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B1 noun #3,500 mais comum 7 min de leitura

عطل

utl Top 3,500

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas عطل em 30 segundos

Explicação عطل in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'atal' means something is broken or not working. Think of it like the word 'problem' for machines. If your phone doesn't turn on, you can point to it and say 'atal'. It is a noun. You might hear it at a shop. It starts with a deep 'A' sound from the throat. Just remember: 'atal' = 'broken machine'. Don't use it for broken toys or broken hearts, just for things like cars, phones, and lights. It is very useful when you need to ask for help in a taxi or a hotel.

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At the A2 level, you can start using 'atal' in simple sentences. You should learn the phrase 'fihi atal' (there is a malfunction in it). You can also use it with 'bisabab' (because of). For example, 'The bus is late because of a breakdown' (Al-hafila muta'akhira bisabab atal). You should also learn the difference between 'atal' (malfunction) and 'utlah' (holiday), as they look very similar. At this level, you are likely to use it when talking about your daily life, such as why you couldn't call someone or why you were late to class.

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At the B1 level, you should understand 'atal' as 'malfunction' or 'technical failure'. You can use adjectives with it, like 'atal fanni' (technical malfunction) or 'atal basat' (simple malfunction). You should be able to describe where the malfunction is using the preposition 'fi' (in). For example, 'atal fi al-muharrik' (a breakdown in the engine). You will also encounter the plural form 'a'taal' in news headlines or on repair shop signs. This is the level where you use the word to negotiate repairs or understand public transit announcements about service delays.

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using 'atal' in more complex grammatical structures. You might use it as the subject of a passive verb, like 'tamma islah al-atal' (the malfunction was fixed). You will also see it in professional contexts, such as IT support or engineering. You should distinguish it from 'khallal' (a flaw or bug) and 'talf' (damage/wear and tear). At this level, you can discuss the causes and consequences of a breakdown, such as how a 'systemic failure' (atal fi al-nizam) affected a company's productivity or a city's infrastructure.

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At the C1 level, you recognize 'atal' in metaphorical and abstract contexts. While primarily mechanical, it can describe a 'breakdown' in communication or a 'malfunction' in a social system. You should be familiar with its etymology—coming from the root 'A-T-L', which relates to being empty or idle. This depth helps you understand why a person who is unemployed is called 'aatil'. You will encounter the word in legal documents (concerning liability for mechanical failure) and high-level technical journals. You should be able to use it with sophisticated verbs like 'istahdatha' (to cause/originate) or 'tadaaraka' (to rectify/remedy).

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At the C2 level, you possess a near-native grasp of 'atal' and all its nuances. You can use it in literary contexts to describe the 'stagnation' or 'idleness' of an era. You understand how the word functions in various Arabic dialects versus Modern Standard Arabic. You can use it in complex technical debates about 'structural failures' versus 'operational malfunctions'. You are also aware of its place in classical poetry or prose where the root 'A-T-L' might describe a woman 'devoid' of jewelry (ma'atila). At this level, the word is not just a vocabulary item but a node in a vast linguistic network of roots and meanings.

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Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

عطل em 30 segundos

Atal means 'malfunction' or 'breakdown' in Arabic.
It is used for technical, mechanical, and systemic failures.
Commonly paired with 'fanni' (technical) or 'mufaji' (sudden).
Distinct from 'utlah' (holiday) despite sharing the same root.

The Arabic word عطل (transliterated as 'atal') is a fundamental noun in the Arabic language, primarily used to describe a state where a machine, system, or mechanical device ceases to function correctly. It is the quintessential term for a 'breakdown,' 'malfunction,' or 'defect.' While the root of the word relates to being empty or devoid of something, in modern usage, it specifically targets the interruption of utility. When your car won't start, your computer screen goes black, or the elevator stops between floors, you are dealing with an عطل. Understanding this word is crucial for anyone living in or traveling through Arabic-speaking regions, as it is the go-to term for seeking technical help or explaining why a service is unavailable.

Technical Context: In technical manuals and engineering, عطل refers to a specific failure point in a sequence of operations. It is often paired with adjectives like 'fanni' (technical) or 'mufaji' (sudden).
Everyday Necessity: From a leaking pipe to a faulty internet connection, this word covers the broad spectrum of things 'going wrong' with infrastructure and personal property.
Systemic Usage: Beyond physical machines, it can describe a breakdown in a bureaucratic process or a systemic failure within an organization, though this is slightly more metaphorical.

