كلا

Root entry · 3 derived lemmas

The root 'kila' (كلا) primarily functions as a particle in Classical Arabic, often used for refutation, prohibition, or affirmation. Its meaning can shift depending on context, sometimes acting as a filler word or an emphatic negation.

Derived headwords

كَلَّاparticle

1.
No, absolutely notboth
Used as a strong refutation or prohibition, often to reject a preceding statement or action emphatically.
2.
Indeed, trulyclassical
Used to affirm or confirm a statement, similar to 'حقاً' (haqqan).
3.
Indeed (attention)classical
Functions as an attention-grabbing particle, similar to 'ألا' (ala), introducing a statement.
4.
Filler wordclassical
Sometimes used as a connector or filler word, particularly in poetic contexts, without a strong semantic contribution.

كلا والقمر — No, by the moon —

كلا إن الإنسان ليطغى — Indeed, man transgresses —

كلا زعمت العير لا تقاتل — No, you claimed the caravan would not fight —

كلا زعمتم بأنا لا نقاتلكم — No, you claimed that we would not fight you —

كلا يا رسول الله — No, O Messenger of God —

كلا لئن لم ينته لنسفعا بالناصية — No! If he does not desist, We will surely seize the forelock —

كَلَّاكَparticle

1.
Indeedclassical
A variant of 'kalla' used for affirmation, similar to 'kalla والله' (kalla والله).

كلاك والله — Indeed, by God —

بَلَاكَparticle

1.
Indeedclassical
A variant used for affirmation, similar to 'bila والله' (bila والله) and 'kalla والله' (kalla والله).

بلاك والله — Indeed, by God —

Parallel reading

تفسير كلا الفراء قال: قال الكسائي لا تنفي حسب وكلا تنفي شيئا وتوجب شيئا غيره

The interpretation of Kalla by Al-Farra' states: Al-Kisa'i said, 'Hasb' negates, but 'kalla' negates one thing and affirms another.

من ذلك قولك للرجل قال لك أكلت شيئا فقلت لا، ويقول الآخر أكلت تمرا فتقول أنت كلا، أردت أي أكلت عسلا لا تمرا

From this is your saying to a man who said to you, 'Did you eat something?' and you said 'No,' and another says, 'I ate dates,' and you say, 'Kalla,' meaning 'I ate honey, not dates.'

وتأتي كلا بمعنى قولهم حقا

And 'kalla' comes with the meaning of their saying 'haqqan' (truly).

وتكون حرف رد بمنزلة نعم ولا في الاكتفاء

And it can be a particle of refutation, equivalent to 'na'am' (yes) and 'la' (no) in sufficiency.

فكلا ورب الكعبة، لا تقف على كلا لأنها صلة لليمين

So, 'Kalla wa Rabb al-Ka'bah' (No, by the Lord of the Ka'bah), you do not stop at 'kalla' because it is a connector to the oath.

وقال الأخفش معنى كلا الردع والزجر

And Al-Akhfash said, the meaning of 'kalla' is deterrence and prohibition.

وهذا مذهب سيبويه وإليه ذهب الزجاج في جميع القرآن

This is the view of Sibawayh, and Al-Zajjaj followed it in the entire Quran.

وقال المفسرون معنى كلا حقا

And the commentators said the meaning of 'kalla' is 'haqqan' (truly).

فهي في موضع بمعنى لا، وهو رد للأول

So it is in a position meaning 'no,' and it is a refutation of the first.

وتجيء كلا بمعنى ألا التي للتنبيه

And 'kalla' comes with the meaning of 'ala' (behold/verily) which is for attention.

وهي زائدة لو لم تأت كان الكلام تاما مفهوما

And it is an addition; if it were not present, the speech would be complete and understandable.

وفي المثل: لا، ليس الأمر على ما تقولون

And in the proverb: 'No, the matter is not as you say.'

لا يوقف على كلا في جميع القرآن لأنها جواب، والفائدة تقع فيما بعدها

One does not stop at 'kalla' in the entire Quran because it is a response, and the benefit lies in what comes after it.

فمعناه ألا؛ قال أبو بكر: ويجوز أن يكون بمعنى حقا إن الإنسان ليطغى

So its meaning is 'ala' (behold/verily); Abu Bakr said: And it is permissible for it to mean 'haqqan' (truly), 'man transgresses.'

ويجوز أن يكون ردا كأنه قال: لا، ليس الأمر كما تظنون

And it is permissible for it to be a refutation, as if it were said: 'No, the matter is not as you think.'

ما كان في القرآن كلا فهو رد إلا موضعين

Whatever 'kalla' was in the Quran, it is a refutation except for two places.

كل شيء في القرآن كلا رد يرد شيئا ويثبت آخر

Everything in the Quran that is 'kalla' is a refutation, negating one thing and affirming another.

سمعت العرب تقول كلاك والله وبلاك والله، في معنى كلا والله، وبلى والله

I heard the Arabs say 'kallaka والله' and 'balaka والله,' in the meaning of 'kalla والله' and 'bila والله.'

فقال أعرابي: كلا يا رسول الله

So a Bedouin said: 'Kalla, O Messenger of God.'

كلا ردع في الكلام وتنبيه وزجر، ومعناها انته لا تفعل

'Kalla' is a refutation in speech, an attention-getter, and a prohibition, and its meaning is 'stop, do not do it.'

إلا أنها آكد في النفي والردع من لا لزيادة الكاف

Except that it is more emphatic in negation and refutation than 'la' due to the addition of the 'kaf'.