This page in your language
فارسی العربية Deutsch Español Français 日本語 한국어 Português 中文 हिन्दी
A2 verb 10 min read

يطوي

yatwi
Examples يطوي in 30 Seconds
Explanation يطوي in your Level:
At the A1 level, learners focus on the most basic physical action of 'folding'. You might use it in very simple sentences about your daily routine, such as 'I fold my clothes' (أنا أطوي ملابسي). The focus is on the present tense and the direct object. You learn this word alongside other household verbs like 'clean', 'wash', and 'put'. It is a concrete action that you can see and do, making it easy to remember with physical gestures. You might not yet know the complex past tense or metaphorical meanings, but you can use it to follow simple instructions like 'Fold the paper' in a classroom setting.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the A2 level, you begin to use 'yatwi' in a wider variety of everyday contexts. You can describe household chores in more detail, such as folding laundry, folding a map during a trip, or folding a letter. You start to learn the past tense 'tawa' (طوى) and the imperative 'itwi' (اطوِ). You are also introduced to common objects that are typically folded, like umbrellas or napkins. At this stage, you can distinguish between 'folding' and 'rolling'. You might also encounter the word in simple stories or news headlines about 'closing a chapter' or 'folding a page', though you may still focus on the literal meanings.
At the B1 level, you transition into the metaphorical and idiomatic uses of 'yatwi'. You understand phrases like 'folding the page of the past' (طوي صفحة الماضي) and can use them in your own writing and speaking to express abstract ideas. You are comfortable with the conjugation of this weak verb across all tenses and moods. You can also use the verbal noun 'tayy' (طي) in complex sentences, such as 'By folding the paper, we create a shape' (عن طريق طي الورق، نصنع شكلاً). You start to recognize the word in more formal contexts, such as literature or news broadcasts, where it might describe the conclusion of an event or a long journey.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the B2 level, you have a nuanced understanding of 'yatwi' and its synonyms. You can explain the difference between 'yatwi', 'yathni', and 'yaluff' in detail. You are familiar with literary expressions and can appreciate the poetic use of the verb in classical Arabic literature or the Quran. You can use the verb in professional settings, such as discussing the 'folding' (finalizing) of a project or a contract. Your vocabulary is rich enough to use the verb to describe complex physical processes or philosophical concepts of time and space being 'folded'. You also understand the passive forms and more advanced grammatical structures associated with the root.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the C1 level, your use of 'yatwi' is sophisticated and natural. You can use it in academic writing or high-level journalism to describe historical shifts or complex social changes using the 'folding' metaphor. You are aware of rare and archaic uses of the verb and its derivatives. You can engage in deep discussions about the etymology of the root and how it relates to other concepts in Semitic languages. Your grasp of the verb allows you to use it with precise rhetorical effect, choosing it over synonyms to evoke specific imagery of containment, speed, or finality. You can also understand and use complex puns or wordplay involving the root.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the C2 level, you possess a native-like mastery of 'yatwi'. You can interpret the most subtle nuances in classical poetry where the verb might be used to describe the folding of the night or the folding of the heart's secrets. You can move seamlessly between different dialects' versions of the verb and the formal Standard Arabic. You are capable of using the verb in highly creative ways in your own literary or professional output. Your understanding includes the full historical development of the word, its various morphological permutations, and its place within the broader landscape of Arabic philosophy and linguistics.
Sign up free to read full explanation
Examples

يطوي in 30 Seconds

  • Primarily means to fold physical objects like clothes or paper.
  • Used figuratively to mean closing a chapter or moving on.
  • A weak-ending verb (Nagis) with the root T-W-Y.
  • Commonly heard in household chores, crafts, and news reports.

The Arabic verb يطوي (yatwi) is a foundational verb in the Arabic language, primarily categorized under the CEFR A2 level due to its essential role in daily life and household activities. At its core, it refers to the physical act of folding something back upon itself, reducing its surface area or creating a crease. This is most commonly applied to materials such as paper, cloth, or leather. When you are cleaning your room and organizing your wardrobe, you are likely to fold your shirts, trousers, and towels; in Arabic, this action is described using the verb يطوي. Similarly, in an office or school setting, when you finish writing a letter and need to place it inside an envelope, the act of folding that paper is طي (tayy).