توقف المصعد بسبب عطل كهربائي مفاجئ في البناية.

Translation: The elevator stopped because of a sudden electrical failure in the building.

اعتذر المهندس عن التأخير لوجود عطل في محرك السيارة.

Translation: The engineer apologized for the delay due to a breakdown in the car engine.

هل يمكنك تحديد مكان الـ عطل في هذا الجهاز؟

Translation: Can you identify the location of the malfunction in this device?

أدى عطل فني في الخادم إلى انقطاع الخدمة عن المشتركين.

Translation: A technical glitch in the server led to service interruption for the subscribers.

واجهنا عطلاً بسيطاً في نظام التكييف وتم إصلاحه بسرعة.

Translation: We faced a minor malfunction in the air conditioning system and it was fixed quickly.

The word is versatile across all Arabic dialects, though the pronunciation of the 'qaf' or 'ayn' might vary slightly in regional accents, the core meaning remains steadfast. In the Gulf, Levant, or Maghreb, saying 'fihi atal' (there is a breakdown in it) will be universally understood by mechanics and laypeople alike. It is a word born of the industrial age's necessity but rooted in classical linguistics that describe the absence of function or the state of being 'unemployed' or 'idle'—just as a broken machine is 'unemployed' from its duty.

Using عطل correctly requires understanding its role as a noun that often acts as the subject or object of a sentence involving repair, cause, or discovery. It is frequently paired with the verb أصاب (to afflict) to say 'a malfunction hit the machine' or وجد (to find) when diagnosing a problem. Below we explore various sentence structures where this word is indispensable.

Direct Object Usage: When you identify the problem: 'I discovered a malfunction.' (اكتشفت عطلاً).
Subject of a Verb: When the malfunction causes an action: 'The breakdown delayed us.' (عطّلنا العطل - here 'attala' is the verb form).
Prepositional Phrases: Commonly used with 'bi-sa-bab' (because of): 'Because of a breakdown.' (بسبب عطل).

هناك عطل في شبكة الإنترنت اليوم.

Translation: There is a malfunction in the internet network today.

تم إصلاح الـ عطل الفني الذي أصاب الطائرة.

Translation: The technical malfunction that afflicted the plane has been fixed.

لا يمكننا المضي قدماً بسبب عطل في المحرك.

Translation: We cannot move forward because of a breakdown in the engine.

In professional settings, particularly in IT or engineering reports, the word is used with high precision. You might encounter phrases like 'atal dhati' (internal failure) or 'atal khariji' (external failure). In medical contexts, it is rarely used for biological health (where 'marad' or 'illat' is preferred), but it might describe a failure in a medical device or a prosthetic limb. Its primary domain remains the world of physical objects and digital systems.

If you spend any time in an Arabic-speaking city, you will hear عطل in several specific environments. It is a word of frustration, explanation, and solution. From the mechanic's garage to the evening news, its presence is ubiquitous.

At the Mechanic (Al-Mikaniki): The mechanic will ask: 'Ma huwa al-atal?' (What is the malfunction?) or say 'Al-atal fi al-faramil' (The breakdown is in the brakes).
Public Announcements: In train stations or airports, you'll hear: 'Nata'adh dhar an at-ta'khir bi-sabab atal' (We apologize for the delay due to a malfunction).
News and Media: Reports on power outages often start with: 'Adha atal fi mahattat al-kahraba...' (A failure in the power station led to...).

أعلنت الشركة عن وجود عطل عام في خطوط الهاتف.

Translation: The company announced a general failure in the telephone lines.

هل هذا الـ عطل مشمول بالضمان؟

Translation: Is this malfunction covered by the warranty?

Furthermore, in the digital age, 'atal' has migrated to social media. When platforms like WhatsApp or Facebook go down, the trending hashtags in the Arab world almost always include the word عطل. Users will post 'atal fi tatbiq...' (a glitch in the application...). It is the word of the moment when technology fails us, bridging the gap between old-world mechanics and modern-day software engineering.

Even intermediate learners often stumble when using عطل due to its phonetic similarity to other words and its specific semantic boundaries. Avoiding these pitfalls will make your Arabic sound much more natural and precise.

