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Level B2
Formal Discourse
8 words · ~14 min
Grammar focus
Formal register vocabulary and diplomatic expressions, with إنّ and أنّ for emphasis
Cultural note
Formal Arabic discourse follows specific conventions of politeness and rhetorical structure
Lesson overview
Formal Discourse is a level B2 lesson of 8 words: 8 phrases.
- Builds on: Scholarly Discussion (B2)
- Leads to: Literary Expressions (B2)
Word list
| Arabic | Meaning | Type | Root |
|---|---|---|---|
مَا شَاءَ اللَّه mā shāʾa llāh | what God has willed (expressing admiration) | phrase | ش-ي-أ / أ-ل-ه |
بِإِذْنِ اللَّه bi-idhni llāh | by God's permission | phrase | أ-ذ-ن / أ-ل-ه |
سُبْحَانَ اللَّه subhāna llāh | glory be to God (expressing wonder) | phrase | س-ب-ح / أ-ل-ه |
بِسْمِ اللَّه bismi llāh | in the name of God | phrase | س-م-و / أ-ل-ه |
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا jazāka llāhu khayran | may God reward you with good | phrase | ج-ز-ي / أ-ل-ه / خ-ي-ر |
لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّه lā hawla wa-lā quwwata illā bi-llāh | there is no power nor strength except through God | phrase | ح-و-ل / ق-و-ي / أ-ل-ه |
تَوَكَّلتُ عَلَى اللَّه tawakkaltu ʿalā llāh | I put my trust in God | phrase | و-ك-ل / أ-ل-ه |
بَارَكَ اللَّهُ فِيك bāraka llāhu fīk | may God bless you | phrase | ب-ر-ك / أ-ل-ه |
Themes these words belong to: Advanced Expressions (8)
Sample word cards
مَا شَاءَ اللَّه
mā shāʾa llāh
what God has willed (expressing admiration)
بِإِذْنِ اللَّه
bi-idhni llāh
by God's permission
سُبْحَانَ اللَّه
subhāna llāh
glory be to God (expressing wonder)
Exercises and spaced review for all 8 words
"Formal Discourse" is one of 144 vocabulary lessons in Fahm Premium, each with guided exercises and spaced-repetition review. The first 10 lessons are free to try.
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