vs يغادر (yughādir)

Both involve leaving.

'Yughādir' is simply to leave a place; 'Yanfaṣil' is to break a connection.

يغادر المسافر المحطة.

ينفصل vs يترك (yatruk)

Both used for breakups.

'Yatruk' is active (He leaves/abandons her); 'Yanfaṣil' is more about the state of being apart.

ترك الرجل منزله.

ينفصل vs يتباعد (yatabā'adu)

Both involve distance.

'Yatabā'adu' focuses on the growing space between two moving objects.

تتباعد المجرات عن بعضها.

Sentence Patterns

[Subject] ينفصل عن [Object].

الولد ينفصل عن الأب.

[Subject] ينفصل بسبب [Reason].

الزوج ينفصل بسبب السفر.

سوف ينفصل [Subject] عن [Object] في [Time].

سوف ينفصل القسم عن الشركة في العام القادم.

من الصعب أن ينفصل [Abstract Subject] عن [Object].

من الصعب أن ينفصل النجاح عن الصبر.

ينفصل [Subject] عن [Object] بموجب [Law/Rule].

ينفصل الإقليم عن الدولة بموجب القانون الدولي.

كلما [Verb], ينفصل [Subject] أكثر.

كلما كبر، ينفصل عن أفكاره القديمة أكثر.

لا يمكننا أن نفهم [X] ما لم ينفصل عن [Y].

لا يمكننا أن نفهم النص ما لم ينفصل عن نية الكاتب.

ينفصل [Subject] انفصالاً [Adjective].

ينفصل الواقع عن الحلم انفصالاً تاماً.

Word Family

Nouns

انفصال (infisāl) - Separation

فاصل (fāṣil) - Separator/Intermission

فصل (faṣl) - Chapter/Season/Division

انفصالي (infisālī) - Separatist

Verbs

فصل (faṣala) - To separate (transitive)

فاصل (fāṣala) - To bargain/separate

تفصل (tafaṣṣala) - To be detailed/cut (cloth)

Adjectives

منفصل (munfaṣil) - Separate/Detached

فاصل (fāṣil) - Decisive

مفصلي (mifṣalī) - Pivotal/Articular

مفصل (mifṣal) - Joint

تفصيل (tafṣīl) - Detail

فصيلة (faṣīlah) - Blood group/Squad

فصاحة (faṣāḥah) - Eloquence (clarity/separation of speech)

فيصل (fayṣal) - Arbiter/Decisive factor

How to Use It

frequency

Very high in news, science, and social discussions.

Common Mistakes

ينفصل من الشركة → ينفصل عن الشركة
The verb 'ينفصل' always takes the preposition 'عن', not 'من'.
يفصل الرجل عن زوجته (meaning the man separates from his wife) → ينفصل الرجل عن زوجته
'Yafsil' means he is separating two other things. 'Yanfaṣil' means he himself is separating.
تنفصل الولد (Gender mismatch) → ينفصل الولد
The verb must match the masculine subject 'al-walad'.
ينفصل الكوب (meaning the cup broke) → ينكسر الكوب
'Yanfaṣil' is for parts coming apart, not for a solid object breaking into pieces.
انفصال الخلايا (as a verb sentence) → تنفصل الخلايا
'Infisal' is the noun. Use the verb 'tanfasil' for the action.

Tips

Form VII Reflexivity

Remember that Form VII verbs like 'ينفصل' are never transitive. You don't need a direct object; you use 'عن' instead.

Root Knowledge

Linking 'ينفصل' to 'فصل' (season/chapter) helps you remember that it's about dividing things into parts.

Emphatic S

The 'sad' (ص) is a deep sound. Keep your tongue low in the back to get it right, or you'll sound like you're saying a different word.

News Context

If you hear 'infisal' on Al-Jazeera, it's almost always about politics or borders.

Adverbial Pairing

Use 'تلقائياً' (automatically) with 'ينفصل' when describing technology.

Social Nuance

In some cultures, saying a couple 'yanfasil' is a polite way to avoid the harsher word 'talaq'.

Biology Tip

Learn it alongside 'خلية' (cell) to describe 'انفصال الخلايا' (cell division).