Confusion with 'Utlah' (عطلة): This is the most common mistake. 'Atal' is a breakdown. 'Utlah' is a holiday. Remember: the extra 'ta marbuta' (ة) at the end of 'utlah' makes it a happy vacation!
Using it for People: Do not use 'atal' to say a person is sick or 'broken' emotionally. For a person being 'out of order' or unemployed, the word is 'aatil' (عاطل), but for sickness, use 'marid'.
Confusing Noun and Verb: 'Atal' (noun) vs 'Attala' (verb). 'Attala' means to disable or to delay. Make sure you use the noun form when you mean 'a breakdown'.

Incorrect: أنا عندي عطل اليوم (I have a breakdown today - meaning holiday).

Correct: أنا في عطلة اليوم (I am on holiday today).

Another nuance is the difference between 'atal' and 'khallal' (خلل). While often interchangeable, 'khallal' usually implies a 'defect' or a 'flaw' in design or logic (like a bug in code), whereas 'atal' is a physical or operational 'breakdown' where something was working and then stopped. Using 'atal' for a hardware failure and 'khallal' for a software bug is a mark of a high-level speaker.

Arabic is a language of immense depth, and while عطل is the standard for 'malfunction,' several other words offer specific shades of meaning. Choosing the right one depends on whether you're talking about a broken window, a computer glitch, or a total system collapse.

Khallal (خلل): Meaning: Defect or imbalance. Use this for 'bugs' in software or 'flaws' in a plan. It suggests something is 'off' rather than completely stopped.
Kharab (خراب): Meaning: Ruin or destruction. More colloquial. If you say 'at-tilifizyun kharban,' it means the TV is busted or ruined, possibly beyond simple repair.
Kasr (كسر): Meaning: Break/Fracture. Use this for physical breaks—a broken screen, a broken bone, or a broken chair.

هناك خلل في البرمجيات يحتاج إلى تحديث.

Translation: There is a defect (bug) in the software that needs an update.

تعرضت الماكينة لـ توقف مفاجئ عن العمل.

Translation: The machine suffered a sudden 'stoppage' from work.

In summary, عطل is your primary tool for communicating mechanical or systemic failure. While 'khallal' is its closest academic cousin, 'atal' remains the most common term for everyday malfunctions. Understanding these distinctions allows you to describe problems with the precision of a native speaker, ensuring that when you ask for help, you're pointing to the right kind of trouble.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"نأسف لإبلاغكم بوجود عطل فني في الخادم الرئيسي."

Neutro

"السيارة فيها عطل ولا يمكنني الحضور."

Informal

"شو هالعطل؟ كل يوم خربانة!"

Child friendly

"اللعبة فيها عطل صغير، سنصلحها معاً."

Gíria

"السيستم معطل خالص."

Curiosidade

The same root gives us the word for 'unemployment' (atala) because an unemployed person is 'devoid' of work.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /ˈʕatˤal/

US /ˈætəl/

Stress is on the first syllable: AT-al.

Rima com

بطل (Batal - Hero) جبل (Jabal - Mountain) عمل (Amal - Work) أمل (Amal - Hope) عسل (Asal - Honey) حصل (Hasal - Happened) فصل (Fasl - Season/Class) أكل (Akl - Food)

Erros comuns

Pronouncing 'Ayn' as a simple 'A'.
Pronouncing 'Taa' (ط) as a light 'T' (ت).
Confusing it with 'Utlah' (عطلة).
Adding an extra vowel at the end.
Vocalizing the 'L' too softly.

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 3/5

Easy to recognize but can be confused with 'utlah'.

Escrita 4/5

Requires correct spelling of 'Ayn' and 'Taa'.

Expressão oral 5/5

The pharyngeal 'Ayn' is tricky for English speakers.

Audição 3/5

Usually clear in context.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

سيارة كمبيوتر خربان مشكلة في

Aprenda a seguir

إصلاح صيانة ميكانيكي قطع غيار خلل

Avançado

تعطيل عطالة بنيوي تدارك تفاقم

Gramática essencial

Noun-Adjective Agreement

عطلٌ فنيٌ (Both are masculine and indefinite).

The Idafa Construction

سببُ العطلِ (The cause of the breakdown).

