Let’s learn about question words in Arabic. In this lesson, we will discuss interrogative sentences in Arabic. Mainly, we will introduce the main question words and the corresponding structure.
Arabic Question Words Example
In this video, let’s learn about question words in Arabic.
The word “hal” is a word we use for forming Yes/No questions in MSA. In classical Arabic, sometimes the letter alif is used before the verb in a similar way: Did you want to eat? a-tureed an ta’akol? أتريد أن تأكل؟
هَلْ؟ hal? For asking Yes/No Questions هَل نِمْتَ جَيِّداً؟ hal nimta jayyidan? Did you sleep well? هَل أنْت مِصْرِيّ؟ hal anta misreyy? Are you Egyptian? هَل تُرِيد أَنْ تَأكُل؟ hal tureed an ta’kol? Do you want to eat? هَل وَصَلَ الضُّيُوف؟ hal wasala ad-duyoof? Did the guests arrive? نَعَم na’am yes لا laa no
Where = ayna = أينَ
أيْنَ الحَقِيبَة؟ ayna al-haqeebah? Where is the bag? أيْنَ المُدِير؟ ayna al-mudeer? Where is the manager? أيْنَ تَسْكُن؟ ayna taskun? Where do you live? أيْنَ أَنْت؟ ayna ant? Where are you?
Who = man = مَن
مَن هُوَ؟ man huwa? Who is he? مَن قَالَ لَكَ هَذَا؟ man qaala laka haadhaa? Who told you so? مَن هُوَ مُؤَلِّف الكِتَاب؟ man huwa mu’allif al-kitaab? Who is the author of the book? مَن هُوَ مُخْتَرِع الهَاتِف؟ man huwa mukhtare’ al-haatif? Who is the inventor of the phone?
When = mataa = متى
مَتَى وَصَلْتُم؟ mataa wasaltum? When did you (pl-m) arrive? مَتَى حَدَث هَذَا؟ mataa hadatha haadhaa? When did this happen? مَتَى سَافَرُوا؟ mataa saafaroo? When did they travel? مَتَى وُلِدْت؟ mataa wulidt? When were you born?
What = maa = ما
مَا مَعْنَى هَذِهِ الكَلِمَة؟ maa ma’naa haadhihi al-kalimah? What is the meaning of this word? مَا هِيَ عَاصِمَة فَرَنْسَا؟ maa hiya ‘aasimat faransaa? What is the capital of France? مَا هِيَ المُشْكِلَة؟ maa hiya al-mushkilah? What is the problem? مَا هَذَا؟ maa haadhaa? What is this?
How = kayfa = كَيفَ
كَيْفَ عَرَفْت؟ kayfa ‘araft? How did you know? كَيْفَ نُصْلِح الهَاتِف؟ kayfa nuslih al-haatif? How do we fix the phone? كَيْفَ يُمْكِن أَنْ أُسَاعِدَك؟ kayfa yumkin an usaa’idak? How can I help you? كَيْفَ حَالُك؟ kayfa haaluk? How are you? (Literally: How is your condition)
How much/many = kam = كَم
كَم عُمْرُك؟ kam ‘umruk? How old are you? (Literally: how much is your age) كَم شَخْصَاً قَابَلْت؟ kam shakhsan qaabalt? How many people did you meet? كَم تُرِيد؟ kam tureed? How much do you want? كَم تَكَلَّفَت الرِّحْلَة؟ kam takallafat ar-rihlah? How much did the trip cost?
What = maadhaa = ماذا
مَاذَا حَدَث؟ maadhaa hadath? What happened? مَاذَا قُلْت؟ maadhaa qult? What did you say? مَاذَا تُرِيد؟ maadhaa tureed? What do you want? مَاذَا فَعَلُوا؟ maadhaa fa’aloo? What did they do?
