English → Arabic
whilst in Arabic
- Pronunciation
- fī ḥīn(i)
- Arabizi
fi7in- Type
- conjunction
How to use it
“whilst” is a formal synonym of “while”. In Arabic it is expressed by the phrase فِي حِينِ, often followed by a verb in the past or present. It links two actions happening at the same time.
Example sentences
-
قَرَأْتُ الكِتَابَ فِي حِينِ أنْتَظَرْتُ الحافِلَ
qaraʾtu al‑kitāba fī ḥīn(i) antazartu al‑ḥāfil
I read the book whilst I waited for the bus.
-
تَكَلَّمَ هُوَ فِي حِينِ أنْتَ صَمِمتَ
takallama huwa fī ḥīn(i) anta ṣummirta
He spoke whilst you were silent.
-
سَأَلْتُهُ فِي حِينِ أنْنِي أُحِبُّهُ
saʾaltuhu fī ḥīn(i) annī uḥibbu‑hu
I asked him whilst I loved him.
Examples from real texts
Sentences taken from published bilingual texts (subtitles, documents). They show the word in context and are not reviewed one by one.
Then We cast him on a bare desert whilst he was sick.
فطرحناه من بطن الحوت، وألقيناه في أرض خالية عارية من الشجر والبناء، وهو ضعيف البدن.
Whilst when they measure or weigh for them, give less.
« وإذا كالوهم » أي كالوا لهم « أو وزنوهم » أي وزنوا لهم « يُخْسِرون » ينقصون الكيل أو الوزن.
I clean houses whilst carrying the child I’m carrying now.
أقوم بتنظيف المنازل وأنا أحمل طفلي كما أحمله الآن.
Boys are usually more aggressive, whilst girls are more caring.
عادة الأولاد أكثر عدوانية أما البنات أكثر اهتمام.
Whilst it is no more than reminder for the people of the world.
« وما هو » أي القرآن « إلا ذكر » موعظة « للعالمين » الجن والإنس لا يحدث بسبب جنون.
So it will come upon them suddenly, whilst they will be unaware.
« فيأتيهم بغتة وهم لا يشعرون ».
And whilst returning to their homes, they used to return rejoicing.
« وإذا انقلبوا » رجعوا « إلى أهلهم انقلبوا فاكهين » وفي قراءة فكهين معجبين بذكرهم المؤمنين.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
ليسقط الاشرار في شباكهم حتى انجو انا بالكلية
Whilst in exile Elizabeth produced eight more children, four boys and four girls.
بينما في المنفى المنتجة إليزابيث ثمانية أطفال آخرين، أربعة أولاد وأربع بنات.
Your Lord would never destroy the villages unjustly, whilst their people were reforming.
« وما كان ربك ليهلك القرى بظلم » منه لها « وأهلها مصلحون » مؤمنون.
But Allah was not going to send them a penalty whilst thou wast amongst them; nor was He going to send it whilst they could ask for pardon.
وما كان الله سبحانه وتعالى ليعذِّب هؤلاء المشركين، وأنت -أيها الرسول- بين ظهرانَيْهم، وما كان الله معذِّبهم، وهم يستغفرون من ذنوبهم.
Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
من جهة مشهورين بتعييرات وضيقات ومن جهة صائرين شركاء الذين تصرّف فيهم هكذا.
Questions and answers
Is فِي حِينِ used in spoken Arabic?
Yes, but speakers often prefer “لما” or “وقت ما”.
Can I replace it with “بينما”?
Both mean “while”, but “بينما” is more common in modern speech.
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