Preposition 'Fi' for Location

عطل في الجهاز (Breakdown in the device).

Plural Patterns

عطل -> أعطال (Pattern: Af'aal).

Verbal Nouns

إصلاح العطل (Repairing the breakdown - 'islah' is a verbal noun).

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Exemplos por nível

هناك عطل في هاتفي.

There is a malfunction in my phone.

Simple 'There is' (Hunaka) + noun.

العطل في السيارة.

The breakdown is in the car.

Definite noun 'Al-atal' used as a subject.

هذا عطل بسيط.

This is a simple malfunction.

Noun + adjective agreement (masculine).

أين العطل؟

Where is the malfunction?

Interrogative 'Ayna' + definite noun.

عطل في المصباح.

A malfunction in the lamp.

Noun + prepositional phrase.

لا يوجد عطل.

There is no malfunction.

Negation 'La yujad' (There is not).

عطل كبير!

A big breakdown!

Exclamatory use of noun + adjective.

شكراً، تم إصلاح العطل.

Thanks, the malfunction has been fixed.

Passive structure 'tamma islah' (fixing was completed).

تأخرت بسبب عطل في الحافلة.

I was late because of a breakdown in the bus.

Using 'bisabab' (because of) + noun.

هل العطل في المحرك؟

Is the malfunction in the engine?

Question with 'hal'.

الكمبيوتر فيه عطل فني.

The computer has a technical malfunction in it.

Topic-comment structure with 'fihi'.

اتصل بالميكانيكي لإصلاح العطل.

Call the mechanic to fix the breakdown.

Imperative verb + purpose clause 'li-islah'.

هناك أعطال كثيرة في هذه البناية.

There are many malfunctions in this building.

Plural form 'a'taal'.

العطل مفاجئ جداً.

The breakdown is very sudden.

Noun + adjective + adverb 'jiddan'.

أنا لا أعرف سبب العطل.

I don't know the cause of the malfunction.

Possessive construction (Idafa): 'sabab al-atal'.

يجب فحص العطل بدقة.

The malfunction must be inspected accurately.

Modal 'yajib' + verbal noun 'fahs'.

أدى عطل كهربائي إلى انقطاع التيار.

An electrical failure led to a power outage.

Verb 'adda ila' (led to) + subject 'atal'.

نعتذر عن العطل الفني في الموقع.

We apologize for the technical glitch on the website.

Formal apology 'na'tadhir an'.

تم اكتشاف عطل في نظام التبريد.

A malfunction was discovered in the cooling system.

Passive 'tamma iktishaf'.

هل يمكن إصلاح هذا العطل بسرعة؟

Can this malfunction be fixed quickly?

Modal 'yumkin' + verbal noun.

العطل ناتج عن سوء الاستخدام.

The malfunction is resulting from misuse.

Participle 'naatij an' (resulting from).

واجهت الطائرة عطلاً في أحد المحركات.

The plane faced a failure in one of the engines.

Verb 'wajaha' (to face) + object.

توقف المصنع بسبب أعطال ميكانيكية.

The factory stopped due to mechanical breakdowns.

Plural 'a'taal' with adjective.

تأكد من عدم وجود أي عطل قبل البدء.

Make sure there isn't any malfunction before starting.

Negative existential 'adam wujud'.

قد يؤدي أي عطل بسيط إلى كارثة.

Any minor malfunction might lead to a disaster.

Probability 'qad' + present tense.

الشركة مسؤولة عن إصلاح أعطال التصنيع.

The company is responsible for fixing manufacturing defects.

Adjective 'mas'ula' + preposition 'an'.

حدث عطل مفاجئ في شبكة الاتصالات.

A sudden failure occurred in the communications network.

Verb 'hadatha' (to occur).

يتطلب العطل قطع غيار أصلية.

The breakdown requires original spare parts.

Verb 'yatatallab' (to require).

يتم تشخيص العطل بواسطة الكمبيوتر.

The malfunction is diagnosed by computer.

Passive 'yutamma tashkhis'.

أبلغ المستخدمون عن عطل في التطبيق.

Users reported a glitch in the application.

Verb 'ablagha' (to report) + preposition 'an'.

العطل الفني حال دون إتمام العملية.

The technical malfunction prevented the completion of the process.

Idiom 'haala duna' (prevented).

