قدام
In front
Use `قدام` for physical locations in front of you, but never for 'before' in time.
En 15 secondes
- Means 'in front of' or 'ahead' in physical space.
- Used for directions, meeting spots, and looking toward the future.
- Common in all dialects but pronounced differently across regions.
Signification
Think of this as your personal compass word. It literally means 'in front of' or 'ahead,' whether you are talking about a physical building or looking toward the future.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Giving directions to a taxi driver
نزلني قدام البنك، لو سمحت.
Drop me off in front of the bank, please.
Texting a friend about your location
أنا واقف قدام السينما.
I am standing in front of the cinema.
Encouraging a younger sibling
المستقبل قدامك يا بطل.
The future is ahead of you, hero.
Contexte culturel
The word originates from the root 'q-d-m,' which relates to being at the forefront or ancient times. It is culturally significant because it links physical direction with the concept of progress and the future. In many dialects, it is the go-to word for 'straight ahead' when navigating narrow traditional markets.
The 'I'm Down' Secret
In Saudi and Gulf slang, if someone suggests an idea and you say 'Quddam!', it means 'I'm in!' or 'Let's do it!'
The 'Before' Trap
Never use this for time. If you want to say 'before 5 PM,' use 'Qabl,' not 'Quddam.'
En 15 secondes
- Means 'in front of' or 'ahead' in physical space.
- Used for directions, meeting spots, and looking toward the future.
- Common in all dialects but pronounced differently across regions.
What It Means
قدام is one of those essential words you will hear every single day. At its core, it describes physical space. It points to whatever is directly in your line of sight. If you are standing at a door, you are قدام the door. It is simple, direct, and incredibly useful for navigating the world. Beyond just physical objects, it can also describe your position relative to others. If you are leading a group, you are قدام. It is the bread and butter of Arabic spatial awareness.
How To Use It
Using قدام is very straightforward for English speakers. You usually place it right before the noun you are describing. For example, قدام البيت means 'in front of the house.' You can also add pronouns to the end of it. قدامي means 'in front of me,' while قدامك means 'in front of you.' It functions like a preposition in most cases. You do not need complex grammar to make this work. Just drop it in and point your finger!
When To Use It
You will use this constantly when giving or receiving directions. Imagine you are in a taxi and want to stop before a specific shop. You would tell the driver to stop قدام المحل. It is also perfect for meeting up with friends. You might text them saying, 'I am waiting قدام the cinema.' In a more abstract sense, you use it to talk about what lies ahead. If you are encouraging a friend, you might say their whole life is قدام them.
When NOT To Use It
Be careful not to confuse space with time. In English, we sometimes use 'before' for both. In Arabic, قدام is almost strictly for physical space or the 'future' ahead. Do not use it to say 'I ate before the meeting.' For that, you must use the word قبل. Using قدام for a past time sequence will confuse people. Also, avoid using it for 'in the presence of' in very formal legal settings. There are more specific words for that, though قدام works in casual speech.
Cultural Background
In Arab culture, the concept of 'front' and 'back' can be quite social. Being قدام often implies a position of leadership or being the guest of honor. When walking with elders, you might actually step back to let them be قدام as a sign of respect. In many dialects, especially in the Levant and the Gulf, the word has a rhythmic quality. It is often doubled or paired with 'right' and 'left' in songs to describe a lively scene.
Common Variations
Depending on where you are, the pronunciation might shift slightly. In Cairo, you might hear it with a very soft 'g' sound like 'goddām.' In the Levant, the 'q' might be dropped entirely, sounding like 'oddām.' You will also hear لقدام, which means 'forward' or 'moving ahead.' If someone tells you روح لِقدام, they are telling you to keep going straight. It is a versatile root that grows with the local flavor of the city.
Notes d'usage
This phrase is extremely safe to use in almost any social setting. It is neutral in formality, though in very formal writing, you might see 'Amam' instead.
The 'I'm Down' Secret
In Saudi and Gulf slang, if someone suggests an idea and you say 'Quddam!', it means 'I'm in!' or 'Let's do it!'
The 'Before' Trap
Never use this for time. If you want to say 'before 5 PM,' use 'Qabl,' not 'Quddam.'
Regional Sounds
In Egypt, people say 'Goddām' with a G. In Lebanon, they say 'Oddām' without the Q. Don't worry, everyone understands both!
Exemples
6نزلني قدام البنك، لو سمحت.
Drop me off in front of the bank, please.
A very common way to specify a stopping point.
أنا واقف قدام السينما.
I am standing in front of the cinema.
Standard way to coordinate a meeting spot.
المستقبل قدامك يا بطل.
The future is ahead of you, hero.
Using the word metaphorically for the future.
الحليب قدام عيونك!
The milk is right in front of your eyes!
A classic 'mom' phrase when you can't find something obvious.
خليك قدامي عشان ما تضيع.
Stay in front of me so you don't get lost.
Used for keeping track of someone in a crowd.
عندنا تحديات كبيرة قدامنا.
We have big challenges ahead of us.
Professional use describing upcoming obstacles.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct word to say 'The car is in front of the house.'
السيارة ___ البيت.
`قدام` means in front of, `تحت` means under, and `خلف` means behind.
How do you say 'In front of me'?
___
Adding the 'i' sound (ya) at the end makes it 'me'.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Quddam'
Used in street slang to mean 'Let's go' or 'I'm down'.
قدام؟ (You down?)
Standard daily use for directions and locations.
قدام المحل
Used in literature or speeches to discuss the future.
الأيام التي أمامنا
Where to use 'Quddam'
At a Restaurant
Meeting 'in front' of the entrance.
In a Taxi
Telling the driver where to stop.
With Family
Telling kids to stay 'ahead' where you can see them.
At Work
Discussing the roadmap 'ahead'.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, they both mean 'in front of.' However, أمام (Amam) is more formal and used in Modern Standard Arabic, while قدام is the king of daily conversation.
No, قدام only looks forward. For anything in the past or 'before' in time, you must use قبل (Qabl).
You can say دغري قدام (Dughri quddam) in the Levant or على طول قدام (Ala toul quddam) in Egypt.
In very traditional settings, walking slightly behind an elder is a sign of respect. Being قدام can sometimes feel like you are rushing them.
You add the suffix '-ha' to get قدامها (Quddam-ha).
Usually, 'opposite' is مقابل (Muqabil), but in casual speech, people use قدام if the two things are facing each other across a street.
It depends on the dialect. In many cities, the 'Q' is replaced by a glottal stop (like a tiny catch in the throat), making it 'Oddām'.
The opposite is ورا (Wara) or خلف (Khalf), which both mean 'behind' or 'in back of'.
Yes! If someone cuts in line, you can say 'You are قدامي (in front of me),' though it might start an argument!
No, as a preposition/adverb of place, it stays the same regardless of whether the objects are singular or plural.
Expressions liées
من قدام
على قدام
أمام
ورا
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