لن

Root entry · 7 derived lemmas

This root primarily deals with the particle 'lakin' (but, however), exploring its grammatical functions, origins, and nuances in classical Arabic. It covers its use for exception, contradiction, and emphasis, often in contrast to other particles like 'bal'. The entry also touches upon variations in its pronunciation and spelling.

Derived headwords

لَكِنْparticle

1.
but, howeverboth
A particle used for exception or contradiction, often following a negative or affirmative statement to introduce a contrasting idea. It serves to correct or limit a previous statement.
2.
exceptclassical
Used in the sense of exception, particularly after negation or prohibition, to specify what is excluded.
3.
rather, insteadclassical
Can imply a replacement or correction of what was previously mentioned.

لَكِنَّparticle

1.
but, howeverboth
A strengthened form of 'lakin' that functions similarly, introducing a contrast or exception. It is often followed by a noun or pronoun.
2.
indeed, verilyclassical
Can also carry a sense of emphasis or confirmation, similar to 'inna', while retaining the meaning of contrast.

لَكِنَّهُparticle

1.
but he/itboth
The particle 'lakinna' combined with the third-person masculine singular pronoun 'hu'.

لَكِنَّهَاparticle

1.
but she/itboth
The particle 'lakinna' combined with the third-person feminine singular pronoun 'ha'.

لَكِنَّنِيparticle

1.
but Iboth
The particle 'lakinna' combined with the first-person singular pronoun 'ni'.

لَكِنَّاparticle

1.
but weboth
The particle 'lakinna' combined with the first-person plural pronoun 'na'.

لَكِنَّهُparticle

1.
but theyboth
The particle 'lakinna' combined with the third-person plural pronoun 'hum'.

Parallel reading

هو (حرف ينصب الاسم ويرفع الخبر) كإن

It is (a particle that makes the noun accusative and the predicate nominative) like 'inna'.

ومعناه الاستدراك يستدرك بها بعد النفي والإيجاب

And its meaning is 'istidrak' (retrieval/correction), by which one corrects after negation and affirmation.

وهو أن تثبت لما بعدها حكما مخالفا لما قبلها ولذلك لا بد أن يتقدمها كلام مناقض لما بعدها، أو ضد له

And it is to establish for what follows it a ruling contrary to what preceded it, and therefore it is necessary that a statement precede it that contradicts what follows it, or is its opposite.

تقول: ما جاءني زيد لكن عمرا قد جاء

You say: Zayd did not come to me, but rather 'Amr has come.

وما تكلم زيد لكن عمرا قد تكلم

And Zayd did not speak, but rather 'Amr has spoken.

ومعنى الاستدراك رفع وهم عن كلام سابق

And the meaning of 'istidrak' is to remove a misconception from a previous statement.

حرف تثبت به بعد النفي

A particle by which you establish (a ruling) after negation.

حرفان من الاستثناء لا يقعان أكثر ما يقعان إلا مع الجحد وهما بل ولكن

Two particles of exception that do not occur, most of the time, except with negation, and they are 'bal' and 'lakin'.

والعرب تجعلهما مثل واو النسق

And the Arabs make them like the conjunction 'wa' (and).

ترد تارة للاستدراك، وتارة للتوكيد

It is used sometimes for 'istidrak' (correction/contrast), and sometimes for emphasis.

للgroup توكيد دائما مثل إن، ويصحب التوكيد معنى الاستدراك

It is always for emphasis like 'inna', and emphasis is accompanied by the meaning of 'istidrak'.

إذا أدخلوا عليها الواو آثروا تشديدها لأنها رجوع عما أصاب أول الكلام

When they prefix the 'wa' to it, they prefer to stress its 'nun' because it is a return from what was mentioned at the beginning of the speech.

فشبهت ببل إذا كانت رجوعا مثلها، ألا ترى أنك تقول لم يقم أخوك بل أبوك، ثم تقول لم يقم أخوك لكن أبوك فتراهما في معنى واحد

So it is likened to 'bal' if it is a return like it. Do you not see that you say: Your brother did not stand, but rather your father did. Then you say: Your brother did not stand, but rather your father did, and you see them as having one meaning.

وهي بسيطة عند البصريين

And it is simple according to the Basrans.

