Arabic on Arshad Siddiqui

Grammar Terminology

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Arabic Grammar Terms and Structure #

This section introduces essential Arabic Grammar (نحو عربي) terms, grouped into clear categories. Each term is listed with its Arabic equivalent and a concise explanation.

🟦 Sentence Structure #

English Term	Arabic Term	Explanation
Verbal Sentence	جُمْلَة فِعْلِيَّة	A sentence beginning with a verb. Structure: Verb → Subject → Object.
Nominal Sentence	جُمْلَة اِسْمِيَّة	A sentence beginning with a noun. Structure: Subject (مبتدأ) → Predicate (خبر).
Subject	مُبْتَدَأٌ	The topic of a nominal sentence.
Predicate	خَبَرٌ	What is said about the subject in a nominal sentence.
Object	مَفْعُولٌ بِهِ	The noun receiving the action in a verbal sentence.

🟨 Parts of Speech #

English Term	Arabic Term	Explanation
Noun	اِسْمٌ	A word that refers to a person, place, thing, or idea.
Verb	فِعْلٌ	A word that shows an action or occurrence.
Adjective	صِفَةٌ	Describes a noun; matches in gender, number, and case.
Adverb	ظَرْفٌ	Modifies a verb or adjective (e.g., quickly, yesterday).
Pronoun	ضَمِيرٌ	Replaces a noun (e.g., he, she, it, we).
Active Participle	اِسْمُ الْفَاعِلِ	Describes the doer of an action (e.g., كَاتِب = writer).
Passive Participle	اِسْمُ الْمَفْعُولِ	Describes the one who the action is done to (e.g., مَكْتُوب = written).

🟩 Verb Tenses and Moods #

English Term	Arabic Term	Explanation
Past Tense	الْمَاضِي	Indicates a completed action.
Present Tense	الْمُضَارِعُ	Indicates an ongoing or habitual action.
Imperative / Command	الْأَمْرُ	Used to give orders or requests.
Jussive Mood	الْمَجْزُومُ	Used after particles like lam (لَم) or li (لِـ); removes final vowel.
Active Voice	مَعْرُوفٌ	The subject performs the action.
Passive Voice	مَجْهُولٌ	The action is done to the subject.

🟥 Cases and Declension #

English Term	Arabic Term	Explanation
Nominative Case	الْمَرْفُوعُ	Typically for subjects; marked with ḍammah (ـُ).
Accusative Case	الْمَنْصُوبُ	For objects or adverbs; marked with fatḥah (ـَ).
Genitive Case	الْمَجْرُورُ	Used after prepositions or in iḍāfah; marked with kasrah (ـِ).
Declinable Noun	مُعْرَبٌ	A noun whose ending changes based on grammatical position.
Fully Declinable	مُنْصَرِفٌ	Accepts all case endings and tanwīn.
Partially Declinable	غَيْرُ مُنْصَرِفٍ	Does not take tanwīn and is limited in case endings.
Indeclinable Noun	مَبْنِيٌّ	A noun whose form remains fixed.

🟪 Possession (Iḍāfah) #

English Term	Arabic Term	Explanation
Possessed Word	مُضَافٌ	The item owned; the first part of an iḍāfah phrase.
Possessor (of the item)	مُضَافٌ إِلَيْهِ	The owner; always in the genitive case.

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Verbs

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Verbs in Arabic ( فِعْلٌ ) #