لا بد من تحديد نوع العطل أولاً.

It is necessary to determine the type of malfunction first.

Phrase 'la budda min' (it is necessary).

تفاقم العطل بسبب إهمال الصيانة الدورية.

The malfunction worsened due to the neglect of periodic maintenance.

Verb 'tafaqama' (to worsen/exacerbate).

هذا العطل يعكس خللاً بنيوياً في النظام.

This failure reflects a structural flaw in the system.

Verb 'ya'kis' (reflects) + abstract object.

سعينا لتفادي أي عطل قد يعيق الإنتاج.

We sought to avoid any malfunction that might hinder production.

Verb 'tafadi' (avoiding) + relative clause.

العطل في الآلة أدى إلى خسائر فادحة.

The breakdown in the machine led to heavy losses.

Adjective 'fadiha' (heavy/grave).

من الصعب تدارك العطل في هذه المرحلة.

It is difficult to rectify the malfunction at this stage.

Verbal noun 'tadarak' (rectifying).

يعد هذا العطل سابقة في تاريخ الصناعة.

This failure is considered a precedent in industrial history.

Verb 'yu'ad' (is considered).

أثبتت التحقيقات أن العطل كان متعمداً.

Investigations proved that the malfunction was intentional.

Adjective 'muta'ammid' (intentional/deliberate).

العطل ليس مجرد حادث بل نتيجة تراكمات.

The breakdown isn't just an accident, but a result of accumulations.

Negation 'laysa' + contrast 'bal'.

استشرى العطل في مفاصل المؤسسة الإدارية.

The 'malfunction' (dysfunction) spread through the joints of the administrative institution.

Metaphorical use of 'atal' with verb 'istashra'.

يكمن العطل الحقيقي في غياب الرؤية الواضحة.

The real 'breakdown' lies in the absence of a clear vision.

Abstract usage in philosophical discourse.

إن العطل الذي اعترى المحرك كان عصياً على الفهم.

The malfunction that afflicted the engine was elusive to understanding.

Formal verb 'atara' (to afflict/befall).

تضافرت العوامل لتحدث عطلاً كلياً في المنظومة.

Factors combined to cause a total failure in the system.

Verb 'tadafarat' (combined/collaborated).

لا يمكن اختزال العطل في سبب تقني واحد.

The failure cannot be reduced to a single technical cause.

Verb 'ikhtizal' (reductionism).

كان العطل بمثابة القشة التي قصمت ظهر البعير.

The breakdown was like the straw that broke the camel's back.

Idiomatic comparison 'bi-mathabat'.

تتجلى خطورة العطل في توقيته الحرج.

The danger of the malfunction manifests in its critical timing.

Verb 'tatajalla' (manifests).

أضحى العطل سمة بارزة في الآلات المتهالكة.

The malfunction has become a prominent feature in dilapidated machines.

Verb 'adha' (to become) + 'sima' (feature).

Sinônimos

خلل خراب توقف مشكلة

Antônimos

صلاح عمل إصلاح

Colocações comuns

عطل فني

عطل مفاجئ

إصلاح العطل

عطل في المحرك

عطل كهربائي

عطل بسيط

عطل جسيم

تحديد العطل

عطل عام

بلاغ عن عطل

Frases Comuns

عطل طارئ

— An emergency or urgent breakdown.

توقفنا بسبب عطل طارئ.

عطل برمجي

— A software glitch or bug.

هذا عطل برمجي وليس في الجهاز.

عطل تقني

— A technical failure.

العطل التقني أوقف البث.

خالٍ من الأعطال

— Free of malfunctions (often used for used cars).

الجهاز خالٍ من الأعطال.

عطل في الخط

— A fault on the telephone or power line.

هناك عطل في الخط الأرضي.

عطل متكرر

— A recurring malfunction.

أعاني من عطل متكرر في المكيف.

عطل في النظام

— A system failure.

العطل في النظام عطل العمل.

سبب العطل

— The cause of the breakdown.

ما هو سبب العطل؟

مكان العطل

— The location of the defect.

هل حددت مكان العطل؟

تقرير عطل

— A malfunction report.

اكتب تقرير عطل للمدير.

Frequentemente confundido com

عطل vs عطلة (Utlah)

Means holiday/vacation. Often confused by beginners due to spelling.