Physical Application
The most literal use involves manual labor or domestic chores. It implies a deliberate, organized movement to make something neat or compact. For example, 'The worker folds the large carpets' (يطوي العامل السجاد الكبير).
Abstract Application
In more advanced contexts, the verb transitions into the metaphorical. It can mean to 'turn a page' on a life event or to 'conclude' a chapter of history. When someone says 'Let us fold the page of the past' (لنطوِ صفحة الماضي), they are using the verb to suggest moving on and forgetting previous grievances.

'الأم تطوي الملابس بعناية قبل وضعها في الخزانة.'

— The mother folds the clothes carefully before putting them in the closet.

Beyond the domestic, يطوي carries a sense of speed and efficiency in travel. An ancient Arabic expression, طوى الأرض (tawa al-ard), literally translates to 'he folded the earth,' which is a poetic way of saying someone traveled so fast that the vast distances seemed to disappear or collapse like a folded map. This illustrates the richness of the root ط-و-ي, which encompasses concepts of containment, conclusion, and compression. In modern usage, you will hear it in news reports when a conflict is 'folded' (resolved) or in business when a project is 'folded' (finalized).

'الطفل يطوي ورقة ليصنع طائرة ورقية.'

— The child folds a paper to make a paper plane.
Visual Representation
Think of a map. When it is open, the details are visible. When you fold it (تطويه), the details are hidden inside, and the object becomes portable. This 'hiding' aspect is also part of the verb's semantic field.

In summary, whether you are dealing with laundry, origami, or moving on from a difficult period in your life, يطوي is the verb that captures the essence of bringing edges together to create order, finality, or portability. It is a versatile tool in your Arabic vocabulary that bridges the gap between the mundane and the profound.

Using the verb يطوي (yatwi) correctly requires an understanding of its conjugation as a 'weak-ending' verb (Nagis). The root is ط-و-ي. Because it ends in a 'Ya' (ي), the vowel sounds shift depending on the subject. In the present tense, for the third-person singular masculine, it is هو يطوي (huwa yatwi). For the feminine, it becomes هي تطوي (hiya tatwi). Understanding these patterns is crucial for A2 learners moving toward B1 fluency.

Basic Present Tense Conjugation
  • أنا أطوي (Ana atwi) - I fold
  • أنتَ تطوي (Anta tatwi) - You (m) fold
  • نحن نطوي (Nahnu natwi) - We fold

'يجب أن تطوي الخريطة قبل وضعها في حقيبتك.'

— You must fold the map before putting it in your bag.

The verb is transitive, meaning it usually takes a direct object (the thing being folded). In Arabic grammar, this object will typically take the fatha (accusative case). For example, in the sentence 'He folds the paper,' the word for paper 'الورقة' becomes 'الورقةَ' (al-waraqata). This structural detail is essential for formal writing and correct speaking. Furthermore, يطوي can be used in the passive sense or with reflexive connotations in more complex sentence structures, but at the A2/B1 level, focusing on the active voice is most beneficial.

'نحن نطوي السجادة بعد انتهاء الصلاة.'

— We fold the rug after the prayer is finished.
Common Objects for 'Yatwi'
  • الملابس (Clothes) - يطوي الملابس
  • الورق (Paper) - يطوي الورق
  • الخيمة (Tent) - يطوي الخيمة
  • المظلة (Umbrella) - يطوي المظلة

When you want to emphasize the completion of the action, you might use the verbal noun (Masdar), which is طي (tayy). You might see this in instructions like 'بعد طي الورقة، قصها' (After folding the paper, cut it). This level of sentence construction helps in following recipes, DIY guides, or assembly manuals. Remember, the verb implies a neat and deliberate action, unlike 'crumpling' or 'crushing'.

You will encounter the verb يطوي (yatwi) in several distinct environments, ranging from the most mundane household settings to the heights of literary expression. In a typical Arab household, the word is ubiquitous in the context of laundry. A mother might tell her children, 'ساعدوني في طي الملابس' (Help me in folding the clothes). If you are visiting a tailor or a fabric shop in a bustling market like the Khan el-Khalili, you will hear the merchant using this verb as he handles bolts of silk or cotton, neatly folding them for display or sale.

