A1 general 3 دقیقه مطالعه

Using Illaa: Expressing Exceptions

Use `illā` to subtract a specific item from a general group or statement.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Means 'except' in Arabic.
  • Structure: Whole `illā` Part.
  • Used to exclude items.
  • Negative + `illā` = 'Only'.

Quick Reference

Context Arabic Structure Example (Arabic) English Meaning
General Exception Group + `illā` + Item kullu shay'in `illā` hādhā Everything except this
Time/Schedule Time + `illā` + Day/Hour kulla yawmin `illā` al-jum‘ah Every day except Friday
People Everyone + `illā` + Person al-jamī‘u `illā` Aḥmad Everyone except Ahmed
Restriction (Only) Negative + `illā` + Item mā aklatu `illā` tuffāḥah I didn't eat except an apple (I only ate an apple)
Quantity Number + `illā` + Number mi'ah `illā` wāḥid 100 minus/except one

مثال‌های کلیدی

3 از 8
1

Uḥibbu al-fawākiha illā al-mawza.

I like fruits except bananas.

2

Jā'a al-jamī‘u illā Khālidan.

Everyone came except Khalid.

3

Lā ashrabu shay'an illā al-mā'a.

I don't drink anything except water. (I only drink water)

🎯

The 'Only' Cheat Code

Want to say 'I only want coffee'? You can say 'I don't want **except** coffee' (*Lā urīdu illā al-qahwa*). It sounds dramatic in English, but it's very normal in Arabic.

⚠️

Don't confuse it with 'But'

If you are connecting two full sentences (I went there + I didn't find him), use *lākin* (but). If you are cutting a noun out of a list, use *illā*.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Means 'except' in Arabic.
  • Structure: Whole `illā` Part.
  • Used to exclude items.
  • Negative + `illā` = 'Only'.

Overview

Meet illā (إلّا). It's your new best friend for being picky. Basically, it means "except." You know when you want to say, "I love all pizza except the one with pineapples"? That's exactly where illā shines. It helps you take a general statement and carve out a specific exclusion. It’s one of those power words that instantly makes your Arabic sentences more precise.

How This Grammar Works

Think of it as subtraction. You start with a big group or a whole idea (like "everyone" or "everything"), and then you use illā to subtract one specific thing from it. The logic is simple: Big Group - Specific Thing = Sentence.

Formation Pattern

  1. 1The structure is super logical. It almost always follows this order:
  2. 2The General Statement (The big group)
  3. 3illā (The exception particle)
  4. 4The Exception (The thing you are leaving out)
  5. 5Example: *I worked every day* (Statement) + illā + *Friday* (Exception).

When To Use It

Use illā whenever you need to exclude something from a list or a generalization. It’s perfect for:

  • Ordering food: "I want the mixed grill, illā the liver." (Crucial if you hate liver!)
  • Schedules: "The shop is open every day illā Sunday."
  • Group activities: "Everyone went to the cinema illā me."

When Not To Use It

Don't use illā when you mean "but" (lākin). If you want to contrast two different ideas like "I am tired but happy," that is NOT an exception. That’s a contrast. illā is strictly for taking something *out* of a group.

Common Mistakes

  • Mixing it up with 'but': Beginners often say *Anā akltu illā lam ashba‘* (I ate except I didn't get full) when they mean "but." Stick to exclusions!
  • Forgetting the case ending: In formal Arabic (Fusha), the word after illā usually gets a specific ending (fatha/tanwin fatha). In dialects or casual speech, people often relax this, but it's good to know the rule exists.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

You might hear words like ghayr (other than/non) or siwā (except). illā is the most common and standard particle for "except." ghayr often functions more like an adjective (meaning "non-" or "other"), while illā is a pure tool for making exceptions.

Quick FAQ

Q. Can I use it for "only"?

A. Yes! If you put a negative word before the sentence, illā turns into "only." Example: *Lā urīdu illā hādhā* (I don't want [anything] except this = I only want this).

Q. Is it rude?

A. Not at all. It's just precise.

Reference Table

Context Arabic Structure Example (Arabic) English Meaning
General Exception Group + `illā` + Item kullu shay'in `illā` hādhā Everything except this
Time/Schedule Time + `illā` + Day/Hour kulla yawmin `illā` al-jum‘ah Every day except Friday
People Everyone + `illā` + Person al-jamī‘u `illā` Aḥmad Everyone except Ahmed
Restriction (Only) Negative + `illā` + Item mā aklatu `illā` tuffāḥah I didn't eat except an apple (I only ate an apple)
Quantity Number + `illā` + Number mi'ah `illā` wāḥid 100 minus/except one
🎯

The 'Only' Cheat Code

Want to say 'I only want coffee'? You can say 'I don't want **except** coffee' (*Lā urīdu illā al-qahwa*). It sounds dramatic in English, but it's very normal in Arabic.

⚠️

Don't confuse it with 'But'

If you are connecting two full sentences (I went there + I didn't find him), use *lākin* (but). If you are cutting a noun out of a list, use *illā*.

💬

Religious Context

You will hear `illā` constantly in religious phrases like the Shahada (*Lā ilāha illā Allāh* - There is no god **except** Allah). It's a very powerful word in Islamic culture.

💡

Pronunciation Hack

The double 'L' in `illā` is a 'sun letter' sound but here it is stressed. Hold the 'L' sound a tiny bit longer (Shadda) to sound natural.