Zoning Out

Use the past tense 'فصلت' when you're so tired you can't think anymore.

Prefix Check

The 'yan-' prefix is a hallmark of the present tense for Form VII masculine singular.

Opposite Pair

Memorize it with 'يتصل' (yattasil - to connect) to create a mental toggle.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Fossil' (sounds slightly like Fasl). A fossil is a part of an animal that has been 'separated' from its body by time and stone. 'Yan-fasil' is the action of that separation happening.

Visual Association

Imagine a perforated sheet of paper. When you pull it, it 'yanfasil' (separates) along the line. The 'n' in the middle looks like a bridge that is breaking.

Word Web

انفصال عن منفصل فصل فاصل مفصل تفصيل انفصالي

Challenge

Try to use 'ينفصل' in three different ways today: one for a physical object (like a lid), one for a social situation (like a group), and one for an abstract idea (like work and life).

Word Origin

The root is 'ف-ص-ل' (f-ṣ-l), which in Semitic languages relates to dividing, cutting, or judging. In Arabic, this root is incredibly productive, leading to words for seasons (which divide the year), chapters (which divide a book), and judgment (which divides truth from falsehood).

Original meaning: The primary sense was to cut or part two things.

Afroasiatic / Semitic / Arabic.

Cultural Context

Be careful using this word with married couples unless you are sure of their status, as it implies a serious rift.

English speakers often use 'break up' or 'split', which are more informal than 'yanfasil'. 'Separate' is the closest direct match.

The separation of South Sudan (Infishal al-Sudan). Scientific documentaries on cell division (Infishal al-khallaya). Legal texts regarding the separation of religion and state.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Relationships

ينفصل عن زوجته
قرار الانفصال
ينفصلان ودياً
انفصال عاطفي

Science

ينفصل الراسب
تنفصل الكروموسومات
ينفصل الغاز
عملية الانفصال

Politics

ينفصل الإقليم
حركة انفصالية
ينفصل عن الاتحاد
حق الانفصال

Technology

ينفصل الجهاز
تنفصل الشاشة
ينفصل الكابل
فصل الاتصال

Philosophy

ينفصل عن المادة
ينفصل عن الوعي
انفصال الذات
ينفصل عن الزمان

Conversation Starters

"هل تعتقد أن من السهل أن ينفصل الإنسان عن ماضيه؟"

"متى ينفصل الزيت عن الماء في تجربتنا العلمية؟"

"لماذا يقرر بعض الشركاء أن ينفصلوا عن العمل معاً؟"

"هل يمكن أن ينفصل الفن عن السياسة في رأيك؟"

"ماذا يحدث عندما ينفصل التيار الكهربائي فجأة في منزلك؟"

Journal Prompts

اكتب عن وقت شعرت فيه أنك تريد أن تنفصل عن العالم الخارجي لبعض الوقت.

صف عملية علمية ينفصل فيها شيء عن شيء آخر بالتفصيل.

هل تعتقد أن الأبناء يجب أن ينفصلوا عن والديهم في سن معينة؟ لماذا؟

ناقش فكرة انفصال الدين عن الدولة وتأثيرها على المجتمع.

اكتب قصة قصيرة عن شيء ينفصل عن صاحبه ويبدأ رحلة جديدة.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Not exactly. While it can describe a couple separating, the legal word for divorce is 'طلاق' (talaq). 'ينفصل' is more like 'to separate' or 'to live apart'.

Always use 'عن' (an). Using 'من' (min) is a common mistake for English speakers.

If the screen physically comes off the phone, yes. If it's just cracked, use 'ينكسر' (yankasiru).

It is neutral and can be used in both formal news and everyday conversation.

The noun is 'انفصال' (infisal), meaning 'separation'.

You can say 'لا ينفصلان' (for two) or 'لا ينفصل' (general).

Yes, it's the standard word for substances separating in a mixture.

'Yanfaṣil' is 'to separate' (it happens to the subject), while 'yafaṣil' is 'to separate something else'.

Yes, in slang, 'فصلت' (fasaltu) can mean 'I am exhausted' or 'I am spacing out'.

Yes, it is the primary word for political secession.