How to use “As/like” in Arabic

In many contexts, “as” (كَما) and “like” (مِثلَ) can seem interchangeable, but they have distinct uses. In English, “as” is used with a clause (a complete sentence containing a verb), while “like” is used with nouns. Similarly, in Arabic:

• “مِثلَ” is used with nouns.

• “كَما” is used with verbs or clauses.

Examples:

1. “Like you, I love traveling to Middle Eastern countries.”

أُحِبُّ السَّفَرَ إلى دُوَلِ الشَّرْقِ الأوْسَطِ مِثْلَكَ.

2. “As my mother said, you should go to the hairdresser’s.”

يَجِبُ أنْ تَذْهَبَ إلى الحَلَّاقِ كَمَا قالَتْ أُمِّي.

3. “Do as you’re told.”

اِفْعَلْ كَمَا أُمِرْتَ.

4. “As it is, they have been studying for five hours and still have much to do.”

حَسَبَ الوَضْعِ الحَالِيِّ، فَقَدْ أَمْضَوْا خَمْسَ ساعاتٍ في المُذَاكَرَةِ، وما زالَ أَمَامَهُمُ الكَثِيرُ لِيَفْعَلُوهُ.

5. “The Member of Parliament was appointed as the new manager of the company.”

عُيِّنَ عُضْوُ مَجْلِسِ النُّوَّابِ مُدِيرًا جَدِيدًا لِلشَّرِكَةِ.

Contrast Between “As” and “Like”:

The distinction between “as” and “like” is significant. For example:

• “He works as a painter.” (This means his job is being a painter.)

إِنَّهُ يَعْمَلُ رَسَّامًا.

• “He works like a painter.” (This means his method of working is similar to that of a painter.)

يَعْمَلُ مِثْلَ الرَّسَّامِ.

This distinction shows how the choice of words in Arabic reflects meaning just as it does in English.