مثال‌ها

8
#1 أُحِبُّ الفَوَاكِهَ إِلَّا المَوْزَ

Uḥibbu al-fawākiha illā al-mawza.

Focus: illā al-mawza

I like fruits except bananas.

Standard usage.

#2 جَاءَ الجَمِيعُ إِلَّا خَالِدًا

Jā'a al-jamī‘u illā Khālidan.

Focus: illā Khālidan

Everyone came except Khalid.

Notice the 'an' sound at the end of Khalid (accusative case).

#3 لا أَشْرَبُ شَيْئًا إِلَّا المَاءَ

Lā ashrabu shay'an illā al-mā'a.

Focus: Lā ... illā

I don't drink anything except water. (I only drink water)

Using negation + illā creates the meaning of 'only'.

#4 العَمَلُ مَفْتُوحٌ كُلَّ يَومٍ إِلَّا الجُمُعَةَ

Al-‘amalu maftūḥun kulla yawmin illā al-jum‘ah.

Focus: illā al-jum‘ah

Work is open every day except Friday.

Very common for schedules.

#5 قَرَأْتُ الكِتَابَ إِلَّا صَفْحَةً

Qara'tu al-kitāba illā ṣafḥatan.

Focus: illā ṣafḥatan

I read the book except one page.

Shows partial completion.

#6 ✗ أُرِيدُ هَذَا إِلَّا لَيْسَ الآنَ

Urīdu hādhā illā laysa al-āna.

Focus: illā (Incorrect)

Correct: Urīdu hādhā lākin laysa al-āna (I want this BUT not now).

Don't use 'illā' for 'but'. Use 'lākin'.

#7 لَيْسَ عِنْدِي مُشْكِلَةٌ إِلَّا الوَقْتَ

Laysa ‘indī mushkilatun illā al-waqta.

Focus: illā al-waqta

I have no problem except time.

Negative sentence structure.

#8 كُلُّ الطُّلَّابِ نَجَحُوا إِلَّا طَالِبًا

Kullu al-ṭullābi najaḥū illā ṭāliban.

Focus: illā ṭāliban

All the students passed except one student.

Classic classroom example.

خودت رو بسنج

Complete the sentence to mean: 'I drink everything except coffee.'

أَشْرَبُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ ___ القَهْوَةَ

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: إِلَّا

We are excluding coffee from 'everything', so we use `illā`.

Choose the word that fits: 'Everyone is here except...'

الجَمِيعُ هُنَا إِلَّا ___

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: سَارَةَ

In standard grammar, the word after `illā` in a positive sentence takes the accusative case (fatha ending: Sarah-a).

Create the meaning 'I only speak Arabic' using the negative pattern.

لا أَتَكَلَّمُ ___ العَرَبِيَّةَ

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: إِلَّا

Negative (Lā) + Illā creates the restriction meaning 'Only'.

🎉 امتیاز: /3

ابزارهای بصری یادگیری

Exception vs. Contrast

Exception (Illā)
Uhibbuha illā lawnaha I like it except its color
Contrast (Lākin)
Uhibbuha lākin ghāliyah I like it BUT it's expensive

Using Illā Logic

1

Are you taking one thing out of a group?

YES ↓
NO
Use Lākin (But)
2

Is the sentence negative (starts with Ma/La)?

YES ↓
NO
Use Illā + Accusative (Fatha)
3

Does it mean 'Only'?

YES ↓
NO
Check context

Common Illā Phrases

🕌

Religion

  • • Lā ilāha illā Allāh
✋

Polite Refusal

  • • Āsif, illā hādhā (Sorry, except this)

سوالات متداول

21 سوال

It translates directly to 'except' or 'minus'. It removes one item from a larger group mentioned earlier.

No, illā always needs something coming before it to 'except' from. You can't just start with 'Except...' unless you are answering a question.

No, there are others like ghayr and siwā, but illā is the primary particle used in grammar.

In formal grammar, yes, it often takes an 'a' ending (Mansub). In dialects, people usually just say the word naturally without changing the ending.

Yes! For example, 'The store is open 24 hours illā Monday' (*illā yawm al-ithnayn*).

You can say al-kullu illā anā.

illā is standard Arabic (Fusha) but is understood and used in dialects too, though dialects might pronounce it slightly differently or use ghayr more.

It is called *Al-Istithnā'* (الاستثناء).

It's mostly used with nouns or pronouns. If you use a verb, you often need a helper word like illā an... (except that...).

illā covers 'except' and 'except for'. You don't need an extra preposition.

Yes, very frequently. It is one of the most common particles in the Quran.

Yes! *Lā uḥibbu shay'an illā al-bītzā*. This is a perfect way to say 'I only like pizza'.

The combination of a Negative Particle (Mā/Lā) + illā creates the meaning of restriction or 'only'.

Yes, definitely. It's il-lā, not i-la. Ilā (with one L) means 'to'.

Huge difference! Ilā (إلى) means 'to' (going *to* the store). Illā (إلّا) means 'except'.

Yes. *'Ashara illā wāḥid* (Ten except one = Nine). It's sometimes used in telling time too.

It depends on the context, just like in English. 'Everyone is invited except you' is rude. 'Everyone passed except you' is just sad news.

Alif with Hamza below (إ), Lam with Shadda and Alif (لّا). Together: إلّا.

Yes, absolutely. 'All the cars illā the red ones'.

For beginners, it's just remembering not to confuse it with 'but'. Once you get that, it's easy.

Yes, it's used in writing and texting all the time.

مفید بود؟
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