'في ورشة الخياطة، الخياط يطوي القماش بدقة.'

— In the sewing workshop, the tailor folds the fabric with precision.

Another common place to hear this word is in schools, specifically during art classes. When students engage in paper-folding crafts (origami is often referred to as فن طي الورق - the art of paper folding), the teacher will repeatedly use the command اطوِ (itwi), which is the imperative form. 'اطوِ الورقة من المنتصف' (Fold the paper from the middle) is a standard instruction. Beyond the classroom, travelers and campers use the word when dealing with equipment. Folding a tent (طي الخيمة) or a sleeping bag is a necessary part of the journey.

Literary and Media Usage
In news broadcasts, especially when discussing the end of an era or a diplomatic meeting, the anchor might say 'طوت الدولة صفحة من تاريخها' (The state folded a page of its history). This metaphorical use is very common in Arabic journalism to signify finality and the start of something new.

'المسافر يطوي خريطته ويبدأ رحلته.'

— The traveler folds his map and begins his journey.

Finally, in religious and spiritual contexts, the verb appears in classical texts to describe the heavens or the earth being 'folded' like a scroll on the Day of Judgment. This imagery is deeply embedded in the linguistic consciousness of Arabic speakers. Whether you are in a laundry room, a classroom, or listening to a deep philosophical discussion, يطوي remains a key verb that describes how we manage both physical objects and our conceptual understanding of time and space.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when using يطوي (yatwi) is confusing it with other verbs that involve manipulation of materials, such as يغلف (yughallif - to wrap) or يلف (yaluff - to roll/wind). While folding involves making a crease or bringing edges together, wrapping involves covering an object entirely with another material, and rolling involves a circular motion. For example, you 'fold' a shirt, but you 'wrap' a gift and 'roll' a carpet. Mixing these up can lead to confusion in specific contexts like retail or cleaning.

The 'Bend' vs. 'Fold' Confusion
Another common error is using يطوي when يثني (yathni - to bend) is more appropriate. 'Yatwi' is used for thin materials that can be creased (paper, cloth). 'Yathni' is better for rigid objects that are being curved or bent without necessarily being creased, like a metal rod or a stiff branch. Using 'yatwi' for a metal bar sounds unnatural to a native ear.

'خطأ: يطوي الهدية بالورق الملون.'

— Wrong: He 'folds' the gift with colored paper. (Should be 'wraps').

Grammatically, learners often struggle with the conjugation of the past tense. Because it is a weak verb, the ending changes significantly. Beginners might try to say 'طويتُ' (tawaytu) correctly, but they often misspell the third-person masculine singular as 'طوى' (with an Alif) instead of 'طوى' (with an Alif Maqsura). While they sound the same, the spelling is vital for literacy. Additionally, forgetting the direct object's case marker in formal Arabic is a common slip-up for those transitioning to intermediate levels.

'صحيح: يلف السجادة، لكنه يطوي المنشفة.'

— Correct: He rolls the carpet, but he folds the towel.

Finally, beware of using يطوي in contexts of 'folding a business' in the English sense of going bankrupt. In Arabic, this is usually expressed with verbs like يفلس (yuflis) or يغلق (yughliq - to close). Using 'yatwi' here might be understood as 'closing up shop' for the day, but it doesn't carry the same financial weight as the English idiom 'to fold'. Staying aware of these nuances will help you sound more like a native speaker and less like a translator.

Arabic is a language of incredible precision, and while يطوي (yatwi) is the general word for folding, several other verbs offer more specific nuances. Understanding these alternatives will help you choose the right word for the right situation. The most common alternative is ثنى (thana). While 'yatwi' implies a complete fold, 'thana' often refers to bending or doubling something over, like bending a knee or doubling a string. It is slightly more versatile for physical movements of the body.

Comparison: Yatwi vs. Yaluff

يطوي: Creating flat layers (e.g., folding a newspaper).

يلف: Creating a cylinder or spiral (e.g., rolling a poster or a cigar).

