Difference Between “Appeal” and “Appal”
Although similar in form, these two verbs have nearly opposite meanings.
Appeal refers to attraction or interest, while Appal expresses shock or horror.
Examples:
• This idea rather appeals to me.
تَرُوقُ لِي هٰذِهِ الفِكْرَةُ
تُعْجِبُنِي هٰذِهِ الفِكْرَةُ
(I find this idea appealing.)
• We were appalled at/by what we found out.
مَا أَفْزَعَنَا/أَرْعَبَنَا مَا اكْتَشَفْنَاهُ
(We were shocked by what we discovered.)
• They were appalled to discover what she had done.
صُدِمُوا إِذَا اكْتَشَفُوا مَا فَعَلَتْهُ
(They were horrified when they found out what she had done.)
Important Notes on Translation:
1. The Arabic verb commonly used to render “appeal” is أَعْجَبَ. It requires an object pronoun suffix.
Examples:
• تُعْجِبُنِي الْأَهْرَامَاتُ
(The pyramids appeal to me.)
• I find the pyramids appealing.
(The pyramids are attractive to me.)
• The pyramids are appealing (to me).
(I like the pyramids.)
2. In English, “to appal” is mostly used in the passive voice, whereas the usual Arabic translation involves verbs or adjectives like مُرَوِّعٌ, مُفْزِعٌ, هَائِلٌ, or فَظِيعٌ.
Examples:
• كَانَ سُلُوكُهُ مُرَوِّعًا.
(His behavior was appalling.)
• We were appalled at/by his behavior.
فُزِعْنَا مِنْ سُلُوكِهِ.
(We were horrified by his behavior.)