عطل vs عاطل (Aatil)

Means unemployed (person) or broken (thing). Use carefully.

عطل vs تعطيل (Ta'teel)

The act of disabling or delaying, not the breakdown itself.

Expressões idiomáticas

"عطل في التفكير"

— Metaphorical: A breakdown in logic or thought process.

كأن لديه عطلاً في التفكير.

Informal

"عطل الماكينة"

— Literally 'broke the machine', often used when someone overworks something.

لقد عطلت الماكينة من كثرة العمل.

Neutral

"أعطال الحياة"

— The 'breakdowns' or obstacles of life.

الحياة مليئة بالأعطال.

Literary

"عطل في التواصل"

— A breakdown in communication between people.

هناك عطل في التواصل بيننا.

Neutral

"عطل العقل"

— To stop thinking or lose focus.

أصاب عقلي عطل من التعب.

Informal

"خارج الخدمة بسبب عطل"

— Out of service due to a malfunction.

المصعد خارج الخدمة بسبب عطل.

Formal

"عطل فني بسيط"

— Often used as an excuse for any kind of mistake.

آسف، مجرد عطل فني بسيط.

Informal

"عطل في القلب"

— Rarely medical, usually poetic for feeling 'broken'.

في قلبي عطل لا يشفى.

Poetic

"عطل في الساعة"

— Used to describe someone who is always late.

ساعته فيها عطل دائم.

Sarcastic

"عطل المسار"

— To derail a process or path.

هذا العطل غير مسار حياتي.

Literary

Fácil de confundir

عطل vs خلل

Both mean something is wrong.

Atal is a total breakdown; Khallal is a flaw or bug.

عطل في السيارة / خلل في البرنامج

عطل vs خراب

Both imply something is not working.

Kharab is more about destruction or being 'busted' colloquially.

البيت في خراب / الماكينة فيها عطل

عطل vs تلف

Both relate to items not working.

Talf is physical damage or wear and tear.

تلف في الأوراق / عطل في الساعة

عطل vs كسر

Both mean broken.

Kasr is a physical fracture (like a broken glass).

كسر في الشاشة / عطل في النظام

عطل vs عجز

Both mean failure.

Ajz is an inability to do something, often financial or physical.

عجز في الميزانية / عطل في المولد

Padrões de frases

هناك عطل في [Noun]

هناك عطل في الراديو.

[Noun] فيه عطل

المكيف فيه عطل.

بسبب عطل في [Noun]

بسبب عطل في المحرك.

تم إصلاح الـ [Noun]

تم إصلاح العطل.

أدى عطل [Adjective] إلى [Result]

أدى عطل فني إلى توقف العمل.

يعزى العطل إلى [Cause]

يعزى العطل إلى سوء الصيانة.

استشرى العطل في [System]

استشرى العطل في مفاصل الدولة.

العطل يكمن في [Abstract Noun]

العطل يكمن في الإدارة.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

Verbos

Adjetivos

Relacionado

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Como usar

frequency

Extremely high in daily life and technical fields.

Erros comuns

Saying 'Ana fi atal' for 'I am on holiday'. → Ana fi utlah.
Atal is a breakdown; utlah is a holiday.
Using 'atal' for a broken window. → Kasr fi al-shubbak.
Kasr is for physical breaks; atal is for malfunctions.
Using feminine adjectives with 'atal'. → Atal fanni (not fanniya).
Atal is a masculine noun.
Confusing 'atal' with 'aatil'. → Al-muharrik mu'attal.
Aatil usually refers to an unemployed person.
Using 'atal' for a headache. → Suda' or alam.
Atal is for machines, not human body parts unless they are prosthetic.

Dicas

Agreement

Remember that 'atal' is masculine, so all adjectives following it must be masculine too.

Root Power

Learning the root A-T-L helps you understand words like 'unemployment' and 'disabled'.

The Ayn

Practice the 'Ayn' sound to ensure you aren't misunderstood. It's a deep throat sound.

Mechanic Talk

When at a mechanic, start with 'Fi atal fi...' and then point to the part.

Patience

In many Arab countries, technical failures are met with 'Ma'lish' (it's okay). Use this to stay calm!

Spelling

Don't forget the 'Taa' is the emphatic one (ط), not the light one (ت).