'بدلاً من أن يطوي الرسالة، قرر أن يلفها مثل المخطوطة القديمة.'

— Instead of folding the letter, he decided to roll it like an ancient scroll.

Another interesting synonym is كرمش (karmash). This is the opposite of a neat fold; it means to crumple or wrinkle. If you throw a piece of paper into the trash, you karmash it. In the context of clothing, if you don't 'fold' (yatwi) your clothes, they will become 'wrinkled' (mukarmash). Then there is صَفَّ (saffa), which means to arrange or stack. Often, folding and stacking go hand-in-hand in a retail environment. A shopkeeper might fold the shirts and then stack them on the shelf.

'هو يثني ركبته ليجلس، بينما يطوي ثوبه ليحافظ عليه.'

— He bends his knee to sit, while he folds his garment to preserve it.
Registers of Usage
  • Informal: يطبق (yitabbaq) - Common in Egyptian and Levantine dialects for folding clothes.
  • Formal: يطوي (yatwi) - The standard across all Arabic-speaking regions for writing and formal speech.
  • Technical: كفت (kaffat) - Sometimes used in tailoring for hemming or folding edges.

By learning these variations, you can describe the physical world with much more color. Instead of just saying you 'moved' the paper, you can specify if you folded it neatly (يطوي), rolled it (يلف), bent it slightly (يثني), or crumpled it in frustration (يكرمش). This precision is what marks the transition from a basic learner to a more expressive Arabic speaker.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /jat.wiː/
US /jæt.wiː/
The stress is slightly on the first syllable 'yat', but Arabic word stress is generally more balanced than English.
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing the 't' as a heavy 'T' (ط). It is a light 't' sound.
  • Shortening the final 'i' sound too much.
  • Confusing the 'y' at the start with a '
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

أنا أطوي القميص.

I fold the shirt.

Simple subject + present tense verb + direct object.

2

هو يطوي الورقة.

He folds the paper.

Third person masculine singular present tense.

3

هي تطوي المنشفة.

She folds the towel.

Third person feminine singular present tense.

4

نحن نطوي الملابس.

We fold the clothes.

First person plural present tense.

5

هل تطوي الرسالة؟

Do you fold the letter?

Question form using the second person masculine singular.

6

اطوِ الورقة هنا.

Fold the paper here.

Imperative (command) form for masculine singular.

7

هم يطوون المناديل.

They fold the napkins.

Third person plural masculine present tense.

8

أنتِ تطوين الفستان.

You fold the dress.

Second person feminine singular present tense.

1

يجب أن تطوي الخريطة بعناية.

You must fold the map carefully.

Use of 'must' (yajib an) followed by the subjunctive verb.

2

طوى المسافر خيمته في الصباح.

The traveler folded his tent in the morning.

Past tense 'tawa' with a masculine subject.

3

البنت تطوي الورق لتصنع مركبًا.

The girl folds the paper to make a boat.

Expressing purpose using 'li-' (to/for).

4

بعد الغسيل، نحن نطوي كل شيء.

After washing, we fold everything.

Temporal adverb 'ba'da' (after).

5

لا تطوِ الورقة من هذا الجانب.

Don't fold the paper from this side.

Negative imperative using 'la' + jussive.

6

أمي تطوي الملابس وتضعها في الخزانة.

My mother folds the clothes and puts them in the closet.

Compound sentence with two present tense verbs.

7

هل طويتَ الرسالة قبل إرسالها؟

Did you fold the letter before sending it?

Past tense question for second person masculine.

8

هو يطوي المظلة لأن المطر توقف.

He folds the umbrella because the rain stopped.

Causal conjunction 'li'anna' (because).

1

قرر الرجل أن يطوي صفحة الماضي ويبدأ من جديد.

The man decided to fold the page of the past and start anew.

Metaphorical use of 'folding a page'.

2

طي الملابس يحتاج إلى وقت وصبر.

Folding clothes requires time and patience.

Using the verbal noun (Masdar) as a subject.

3

طوت الشركة ملف القضية نهائيًا.

The company folded (closed) the case file definitively.

Metaphorical use in a professional/legal context.

