نعم / لا

Yes and No

Level 1

نعم (na‘am) means 'Yes' and لا (lā) means 'No'. They are the standard ways to answer basic questions in Arabic.

How It Works

نعم (Na‘am) - Yes
This particle is used to confirm the truth of the statement in the question. If someone asks a positive question, na‘am confirms it. It is also used politely when someone calls your name to indicate you are listening.

لا (Lā) - No
This particle is used to negate the statement in the question. Note that lā is also used as a general negation tool for verbs in the present tense, but as an answer, it stands alone or at the start of a sentence.

Usage Nuance
While you can answer with just the particle, it is considered more natural and complete in Modern Standard Arabic to follow the particle with a short sentence that clarifies the answer. For example, instead of just saying 'Yes,' one might say 'Yes, I am a student.'

The Negative Question Trap
A common point of confusion occurs with negative questions (e.g., 'Aren't you hungry?'). In Arabic, if you answer na‘am to a negative question, you are agreeing with the negative state ('Yes, I am not hungry'). To contradict the negative and say 'Yes, I AM hungry,' you must use the special particle بلى (balā) instead.

Examples (4)

  1. هل أنتَ طالب؟ نعم، أنا طالب.

    Are you a student? Yes, I am a student.

    Word by Word: Is you student? Yes, I student.

    A standard positive question using 'hal' answered with 'na‘am' and a clarifying sentence.

  2. هل تتكلم العربية؟ لا، لا أتكلم العربية.

    Do you speak Arabic? No, I do not speak Arabic.

    Word by Word: Is you-speak the-Arabic? No, no I-speak the-Arabic.

    Here, the first 'lā' is the answer 'No', and the second 'lā' negates the verb.

  3. أنتَ من لندن؟ نعم.

    You are from London? Yes.

    Word by Word: You from London? Yes.

    A simple confirmation using 'na‘am' in a casual but standard context.

  4. أليسَ البيتُ كبيراً؟ بلى، هو كبيرٌ جداً.

    Isn't the house big? Yes (on the contrary), it is very big.

    Word by Word: Is-not the-house big? Yes, it big very.

    This shows why 'balā' is used instead of 'na‘am' when answering a negative question affirmatively.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'na‘am' to mean 'Yes, I am' when answering a negative question.

    أليس الجو حاراً؟ نعم (to mean 'Yes, it is hot')
    أليس الجو حاراً؟ بلى

    In Arabic, 'na‘am' confirms the negation. If you say 'na‘am' to 'Isn't it hot?', you are saying 'Yes, it is NOT hot.' Use 'balā' to say 'Yes, it IS hot.'

  • Confusing the answer 'lā' with the prohibitive 'lā'.

    لا تذهبْ (as an answer to 'Are you going?')
    لا، لن أذهب

    The answer 'lā' (No) does not change the verb mood. The prohibitive 'lā' (Don't!) requires the jussive mood. As an answer, just use 'lā' followed by a normal negated sentence.

How It Connects

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نعم / لاLevel 1Yes and No

Learn This First

To use 'نعم' (yes) and 'لا' (no) effectively, a learner needs to understand how to form the questions they answer. Additionally, since 'لا' is often followed by a negative statement, familiarity with negation tools like 'ليس' is necessary for complete responses.

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