Let us face facts, we all lose our cool, fly off the handle, get ticked off, and have it up to here sometimes. In addition, sometimes we just want to let people know we are angry. So, we want to tell them off, let them have it, and really give them a piece of our minds. 

Yes, there are many ways to express your anger in English. However, English speakers are not alone in coming up with a number of ways to let people know they’re mad.  Indeed, Arabs, too, can also express their anger in rather unique ways. (If you don’t believe us, then just take a taxi in Amman during rush hour. Indeed, you’ll find no compliments in Arabic there.)

So, that’s what we will look at today – common Arabic words and phrases used to express anger. However, in doing so, we know that some of you came here just to learn some Arabic swear words. You think that it’ll be funny or cool to use them. So, yeah, we might include a few of those as well. But don’t expect much. After all, this is a family blog. So, without further ado, let’s get started. (And maybe afterward, we’ll write a future blog post on anger management in Arabic.)

 

Letting People Know You’re Angry

 Maybe people just don’t get the hint. Your fist is clenched, your face is red, your brows are furrowed, and steam is coming out of your ears. Still, they ask, “Are you okay?” 

Well, as a matter of fact, no, you’re NOT okay! You’re angry. But how do you tell them in Arabic? Okay, calm down a little and we’ll show you. First, you can start with these two phrases:

 

I’m angry.

أَنا غاضِب

/ʼanaa ghaadhib/

I’m furious.

أَنا غاضِب بِشَكل كَبير

/ʼanaa ghaadhib bshakl kabeer/

That’s annoying.

هَذا مُزعِج

/haTHaa muziʻj/

 

 

Letting People Know You’re Angry at Them

 Again, sometimes people just don’t get it, so you have to let them know that you’re angry at them. However, don’t let your anger get the best of you. So, try to start off in a polite and civil way:

 

What you said made me angry.

ما قُلتَهُ جَعَلَني غاضِب

/maa qultahu jaʻalanee ghaadhib/

I don’t feel good when you do that.

لا أَشعُرُ بِالرَّاحَة عِندَما تَفْعَلُ ذلِكَ

/laa ʼashuru birraaHah ʻindamaa tafʻalu THaalika/

What are you looking at?

إِلى ماذا تَنْظُرُ؟

/ʼilaa maaTHaa tanDHuru/

It’s none of your business.

هَذا لَيسَ مِنْ شَأنِكَ

/haaTHaa laysa min shaʼnika/

Get out of my face.

أُغرُب عَنْ وَجْهي

/ʼughrub ʻan wajhee/



Letting Nosy People Know You’re Angry 

 Why do people have to get all up in your business?  If you’re angry at somebody, there’s always that one person who has to get involved. So, here’s how to let them know to stay away:

 

What you said made me angry.

ما قُلتَهُ جَعَلَني غاضِب

/maa qultahu jaʻalanee ghaadhib/

I don’t feel good when you do that.

لا أَشعُرُ بِالرَّاحَة عِندَما تَفْعَلُ ذلِكَ

/laa ʼashuru birraaHah ʻindamaa tafʻalu THaalika/

What are you looking at?

إِلى ماذا تَنْظُرُ؟

/ʼilaa maaTHaa tanDHuru/

It’s none of your business.

هَذا لَيسَ مِنْ شَأنِكَ

/haaTHaa laysa min shaʼnika/

Get out of my face.

أُغرُب عَنْ وَجْهي

/ʼughrub ʻan wajhee/

 

Where’s the Beef? Right Here!

 Now you’re so angry, like a race car in the red and you’re about to blow! For that, Let that other person know that they better be careful with the next words coming out of their mouth:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Watch your mouth.

انتَبِه لِأَلفاظِكَ

/ʼintabih liʼalfaaDHika/

You’re in trouble now

أنتَ بِمَأزِق الآن

/ʼanta bimaʼziqin ilʼaan/

Back off.

تَراجَعْ

/traajaʻ/

What did you say to me?

ماذا قُلْتَ لي؟

/maaTHaa qulta lee/

 

 

The Blame Game

 Sometimes people make mistakes and instead of taking responsibility, they’ll blame them on you. Go ahead and make them feel guilty for the wrong they did to you:

 

This is your fault.

هَذا خَطَأُكَ

/haaTHaa khaTaʼuka/

I can’t believe you did that.

لا أُصَدِّقُ أنَّكَ فَعَلتَ ذلِكَ

/laa ʼuSaddiqu ʼannaka faalta THaalika/

How could you do this?

كَيفَ تَفْعَلُ هَذا؟

/kayfa tafʻalu haTHaa/

I’m disappointed in you.

لَقَد خابَ ظَنّي بِكَ

/laqad khaaba DHannee bika/

What were you thinking?

بِماذا كُنْتَ تُفكِّرُ؟

/bimaaTHaa kunta tufakkiru/

You should be ashamed of yourself.

يَجِبُ أَنْ تَخْجَلَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ

/yajibu ʼan takhjala min nafsika/

 

Bringing Out the Big Guns!

 So, they still don’t get how badly they messed up, huh? Then, it’s time to load up on ammunition. Now, let us take a look at some common Arab swear words you can use at your own risk!

 

This is your fault.

هَذا خَطَأُكَ

/haaTHaa khaTaʼuka/

I can’t believe you did that.

لا أُصَدِّقُ أنَّكَ فَعَلتَ ذلِكَ

/laa ʼuSaddiqu ʼannaka faalta THaalika/

How could you do this?

كَيفَ تَفْعَلُ هَذا؟

/kayfa tafʻalu haTHaa/

I’m disappointed in you.

لَقَد خابَ ظَنّي بِكَ

/laqad khaaba DHannee bika/

What were you thinking?

بِماذا كُنْتَ تُفكِّرُ؟

/bimaaTHaa kunta tufakkiru/

You should be ashamed of yourself.

يَجِبُ أَنْ تَخْجَلَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ

/yajibu ʼan takhjala min nafsika/

 

Again, these are very fun to learn and may sound silly in English. However, calling somebody a donkey or ugly and stupid is very serious. Even if you’re just kidding around, you’re Arab friends and colleagues won’t find it so funny. So, no matter how angry you are, it’s best not to use these words, or any words that can be seen as insulting.

 

It’s Hard Easy to Say I’m Sorry

Did you get to riled up and step over the line?  Lucky for you it’s not that hard to say you’re sorry in Arabic. In fact, learning Arabic has never been easier than it is with the Kaleela Arabic learning app. Kaleela was created by highly-qualified, skilled and native-speaking Arabic language experts to teach the basics of Arabic. That means you’ll hear real Arabic speakers just as if you were sitting in a Middle Eastern classroom. 

At last, Kaleela will take you step-by-step through the Arabic learning process from the Arabic alphabet to local Arabic dialects. Along the way, you learn the five main skills of learning any language – reading, writing, listening, speaking, and culture. Along with experience, Kaleela also brings you convenience. After all, you won't be sitting in stuffy classrooms for hours or trying to fit learning Arabic into your schedule. With Kaleela, you’ll learn Arabic where you want when you want – all at your own pace.

Try it for yourself and see how fun and easy to use Kaleela is when it comes to learning Arabic. Download it and try it out today – only from kaleela.com. 

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