4

كلما سافر، يطوي المسافات بسرعة مذهلة.

Whenever he travels, he folds the distances with amazing speed.

Idiomatic expression 'folding distances'.

5

كانت الرسالة مطوية بعناية داخل الظرف.

The letter was folded carefully inside the envelope.

Use of the passive participle 'matwiyya'.

6

لا يمكننا طي هذه السجادة لأنها سميكة جدًا.

We cannot fold this carpet because it is too thick.

Modal 'la yumkinuna' (we cannot).

7

طوى الزمن ذكرياتنا الجميلة في تلك المدينة.

Time folded our beautiful memories in that city.

Personification of 'Time' as the subject.

8

عليك أن تطوي أطراف القماش قبل خياطتها.

You have to fold the edges of the fabric before sewing them.

Technical use in tailoring.

1

طوت الحرب سنوات من الرخاء في المنطقة.

The war folded (ended) years of prosperity in the region.

Advanced metaphorical use in socio-political context.

2

تتميز هذه الطاولة بأنها قابلة للطي والحمل.

This table is characterized by being foldable and portable.

Adjective phrase 'qabila lil-tayy' (foldable).

3

طوى العالم صفحة النزاع وبدأ عهد السلام.

The world folded the page of conflict and began an era of peace.

Using 'yatwi' to describe global historical shifts.

4

تطوي الطيور أجنحتها عند الهبوط على الغصن.

Birds fold their wings when landing on a branch.

Biological/natural description.

5

إن طي السجل التاريخي يتطلب شجاعة وموضوعية.

Folding (closing) the historical record requires courage and objectivity.

Abstract noun phrase as subject of 'inna'.

6

طوى التاجر بضاعته بعد يوم طويل من العمل.

The merchant folded (packed up) his goods after a long day of work.

Contextual meaning of packing up.

7

يتم طي الورق في هذا المصنع آليًا.

Paper is folded in this factory automatically.

Passive construction using 'yattamm' + Masdar.

8

طوت الرحلة أيامًا من التعب والمغامرة.

The journey folded (encompassed/ended) days of fatigue and adventure.

Using the verb to summarize an experience.

1

طوى الموت قامة من قامات الفكر والأدب.

Death folded (took away) a towering figure of thought and literature.

Highly literary/eulogistic use.

2

تطوي الأيام في طياتها الكثير من الأسرار والمفاجآت.

The days fold within their folds many secrets and surprises.

Using the plural noun 'tayyat' (folds).

3

لقد طويت هذه المرحلة من حياتي بمرها وحلوها.

I have folded this stage of my life, with its bitterness and sweetness.

Reflective personal narrative style.

4

طوى السجل المدني أسماء الذين رحلوا عن الدنيا.

The civil registry folded (closed) the names of those who departed this world.

Bureaucratic metaphor.

5

بين طي ونشر، تتغير ملامح المدينة عبر العصور.

Between folding and unfolding, the features of the city change through the ages.

Using the antithesis of 'tayy' and 'nashr' (unfolding).

6

طوت الصحراء قوافل التجارة القديمة في رمالها.

The desert folded (swallowed/hid) the ancient trade caravans in its sands.

Evocative literary imagery.

7

ما زال هذا السر مطويًا في صدره لا يبوح به.

This secret remains folded in his chest, he does not reveal it.

Metaphor for keeping a secret.

8

طوت الدولة ملف الفساد بصرامة وحزم.

The state folded (shut down) the corruption file with strictness and resolve.

Political rhetoric.

1

يوم نطوي السماء كطي السجل للكتب.

The day We shall fold the heaven like a scroll rolled up for books.

Classical Quranic reference (Surah Al-Anbiya).

2

طوتك المنايا يا أبا الفضل قبل أن تبلغ المنى.

Death folded you (took you), O Abu al-Fadl, before you reached your desires.

Classical elegiac poetry style.

3

لقد انطوت جوانحه على حب عميق لا يمحوه الزمن.

His ribs folded over (his heart contained) a deep love that time does not erase.

Use of the reflexive 'intawa' (to be folded/contained).

4

طوى دهرٌ من النسيان معالم تلك الحضارة الغابرة.

