لكي

So That

Level 4

لكي (li-kay) is a formal way to express purpose ('so that'). It is followed by a present tense verb in the subjunctive mood.

How It Works

To use لكي correctly, follow these rules:

  • Verb Mood: The verb following لكي must be in the subjunctive mood. For most singular verbs, the final vowel changes to a fatha (-a).
  • Defective Verbs: If the verb is defective and ends in an alif maqṣūra (ى), the fatha is hidden. However, if the verb ends in wāw (و) or yā’ (ي), the fatha is visible and pronounced (e.g., لكي يدعوَ، لكي يرميَ).
  • Dropping the Nūn: In the Five Verbs (dual and plural forms), the final ن (nūn) is removed. For example, يدرسون becomes يدرسوا. The silent alif added after the wāw in the masculine plural is called the 'alif of protection' (alif al-wiqāya).
  • Feminine Plural: The feminine plural forms (ending in the 'nūn of women', e.g., يدرسنَ) are indeclinable (mabnī) and do not change their ending when preceded by لكي.
  • Negation: To say 'so that... not', you use لكي لا. This is often written as a single fused word: لكيلا. A similar meaning can also be expressed using the distinct construction لئلا.
  • Interchangeability: لكي is often interchangeable with the shorter particle كي. Using لكي is considered slightly more formal or emphatic.
  • Register: While common in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), it is rarely heard in spoken dialects, which prefer words like 'ashān.

Examples (6)

  1. أدرسُ كثيراً لكي أنجحَ في الامتحان.

    I study a lot so that I may succeed in the exam.

    Word by Word: I study much so that I succeed in the exam.

    Notice the fatha on the end of the verb أنجحَ because of the subjunctive mood triggered by لكي.

  2. سافروا إلى لندن لكي يتعلموا اللغة الإنجليزية.

    They traveled to London in order to learn the English language.

    Word by Word: They traveled to London so that they learn the language the English.

    The verb يتعلموا has dropped its final 'nūn' (originally يتعلمون) because it follows لكي. The silent alif added at the end is called the 'alif of protection'.

  3. يجب أن نسرع لكيلا نتأخرَ عن الموعد.

    We must hurry so that we are not late for the appointment.

    Word by Word: Must that we hurry so that not we are late for the appointment.

    Here, لكي is fused with the negative particle لا to form لكيلا.

  4. أقرأُ الصحفَ لكي أعرفَ الأخبارَ.

    I read the newspapers so that I know the news.

    Word by Word: I read the newspapers so that I know the news.

    A standard use of لكي in a formal context to express purpose.

  5. يصلي المؤمن لكي يرضى اللهُ عنه.

    The believer prays so that God may be pleased with him.

    Word by Word: Prays the believer so that is pleased God about him.

    In the verb يرضى, the fatha of the subjunctive mood is hidden because the verb ends in an alif maqṣūra.

  6. تدرس الطالبات لكي ينجحنَ في المسابقة.

    The female students study so that they (feminine) succeed in the competition.

    Word by Word: Study the students (f.) so that they (f.) succeed in the competition.

    The feminine plural verb ينجحنَ remains unchanged because it is indeclinable (mabnī).

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indicative mood (ending in -u) instead of the subjunctive (ending in -a).

    أعمل لكي أساعدُ عائلتي.
    أعمل لكي أساعدَ عائلتي.

    لكي always requires the following verb to be in the subjunctive mood (al-mansūb).

  • Confusing 'so that' (purpose) with 'because' (reason).

    أنا سعيد لكي نجحتُ.
    أنا سعيد لأنني نجحتُ.

    Use لأن for reasons (because) and لكي for goals (so that).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

لكيLevel 4So That

Learn This First

To understand 'لكي' (so that), you need to be familiar with how Arabic expresses purpose using the prefix 'لـ' and how certain particles change the ending of the present tense verb to the subjunctive mood (al-mansub).

Words in This Pattern

لكي