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كلا

Root entry · 1 derived lemma

This root primarily deals with concepts of prohibition, deterrence, and negation. It can function as an interjection to stop someone or something, or as an affirmation meaning 'indeed' or 'certainly'. It also appears in contexts of denial and refutation.

Derived headwords

كَلَّاparticle
  1. 1.
    No! / Never!both

    An interjection used to express strong prohibition, deterrence, or rejection. It signifies 'stop!' or 'do not do that'.

  2. 2.
    Indeed / Certainlyclassical

    A particle used for emphasis, meaning 'truly', 'certainly', or 'indeed'. It often precedes a strong statement or a warning.

  3. 3.
    Nay / Ratherclassical

    Used to negate a previous statement and introduce a correction or a contrasting idea, similar to 'but rather' or 'nay'.

Parallel reading

كلا كلمة زجر وردع
Kalla is a word of deterrence and prohibition.
ومعناها انته لا تفعل
And its meaning is 'stop, do not do'.
أيُطْمَعُ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ مِنْهُمْ أَنْ يُدْخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيمٍ كَلَّا
Does every one of them aspire to enter a Garden of Delight? No!
أي لا يطمع في ذلك
Meaning, he does not aspire to that.
وقد يكون بمعنى حقا
And it may be used to mean 'truly'.
كَلَّا لَئِنْ لَمْ يَنْتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًا بِالنَّاصِيَةِ
No! If he does not desist, We will surely seize him by the forelock.
وقد تأتي كلا بمعنى لا
And kalla may come to mean 'no'.
فقلنا لهم: خلوا النساء لأهلها، ... فقالوا لنا: كلا فقلنا لهم: بلى
So we said to them: 'Leave the women to their people,' ... and they said to us: 'No!' and we said to them: 'Yes!'