Why = limaadhaa = لِمَاذا
لِمَاذا تَبْكِي؟ limaadhaa tabkee? Why are you crying? لِمَاذا وَقَعَت الحَادِثَة؟ limaadhaa waqa’at al-haadithah? Why did the accident happen? لِمَاذا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِك؟ limaadhaa fa’alta dhaalik? Why did you do so? لِمَاذا تَأَخَّرْوا؟ limaadhaa ta’akhkharoo? Why are they late?
Other Question Words in Arabic
There are other question words that will be covered in later lessons.
Using Arabic Videos with Subtitles can help in learning the spoken language. It is important to show in the subtitles what the speakers are actually saying. In addition, it is also important to show the English translation. For learners who can’t read in Arabic, it can be useful to provide the transliteration of the Arabic text in Latin letters.
This triple subtitle format is part of the Champolu method. In fact, it provides complete transparency about what the spoken language. Therefore, learners can know the actual words in the speech, the meaning of each word, and how these words map to the meaning in the translation. In order to do this mapping, we do color-matching between the phrases and words in the original script, the transliteration, and the translation.
In the Arabic materials, we include clips from the show “Alice in Wonderland”. This is a popular children show with a version in Modern Standard Arabic. In this show, you can learn the basic Arabic phrases and expressions in a fun context.
Alice in Wonderland video clip with triple subtitle format
Here is a list of all multimedia material in Arabic. In this material, there are Arabic Videos with Subtitles with the triple subtitle format.
Let’s learn Arabic language through Arabic Videos with translation subtitles. It is possible to find Arabic videos with subtitles either in Arabic script or translated into Arabic. In our videos here, we focus on providing videos with both the original spoken content in Arabic, in addition to the transliteration of what is being said in English letters, to help learners who are yet comfortable enough with the Arabic script. The subtitles also include the English translation. In addition, all the three-line subtitles are color-matched, in order to allow the learners to glean the meaning of words and expressions.
videos with Arabic subtitles/transliteration in English letters, and English translation. We will watch a videos from the animation series “Alice in Wonderland أليس في بلاد العجائب”, which are dubbed in Arabic.
Let’s learn Arabic language through Arabic Videos with translation subtitles. It is possible to find Arabic videos with subtitles either in Arabic script or translated into Arabic. In our videos here, we focus on providing videos with both the original spoken content in Arabic, in addition to the transliteration of what is being said in English letters, to help learners who are yet comfortable enough with the Arabic script. The subtitles also include the English translation. In addition, all the three-line subtitles are color-matched, in order to allow the learners to glean the meaning of words and expressions.
videos with Arabic subtitles/transliteration in English letters, and English translation. We will watch a videos from the animation series “Alice in Wonderland أليس في بلاد العجائب”, which are dubbed in Arabic.
This post contains an up-to-date list of Arabic Lessons. Please make sure to bookmark the page and subscribe to get updates with new lessons.
In general, the lessons cover areas in Arabic grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and alphabet. In addition, they include PDFs and Animated Google Slides, quizzes, and more.
In this lesson, we will talk about prepositions in Modern Standard Arabic.
In Modern Standard Arabic, prepositions are very important. Therefore, in this lesson, we will introduce Arabic prepositions with examples. In fact, prepositions can be best understood in context. For example, the preposition ” min مِن” usually means “from”, but it can have different meanings. For instance, the famous expression “min fadlik مِن فَضلِك” means simply “please”.
Let’s start by introducing a list of widely used Arabic prepositions. Then, we will go deeper into each preposition. In addition, we will contrast the use of different prepositions. In the beginning, these are the most widely used Arabic prepositions:
مِنْ، إلَى، عَنْ، عَلَى، فِي، بـ ، لـ ، كـ
Arabic Prepositions – Google Slides
In these slides, we will see more explanation for these prepositions.
