هل

Meaning

1. introduces a positive yes-no question
2. indicates a suggestion
3. indicates an exclusive disjunction with أَمْ (ʔam, “or”), as in alternative questions

Concepts

is

appal

appall

appear

are

been

begin

did

do

does

frighten

intimidate

pile up

pour

strew

would

am

Hellenize

Translations

que

μήπως

est-ce que

an

num

-ne

Pronounced as (IPA)

/hal/

Etymology

Univerbation of هَـ (ha-, now interrogative أَ (ʔa)) + لـ (l-, affirmative particle, found as لَـ (la-, “truly”) and the exhortative لِـ (li-) the vowel of which disappears between فَـ (fa-) or وَ (wa) and a following verb).