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متى

Root entry · 1 derived lemma

The root 'متى' primarily concerns interrogative and conditional particles used to inquire about or specify time. It functions as an adverbial particle, often asking 'when?' and can also be used conditionally, similar to 'if' or 'whenever'. Variations in its usage and spelling are discussed, along with its potential to mean 'from' or 'middle' in specific dialects.

Derived headwords

مَتَىparticle
  1. 1.
    when (interrogative)both

    Used to ask about the time of an event, functioning as an interrogative adverb.

  2. 2.
    when (conditional)both

    Used as a conditional particle, similar to 'if' or 'whenever', often implying a single occurrence rather than repeated action.

  3. 3.
    fromclassical

    In the dialect of the Hudhayl tribe, it can mean 'from'.

  4. 4.
    middleclassical

    Used to mean 'middle' or 'in the midst of'.

  5. 5.
    denial/disbeliefclassical

    Used to express denial or disbelief about an event.

متى نصر الله — When is the help of Allah? — {Quran 2:214}
متى فعلت؟ — When did you do it?
متى تأتني آتك — Whenever you come to me, I will come to you.
متى ما يأتني أخوك أرضه — Whenever your brother comes to me, I will please him.
أخرجها متى كمه — He took it out of its sleeve.
متى لجج خضر لهن نئيج — from green waves that have a roaring sound.
متى قهوة سارت إلى الرأس — from a coffee that traveled to the head.
متى تنكروها تعرفوها متى أقطارها علق نفيت — When you do not recognize them, you recognize them; from their openings, which are wide.
متى أضع العمامة تعرفوني — When I put down my turban, you will know me.
وضعته متى كمي — I placed it in the middle of my sleeve.
متى كان هذا — When did this happen? (expressing disbelief)

Parallel reading

متى نصر الله
When is the help of Allah?
أي في أي زمان
Meaning, in what time?
متى فعلت؟
When did you do it?
متى تفعل
When will you do it?
متى تأتني آتك
Whenever you come to me, I will come to you.
متى ما يأتني أخوك أرضه
Whenever your brother comes to me, I will please him.
متى تقوم أغناك ذلك عن ذكر الأزمنة على بعدها
When you stand up, that suffices you from mentioning the distant times.
متى القتال
When is the fighting?
إذا قال متى دخلت الدار كان كذا
If one says, 'When you entered the house, such-and-such happened,' it means at what time.
كلما دخلت فمعناه كل دخلة دخلتها
'Whenever I entered' means every entry that I made.
أخرجها متى كمه
He took it out of its sleeve.
متى لجج خضر لهن نئيج
from green waves that have a roaring sound.
متى أضع العمامة تعرفوني
When I put down my turban, you will know me.
وضعته متى كمي
I placed it in the middle of my sleeve.
متى كان هذا
When did this happen?