Arabic prepositions – example phrases and sentences
مِنْ الَبَيْت min al-bayt From home إِلَى الَمَطَار ilaa al-mataar To the airport عَلَى الأَرْض ‘alaa al-ard On the floor/on earth فِي الحَدِيقَة fee al-hadeeqah In the garden عَنْ المُشكِلَة ‘an al-mushkilah About the problem بِالقَلَم be-l-qalam With the pen مَعَ صَدِيقِي ma’a sadeeqy with my friend لِسَلَامَتِكُم le-salaamatikum For your (pl) safety
The preposition “min مِن”
مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْت؟ min ayna ant? Where are you (m) from? أَنَا مِنْ الهِنْد 🇮🇳 ana min al-hind I am from India نَحْنُ مِنْ نَيْجيريا 🇳🇬 nahnu min Nigeria We are from Nigeria مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتُم؟ min ayna antum? Where are you (pl) from? مِنْ min from
Arabic Expressions with “min مِن”
Expressions with “min مِن” مِنْ فَضْلِك min fadlik Please مِنْ البِدَايَة min al-bidaayah From the beginning مِنْ min from
The preposition “ilaa إلى”
إلَى أَيْنَ تُسَافِر فِي الصَّيْف؟ 🏖 ilaa ayna tusaafir fee as-sayf? Where do you (m) travel in summer? أنَا أُسَافِر إلَى لُبْنَان 🇱🇧 ana usaafir ilaa lubnaan I travel to Lebanon إِلَى ilaa to
إلَى اللِّقَاء ilaa al-liqaa’ Goodbye مِنَ الألِف إلَى اليَاء min al-alif ilaa al-yaa’ From A to Z إلَى النِّهَايَة ilaa an-nihaayah To (till) the end Expressions with “ilaa إلى”
The preposition “‘alaa عَلى”
عَلَى ‘alaa on عَلَى المَائِدَة ‘alaa al-maa’idah On the table The preposition “ ‘alaa عَلَى” can simply mean “on” عَلَى الكُرْسِي ‘alaa al-kursee On the chair
عَلَى الأَقَلّ alaa’ al-aqall At least عَلَى أَيْ حَال alaa’ ayy haal Anyway Expressions with “‘alaa عَلَى” عَلَى ‘alaa on
فِي fee in/at فِي المَغْرِب 🇲🇦 fee al-maghrib In Morocco فِي مِصْر 🇪🇬 fee misr In Egypt The preposition “fee فِي” is used as the English prepositions “in/at”
فِي fee in/at في أكتوبر * fee October In October في الصَّيف fee as-sayf In summer The preposition “fee فِي” can also be used with time
Note that month names differ between Arab countries
مَعَ ma’a with (person) أنَا أَعِيش مَعَ أُسْرَتِي ana a’eesh ma’a usratee I live with my family سَافَرْتُ مَعَ أصْدِقَائِي saafartu ma’a asdiqaa’ee I travelled with my friends
مَعَ السَّلامَة ma’a as-salaamah Goodbye Literally: with safety مَعَ تَحِيَّاتِي ma’a tahiyyaatee Best regards Literally: with my greetings Expressions with “ma’a مَعَ” مَعَ ma’a with (person)
قَرَأتُ كِتَابَاً عَنْ العُلُوم qara’tu kitaaban ‘an al-’uloom I read (past) a book about science عَنْ ‘an about تَكَلَّمَ المُدِير عَنْ المُشْكِلَة takallama al-mudeer ‘an al-mushkilah The manager spoke about the problem
When the preposition “le- لـ” comes before “al- الـ”, it becomes “lel- للـ” لِـ le- to/for البيت 🏠 al-bayt The house لـ البيت ← للبيت lel-bayt To the house
لِـ le- to/for لِلأَسَف lel-asaf unfortunately لِلعِلْم lel-’ilm For information Expressions with “le- لـ”
When the preposition “be- بـ” comes before “al- الـ” , it is pronounced as “bel-” instead of “be- al-” الكتاب al-kitaab The book بـ الكتاب ← بالكتاب bel-kitaab With the book بِـ be- with/by (object)
بِـ be- with/by (object) The preposition “be- بـ” can be used to make adverbs ثِقَة thiqah confidence بِثِقَة be-thiqah confidently
بِـ be- with/by (object) The preposition “be- بـ” can be used to make adverbs أَنْتَ تَتَكَلَّم بِسُرْعَة anta tatakallam be-sor’ah You (m) speak fast مِن فَضْلك تَكَلَّم بِبُطْء min fadlik takallam be-bot’ please speak slowly
The preposition “fee في”
أيْنَ الكَلْب؟ ayna al-kalb? Where is the dog?