مركبة من لكن وأن فطرحت الهمزة للتخفيف

It is composed of 'lakin' and 'anna', so the hamza was dropped for lightness.

ونون لكن للساكنين

And the 'nun' of 'lakin' is for the two silent letters.

ولذا نصبت العرب بها إذا شددت نونها

And for this reason, the Arabs make it accusative when they stress its 'nun'.

وقيل: مركبة من لا والكاف

And it is said: it is composed of 'la' and 'ka'.

ويدل على ذلك أن العرب تدخل اللام في خبرها؛ وأنشد الفراء: ولكنني من حبها لعميد

And what indicates that is that the Arabs insert the 'lam' in its predicate; and Al-Farra' recited: 'But I, from my love for her, am weak.'

وقد يحذف اسمها كقوله: (فلو كنت ضيبا عرفت قرابتي (ولكن زنجي عظيم المشافر)

And its noun may be omitted, as in his saying: 'If you were a noble, you would know my lineage, but (you are) a black man with large lips.'

ولكن ساكنة النون ضربان: مخففة من الثقيلة وهي حرف ابتداء لا يعمل في شيء اسم ولا فعل

And 'lakin' with a silent 'nun' has two types: lightened from the heavy one, and it is a particle of commencement that does not operate on anything, neither a noun nor a verb.

فإن وليها كلام فهي حرف ابتداء لمجرد إفادة الاستدراك وليست عاطفة

If speech follows it, then it is a particle of commencement solely for conveying 'istidrak' and is not a conjunction.

ويجوز أن يستعمل بالواو نحو قوله تعالى: {ولكن كانوا هم الظالمين}

And it is permissible for it to be used with 'wa', as in the Almighty's saying: 'But they were the wrongdoers.'

وبدونها نحو قول زهير: إن ابن ورقاء لا تخشى بوادرهلكن وقائعه في الحرب تنتظر

And without it, as in the saying of Zuhayr: 'Indeed, Ibn Warqaa' does not fear his initial attacks, but rather his battles in war are awaited.'

وإن وليها مفرد فهي عاطفة بشرطين: أحدهما أن يتقدمها نفي أو نهي

And if a single word follows it, it is a conjunction, with two conditions: the first is that negation or prohibition precedes it.

ويلزم الثاني مثل إعراب الأول

And the second is that it necessitates the same grammatical case as the first.

إذا عطفت لكن المفرد على المفرد فتجيء لكن بعد النفي خاصة بعكس لا فإنها تجيء بعد الإثبات خاصة كقولك: ما رأيت زيدا لكن عمرا، أي لكن رأيت عمرا فإن قلت: ما رأيت زيدا لكن عمرا لم يجز

When 'lakin' conjoins a single word to a single word, 'lakin' comes specifically after negation, in contrast to 'la', which comes specifically after affirmation, like your saying: 'I did not see Zayd, but rather 'Amr', meaning 'but I saw 'Amr'. If you say: 'I did not see Zayd, but 'Amr', it is not permissible.

والثاني: أن لا تقترن بالواو، وقال قوم لا تكون مع المفرد إلا بالواو

And the second is that it is not conjoined with 'wa'. And some people say it is not used with a single word except with 'wa'.

لا تجوز الإمالة في لكن وصورة اللفظ بها لا كن وكتبت في المصاحف بغير ألف وألفها غير ممالة

Imala (slanting of vowels) is not permissible in 'lakin', and the pronunciation of it is 'la-kin', and it is written in the Qur'ans without an alif, and its alif is not slanted.

وأما قراءتهم: لكنا هو الله ربي فأصلها لكن أنا، فلما حذفت الهمزة للتخفيف وألقيت حركتها على نون لكن صار التقدير لكننا، فلما اجتمع حرفان مثلان كره ذلك، كما كره شدد وجلل، فأسكنوا ا

As for their recitation: 'Lakinnahu Allahu Rabbi' (But I, indeed Allah is my Lord), its origin is 'lakin ana'. When the hamza was dropped for lightness and its vowel was cast upon the 'nun' of 'lakin', the estimation became 'lakinnana'. When two similar letters met, that was disliked, just as 'shaddada' and 'jallala' were disliked, so they made it silent.