أنا مالي
What do I have to do with it
Wörtlich: I, what is to me?
Use it to distance yourself from drama or situations where you have no responsibility or interest.
In 15 Sekunden
- Used to say 'not my problem' or 'none of my business.'
- Extremely common in daily conversation and texting.
- Best used with friends; can be rude with elders.
Bedeutung
This phrase is the ultimate way to say 'It's none of my business' or 'I'm staying out of this.' It is used to express that you have no involvement or interest in a particular problem or situation.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Friends arguing about a football match
هما بيتخانقوا، أنا مالي؟
They are fighting, what do I have to do with it?
A coworker complaining about office gossip
أنا مالي بالكلام ده، خليني في شغلي.
I have nothing to do with this talk, let me focus on my work.
Texting a friend about a celebrity breakup
سمعت الخبر؟ - أيوه، بس أنا مالي؟
Did you hear the news? - Yes, but what's it to me?
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase is a staple of Arabic street slang, particularly in Egypt and the Levant. It reflects a cultural 'survival mechanism' where individuals distance themselves from the frequent social or political drama of daily life. It is often delivered with a characteristic shrug or a hand-flick gesture.
The Shrug Factor
To sound like a native, pair this phrase with a slight shoulder shrug and a 'phew' sound. It adds that perfect level of indifference.
Watch the Tone
If you say it too loudly or aggressively, it can sound like you're telling the other person to shut up. Keep it light if you want to stay friendly.
In 15 Sekunden
- Used to say 'not my problem' or 'none of my business.'
- Extremely common in daily conversation and texting.
- Best used with friends; can be rude with elders.
What It Means
أنا مالي is your best friend when you want to stay out of trouble. It translates to "What do I have to do with it?" Think of it as a verbal shield. It protects you from drama you didn't start. It is short, sharp, and very effective. You are basically saying, "This isn't my problem." It is the ultimate way to declare your neutrality. It is like watching a fire from a safe distance.
How To Use It
You can say it all by itself. Just shrug and say أنا مالي. If you want to be specific, add بـ (bi) after it. For example, أنا مالي بالموضوع means "I have nothing to do with the matter." It works for both men and women. The grammar stays the same because مالي refers to "me." If you are talking about a group, say إحنا مالنا. It is very flexible and fits into almost any sentence.
When To Use It
Use it when your friends start gossiping. It is perfect for when someone asks for your opinion on a fight. Use it at work when people are complaining about the coffee. It is great for texting when a group chat gets too dramatic. Use it when you see a weird situation on the street. It keeps you safe and uninvolved. It is also a funny way to react to celebrity news. If the world is ending but you have snacks, أنا مالي.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it with your parents. It can sound very disrespectful to elders. Avoid it if someone is asking for genuine help. If your friend is crying, don't say أنا مالي. That would make you look like a robot. Don't use it in a formal job interview. In those cases, use ليس لي علم or لا علاقة لي. It is too casual for a courtroom or a serious business pitch.
Cultural Background
Arabic culture is very social and interconnected. People often get involved in each other's business. This phrase is a necessary boundary-setter. It is a way to reclaim your personal space. In Egypt, it is often said with a specific hand gesture. You might see someone flip their hand outward while saying it. It is a survival phrase for navigating busy social lives. It reflects a humorous, slightly cynical view of daily chaos.
Common Variations
In the Gulf, you might hear مالي شغل. In the Levant, people often say شو دخلني. A more formal version is لا شأن لي. You can also say أنا مالي ومال المشاكل. This means "What do I have to do with problems?" It is a more poetic way of saying you want peace. Another common one is خليك في حالك, which means "stay in your own business."
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is highly informal. Its impact depends heavily on your tone of voice and facial expression; it can range from a lighthearted 'I'm not involved' to a cold 'I don't care.'
The Shrug Factor
To sound like a native, pair this phrase with a slight shoulder shrug and a 'phew' sound. It adds that perfect level of indifference.
Watch the Tone
If you say it too loudly or aggressively, it can sound like you're telling the other person to shut up. Keep it light if you want to stay friendly.
The Hand Gesture
In many Arab countries, people flip their palm outward and away from their body when saying this. It visually represents 'throwing' the problem away.
Beispiele
6هما بيتخانقوا، أنا مالي؟
They are fighting, what do I have to do with it?
Used to show you don't care about the outcome of their argument.
أنا مالي بالكلام ده، خليني في شغلي.
I have nothing to do with this talk, let me focus on my work.
A polite but firm way to stay professional.
سمعت الخبر؟ - أيوه، بس أنا مالي؟
Did you hear the news? - Yes, but what's it to me?
Shows total lack of interest in the gossip.
يا عم أنا مالي؟ اسأله هو!
Man, what do I have to do with it? Ask him!
A bit dismissive and humorous.
أنا مالي بالمشكلة دي، أنا كنت في البيت.
I have nothing to do with this problem, I was at home.
Used defensively to clear your name.
لا شأن لي بهذا القرار.
I have no involvement in this decision.
This is the formal version of 'Ana mali'.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct phrase to say 'I have nothing to do with the matter.'
أنا ___ بالموضوع.
`مالي` combined with `بـ` (bi) is the standard way to say you aren't involved in a specific matter.
How do you say 'What do WE have to do with it?'
___ مالنا؟
`إحنا` (We) matches the plural suffix `-نا` in `مالنا`.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality Spectrum of 'Not my business'
Very blunt and street-style.
أنا مالي يا عم
Standard for friends and family.
أنا مالي
Clear but not aggressive.
ليس لي علاقة
Professional and polite.
لا شأن لي بذلك
When to say 'Ana Mali'
Office Politics
When colleagues argue about the AC temperature.
Social Media
When influencers start a public feud.
Family Drama
When cousins fight over a video game.
Street Noise
When someone's alarm goes off at 3 AM.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt is more of a dialectal contraction. In MSA, you would say ما لي؟ (Ma li?), but أنا مالي is the standard way people actually speak in Egypt and the Levant.
Only if you want to be mean! If someone asks for help and you say أنا مالي, it sounds like you don't care about their suffering.
مالي دخل (Mali dakhl) is more common in the Gulf and Saudi Arabia. Both mean the same thing, but أنا مالي is more common in Egypt.
You change the ending to 'k'. Say مالكش دعوة (Malaksh da'wa) or ما لك؟ (Ma lak?). Be careful, this is much more aggressive!
Generally, no. It is too informal. If a teacher asks why a classmate is absent, use لا أعرف (I don't know) instead.
If you say it slowly with a sigh, it sounds like you are tired of the drama. If you say it fast, it sounds like you are dismissing it quickly.
Yes! It is very common in WhatsApp chats. You can even just write مالي and people will understand.
The opposite would be أنا مهتم (I am interested) or أنا مسؤول (I am responsible).
This means 'What do I have to do with [X]?'. For example, أنا مالي ومال المشاكل means 'What do I have to do with problems?' It emphasizes your desire for peace.
It is 'blunt' rather than 'rude.' Among friends, it is perfectly fine. With strangers or superiors, it can be seen as dismissive.
Verwandte Redewendungen
ماليش دعوة
I have no connection/involvement (very Egyptian).
شو دخلني
What's my involvement? (Levantine).
خليك في حالك
Mind your own business.
مش شغلي
Not my job/business.
Kommentare (0)
Zum Kommentieren AnmeldenStarte kostenlos mit dem Sprachenlernen
Kostenlos Loslegen