الكَلْب فِي السَّيَّارَة al-kalb fee as-sayyaarah The dog is in the car
الكَلْب عَلَى السَّيَّارَة al-kalb ‘alaa as-sayaarah The dog is on the car
The prepositions “ma’a مع” is for people, while “be- بـ” is for objects
أنَا ألْعَب مَعَ أصْدِقَائِي ana al’aab ma’a asdiqaa’ee I am playing with my friends أنَا ألْعَب بِالكُرَة ana al’aab be-l-kurah I am playing with the ball
The prepositions “ilaa إلى” and “le- لـ” can sometimes be used interchangeably
أَنَا أذْهَب إِلَى المَكْتَب ana adh-hab ilaa al-maktab I am going to the office
أَنَا أذْهَب للمَكْتَب ana adh-hab lel-maktab I am going to the office
Arabic tanween is quite important in Modern Standard Arabic. You might have noticed that some important words in Arabic end with an “n” sound, although there is no actual letter noon ن at the end. For example, you can see this in words (shukran – thanks – شكرا) and (ahlan – hello – أهلا). This is because of tanween.
Tanween is a group of diacritics that come at the end of the word, to give the sound of noon /n/. It mainly exists for grammatical reasons.
It occurs at the end of undefined nouns and adjectives. It is combined with fat-hah, kasrah or dammah, which we explained in diacritics lesson #2. When combined with fat-hah, an alif is added before it. Now you should be able to understand and sound out almost all Arabic diacritics, and start to understand the grammatical significance for them.
What’s the function of the tanween? What’s the difference between the three versions?
tanween in Arabic, as applied to the word “lion=asad أسد”
The main function of tanween is to mark the grammatical case of indefinite words. The -un version ـٌ is for words in subject position, or by default. The -an version ـً is for the direct objects, and the -in version is for words after prepositions.
Therefore, tanween is quite important for both Arabic grammar and pronunciation.
In this lesson we will introduce demonstratives in Modern Standard Arabic. Demonstratives are words such as “this”, “that”, “these”, “those” in English. Specifically, we will learn the different demonstratives, and how to build simple phrases and sentences with them.
The main demonstratives in Modern Standard Arabic are the following:
Our lesson today is about Arabic sun and moon letters, which are important for pronouncing and understanding Arabic words. In Lesson # 3, we have seen how to use the article al- before words to make them definite, such as “the” in English. However, since al- becomes part of the word, its pronunciation sometimes changes according to the first letter of the word.
This pronunciation can change by removing the “L” sound from al-, and doubling the sound of the next letter, using shaddah, which we learned in Lesson # 2.
Example: al-nahr (the river) >> an-nahr
When does this happen? It happens when the first letter of the word belongs to a group of letters called al-huroof ash-shamseyyah (sun letters). However, if the first letter is from the other group (al-huroof al-qamareyyah), al- is pronounced normally.
In this lesson, we will see which letters are sun letters and which are moon letters, and we will show an example sentence for a word beginning with each letter, together with al- .
List of sun and moon letters in Arabic
A phrase for memorizing moon letters:
ابغ حجك وخف عقيمه
(roughly meaning “pursue your pilgrimage, and be concerned about it being futile”)