Software vs Hardware

Use 'atal' for the hardware and 'khallal' for the software to sound advanced.

Announcements

If you hear 'atal' at a train station, look for the next available bus!

The Holiday Trick

The holiday (utlah) has an 'ah' sound at the end like a sigh of relief.

Reports

In business, always pair 'atal' with a cause to show competence.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of 'AT-AL'. When a machine has an ATAL, it's 'AT' a 'halt' (AL-most). It stops working.

Associação visual

Imagine a car engine with a giant red 'X' over it. The 'X' looks like the shape of the letter 'Ayn' (ع) if you squint.

Word Web

Machine Repair Stop Fault Technical Car Computer Fix

Desafio

Try to find three things in your house that have an 'atal' (malfunction) and name them in Arabic.

Origem da palavra

From the Arabic root ع-ط-ل (A-T-L), which fundamentally means to be devoid, empty, or stripped of something.

Significado original: In classical Arabic, it referred to a woman being 'devoid' of jewelry or a camel being 'without' a rider/load.

Semitic (Afroasiatic).

Contexto cultural

No major sensitivities, but avoid using 'aatil' (the person form) carelessly as it can imply someone is lazy or useless in some contexts.

English speakers often say 'it's broken', but in Arabic, 'atal' is specifically for malfunctions, while 'maksur' is for physical breaks.

Used frequently in news broadcasts like Al Jazeera when reporting on infrastructure issues. Appears in modern Arabic literature to symbolize societal stagnation. Common in instructional manuals for household appliances.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Automotive

عطل في المحرك
عطل في الفرامل
إصلاح السيارة
الميكانيكي

Technology

عطل فني
عطل في الإنترنت
عطل في الموقع
تحديث البرنامج

Home Maintenance

عطل في السباكة
عطل كهربائي
المكيف معطل
عامل الصيانة

Public Transport

عطل في القطار
تأخير بسبب عطل
الحافلة معطلة
نعتذر عن العطل

Business/IT

عطل في النظام
تقرير عطل
توقف العمل
خسائر بسبب العطل

Iniciadores de conversa

"هل واجهت أي عطل في سيارتك مؤخراً؟ (Have you faced any breakdown in your car lately?)"

"ماذا تفعل إذا حدث عطل مفاجئ في هاتفك؟ (What do you do if a sudden malfunction happens in your phone?)"

"هل تعتقد أن الأعطال الفنية تزداد مع التكنولوجيا الجديدة؟ (Do you think technical glitches increase with new technology?)"

"كيف تبلغ عن عطل في غرفتك بالفندق؟ (How do you report a malfunction in your hotel room?)"

"من هو الشخص الذي تتصل به عند حدوث عطل كهربائي؟ (Who is the person you call when an electrical failure occurs?)"

Temas para diário

اكتب عن يوم تعطلت فيه سيارتك وكيف تصرفت. (Write about a day your car broke down and how you acted.)

صف شعورك عندما يحدث عطل في الإنترنت وأنت تعمل. (Describe your feeling when an internet outage happens while you are working.)

هل تفضل إصلاح الأعطال بنفسك أم استدعاء خبير؟ ولماذا؟ (Do you prefer fixing malfunctions yourself or calling an expert? Why?)

اكتب عن أهمية الصيانة الدورية لتجنب الأعطال. (Write about the importance of periodic maintenance to avoid breakdowns.)

تخيل عالماً بلا أعطال تقنية، كيف ستكون الحياة؟ (Imagine a world without technical failures, how would life be?)

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

No, 'atal' (عطل) means malfunction. 'Utlah' (عطلة) means holiday. They share the same root but different meanings.

No, for a broken bone, use 'kasr' (كسر). 'Atal' is for machines and systems.

It is masculine. You say 'atal kabir' (big malfunction), not 'atal kabira'.

The plural is 'a'taal' (أعطال).

You can say 'atal fanni' (عطل فني).

Only metaphorically or to say someone is unemployed (aatil), but not for being sick.

Yes, 'atal' is understood across the Arab world, though some regions use 'kharab' more often.

The verb is 'ta'attala' (تعطّل).

Yes, but 'khallal' is more common for software bugs. 'Atal' implies the whole app or system stopped.

Yes, it is a CEFR B1 level word and essential for daily interactions.

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