لا يستقرّ على حال

English translation: He hasn\'t been able to make up his mind

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Arabic term or phrase:لا يستقرّ على حال
English translation:He hasn\'t been able to make up his mind
Entered by: A Zafar

14:07 May 26, 2021
Arabic to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Arabic term or phrase: لا يستقرّ على حال
قالت: مرّة يحقد عليه، وأخرى يشفق عليه. يتخيّل أطفاله الذين ينامون ليلهم، وليس في بيت أبيهم رغيفُ خبز أو كأسُ حليب.

تقلّبتُ في فراشي، وقلت: منذ أيّام وأنا أرى صديقي لا يستقرّ على حال.

Hi everyone,

I'm translating a Palestinian young adult novel. In this section, two characters are discussing how their friend keeps changing his opinion of the thief who stole something from him.

I haven't come across this phrase before. I'm thinking it might mean "he hasn't been himself", or "he hasn't been able to make up his mind", but please do correct me.

Thanks for your help,
Anam
A Zafar
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:40
He hasn't been able to make up his mind
Explanation:
Your second translation is correct. Please read my explanation:

تعريف و معنى هو لايستقر على حال في معجم المعاني الجامع - معجم عربي عربيهُوَ لاَيَسْتَقِرُّ على حالٍ:لاَ
يَثْبُتُ على وَجْهٍ وَلا على قَرارٍ
https://www.almaany.com/ar/dict/ar-ar/هو-لايستقر-على-حال/

Definition of make up one's mind
: to make a decision about something : to decide
I can't make up my mind where to take my vacation.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make up one's min...
Selected response from:

Yassine El Bouknify
Morocco
Local time: 16:40
Grading comment
Thank you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5He hasn't been able to make up his mind
Yassine El Bouknify
4keeps changing his mind
Z-Translations Translator
4restless mood/temperamental/moody/snappy/mood swings
Saeed Najmi
4Undecided/unsettled
Youssef Chabat
4fickle
Angie Halloum
4unstable
Madeha Ghagary
3doesn't rest easy / doesn't settle
Assem AlKhallouf


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
doesn't rest easy / doesn't settle


Explanation:
doesn't rest easy / doesn't settle

Assem AlKhallouf
Local time: 18:40
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 71
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
keeps changing his mind


Explanation:
keeps changing his mind

Z-Translations Translator
Local time: 02:40
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 68
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
He hasn't been able to make up his mind


Explanation:
Your second translation is correct. Please read my explanation:

تعريف و معنى هو لايستقر على حال في معجم المعاني الجامع - معجم عربي عربيهُوَ لاَيَسْتَقِرُّ على حالٍ:لاَ
يَثْبُتُ على وَجْهٍ وَلا على قَرارٍ
https://www.almaany.com/ar/dict/ar-ar/هو-لايستقر-على-حال/

Definition of make up one's mind
: to make a decision about something : to decide
I can't make up my mind where to take my vacation.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make up one's min...

Yassine El Bouknify
Morocco
Local time: 16:40
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 185
Grading comment
Thank you.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
restless mood/temperamental/moody/snappy/mood swings


Explanation:
He's been restless/moody/temperamental/snappy
He's been having a restless mood/mood swings
مرّة يحقد عليه، وأخرى يشفق عليهممم

Saeed Najmi
Morocco
Local time: 16:40
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 146
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5

14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
fickle


Explanation:
check this word. Good Luck!
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/fickle#:~:text=People ...

Angie Halloum
United Arab Emirates
Local time: 19:40
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 31
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
unstable


Explanation:
prone to psychiatric problems or sudden changes of mood.
(definition from Oxford languages)

Example sentence(s):
  • "he was mentally unstable"
Madeha Ghagary
Syria
Local time: 18:40
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search