An eon of oblivion folded the landmarks of that bygone civilization.

Complex literary subject-verb agreement.

5

في طي هذا الخطاب تكمن رسالة مشفرة للعدو.

In the fold of this speech lies an encrypted message for the enemy.

Idiomatic 'fi tayy' (within/under the guise of).

6

طوى الشاعر همومه في قصيدة عصماء.

The poet folded (embedded) his worries into a masterpiece poem.

Metaphor for artistic expression.

7

تطوي الفلسفة الوجودية أسئلة القلق في بوتقة الوعي.

Existential philosophy folds the questions of anxiety into the crucible of consciousness.

High-level academic/philosophical usage.

8

طويت الأرض طيًا لأصل إليك في الموعد.

I folded the earth completely (traveled extremely fast) to reach you on time.

Use of 'Maf'ul Mutlaq' (absolute object) for emphasis.

Common Collocations

يطوي الملابس
يطوي الورقة
طوي صفحة الماضي
يطوي الخيمة
يطوي الأرض
قابلة للطي
يطوي المظلة
يطوي السجادة
طوى الكتمان
يطوي الرسالة

Common Phrases

طوى الصفحة

— To move on from a situation or end a chapter of life. It implies starting fresh.

بعد الطلاق، طوت صفحة زواجها القديم.

طوى الأرض

— To travel very fast or cover great distances quickly. A classical poetic expression.

القطار السريع يطوي الأرض طيًا.

طواه النسيان

— To be forgotten by people or history. Literally 'oblivion folded him'.

هذا الفنان القديم طواه النسيان.

في طي الكتمان

— To be kept secret or confidential. Literally 'in the fold of concealment'.

بقي المشروع في طي الكتمان لشهور.

طوى المسافات

— To cross long distances. Similar to 'folding the earth'.

الطائرة تطوي المسافات بين القارات.

يطوي جناحيه

— To fold one's wings (literal for birds, figurative for stopping an activity).

طوى الطائر جناحيه واستقر في عشه.

طوى الليل

— The night passed or ended. Used in poetic descriptions of time.

طوى الليل سواده وأقبل الصبح.

طوى كشحه عن

— To turn away from someone or something in dislike or avoidance.

طوى كشحه عن صديقه القديم بعد الخلاف.

في طي الغيب

— Hidden in the unknown or the future. Known only to God.

مستقبلنا لا يزال في طي الغيب.

طوى بساطه

— To pack up and leave or to end one's business in a place.

طوى التاجر بساطه ورحل عن المدينة.

Idioms & Expressions

"طوى صفحة الماضي"

— To forget previous troubles and start a new beginning. Used in personal and political reconciliation.

على المتخاصمين طي صفحة الماضي.

Neutral to Formal
"طواه الردى"

— He passed away or was destroyed. A very formal/literary way to speak of death.

طوى الردى شبابًا كان مفعمًا بالحياة.

Literary/Poetic
"طوى الأرض طيًا"

— To travel at lightning speed. Highlights efficiency and swiftness.

كان الفارس يطوي الأرض طيًا بفرسه.

Literary
"في طي النسيان"

— Completely forgotten, as if tucked away where no one can find it.

أصبحت تلك العادات في طي النسيان.

Neutral
"طوى كشحه"

— To harbor a secret or a feeling (usually negative) inside oneself.

طوى كشحه على ضغينة قديمة.

Classical Arabic
"طوى جوعه"

— To endure hunger or hide the fact that one is hungry. Literally 'to fold one's hunger'.

كان الفقير يطوي جوعه بصبر.

Literary
"بين طياته"

— Within its layers or contents. Used for books, letters, or complex situations.

هذا الكتاب يحمل بين طياته أسرارًا كثيرة.

Formal
"طوى السجل"

— To conclude a matter once and for all. Finality.

طوى القاضي سجل القضية بعد الحكم.

Formal
"طوى العمر"

— To spend one's life or to reach the end of one's life.

طوى العمر في طلب العلم.

Literary
"طوى خبره"

— To hide someone's news or to keep their whereabouts a secret.

طوى خبره عن أعدائه.

Formal
Sign up free to see all examples

Related Content

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!