Arabic	English
أَجَابَ – يُجِيبُ – إِجابَةٌ	answer
وَصَلَ – يَصِلُ – وُصُولٌ	arrive
قَدِمَ – يَقْدَمُ – قُدُومٌ	arrive
سَأَلَ – يَسْأَلُ – سُؤَالٌ	ask
حَاوَلَ – يُحَاوِلُ – مُحَاوَلَةٌ	attempt
كَانَ – يَكُونُ – كَوْنٌ	be
اِسْتَطَاعَ – يَسْتَطِيعُ – اِسْتِطَاعَةٌ	be able
وُلِدَ – يُولَدُ – وِلَادَةٌ	be born
أَصْبَحَ – يُصْبِحُ – إِصْبَاحٌ	become
بَدَأَ – يَبْدَأُ – بَدْءٌ	begin
اِعْتَقَدَ – يَعْتَقِدُ – اِعْتِقَادٌ	believe
أَحْضَرَ – يُحْضِرُ – إِحْضَارٌ	bring
اِشْتَرَى – يَشْتَرِي – شِرَاءٌ	buy
حَمَلَ – يَحْمِلُ – حَمْلٌ	carry
نَظَّفَ – يُنَظِّفُ – تَنْظِيفٌ	clean
جَاءَ – يَجِيءُ – جِيئَةٌ	come
أَتَى – يَأْتِي – إِتْيَانٌ	come
تَحَدَّثَ – يَتَحَدَّثُ – تَحَدُّثٌ	converse
فَعَلَ – يَفْعَلُ – فِعْلٌ	do
شَرِبَ – يَشْرَبُ – شُرْبٌ	drink
أَكَلَ – يَأْكُلُ – أَكْلٌ	eat
أُكِلَ – يُؤْكَلُ – أَكْلٌ	eat
اِنْتَهَى – يَنْتَهِي – اِنْتِهَاءٌ	end
دَخَلَ – يَدْخُلُ – دُخُولٌ	enter
فَشِلَ – يَفْشَلُ – فَشَلٌ	fail
وَقَعَ – يَقَعُ – وُقُوعٌ	fall
أَنْهَى – يُنْهِي – إِنْهَاءٌ	finish
نَسِيَ – يَنْسَى – نِسْيَانٌ	forget
أُعْطِيَ – يُعْطِي – إِعْطَاءٌ	give
ذَهَبَ – يَذْهَبُ – ذَهَابٌ	go
خَرَجَ – يَخْرُجُ – خُرُوجٌ	go out
تَخَرَّجَ – يَتَخَرَّجُ – تَخَرُّجٌ	graduate
حَدَثَ – يَحْدُثُ – حُدُوثٌ	happen
سَمِعَ – يَسْمَعُ – سَمْعٌ	hear
قَتَلَ – يَقْتُلُ – قَتْلٌ	kill
تَعَلَّمَ – يَتَعَلَّمُ – تَعَلُّمٌ	learn
اِسْتَمَعَ – يَسْتَمِعُ – اِسْتِمَاعٌ	listen
نَظَرَ – يَنْظُرُ – نَظَرٌ	look at
أَحَبَّ – يُحِبُّ – حُبٌّ	love
اِحْتَاجَ – يَحْتَاجُ – اِحْتِيَاجٌ	need
فَتَحَ – يَفْتَحُ – فَتْحٌ	open
تَوَفِّيَ – يُتَوَفَّى – وَفَاةٌ	pass away
لَعِبَ – يَلْعَبُ – لَعِبٌ	play
ثَبَتَ – يَثْبُتُ – ثَبَاتٌ	prove
قَرَأَ – يَقْرَأُ – قِرَاءَةٌ	read
اِسْتَلَمَ – يَسْتَلِمُ – اِسْتِلَامٌ	receive
تَذَكَّرَ – يَتَذَكَّرُ – تَذَكُّرٌ	remember
رَجَعَ – يَرْجِعُ – رُجُوعٌ	return
رَكِبَ – يَرْكَبُ – رُكُوبٌ	ride
قَامَ – يَقُومُ – قِيَامٌ	rise
جَرَى – يَجْرِي – جَرْيٌ	run
قَالَ – يَقُولُ – قَوْلٌ	say
بَحَثَ – يَبْحَثُ – بَحْثٌ	search for
رَأَى – يَرَى – رُؤْيَةٌ	see
بَاعَ – يَبِيعُ – بَيْعٌ	sell
أَرْسَلَ – يُرْسِلُ – إِرْسَالٌ	send
جَلَسَ – يَجْلِسُ – جُلُوسٌ	sit
نَامَ – يَنَامُ – نَوْمٌ	sleep
تَكَلَّمَ – يَتَكَلَّمُ – كَلَامٌ	speak
تَكَلَّمَ – يَتَكَلَّمُ – تَكَلُّمٌ	speak
اِنْطَلَقَ – يَنْطَلِقُ – اِنْطِلَاقٌ	start
وَقَفَ – يَقِفُ – وُقُوفٌ	stop
نَجَحَ – يَنْجَحُ – نَجَاحٌ	succeed
أَخَذَ – يَأْخُذُ – أَخْذٌ	take
تَرْجَمَ – يُتَرْجِمُ – تَرْجَمَةٌ	translate
فَهِمَ – يَفْهَمُ – فَهْمٌ	understand
اِسْتَعْمَلَ – يَسْتَعْمِلُ – اِسْتِعْمَالٌ	use
اِسْتَخْدَمَ – يَسْتَخْدِمُ – اِسْتِخْدَامٌ	use
زَارَ – يَزُورُ – زِيَارَةٌ	visit
اِنْتَظَرَ – يَنْتَظِرُ – اِنْتِظَارٌ	wait
اِسْتَيْقَظَ – يَسْتَيْقِظُ – اِسْتِيقَاظٌ	wake up
أَرادَ – يُرِيدُ – إِرادَةٌ	want
شَاهَدَ – يُشَاهِدُ – مُشَاهَدَةٌ	watch
فَازَ – يَفُوزُ – فَوْزٌ	win
كَتَبَ – يَكْتُبُ – كِتَابَةٌ	write

Home | Verb

Sentence Structure

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Sentence Structure #

Overview of Arabic sentence types:

Nominal (جملة اسمية)
Verbal (جملة فعلية)

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Verbs from the Qur'an

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Most Frequent Arabic Verbs in the Qur’an #

Word	Meaning	Frequency	Root
قَالَ	he said	1618	ق-و-ل
كَانَ	he was	1358	ك-و-ن
ءَامَنَ	he believed	537	أ-م-ن
عَلِمَ	he knew	382	ع-ل-م
جَعَلَ	he made	340	ج-ع-ل
كَفَرَ	he disbelieved	289	ك-ف-ر
جَاءَ	he came	278	ج-ي-ء
عَمِلَ	he did/worked	276	ع-م-ل
آتَى	he gave	271	أ-ت-ي
رَأَى	he saw	271	ر-أ-ي
أَتَى	he came	264	أ-ت-ي
شَاءَ	he willed	236	ش-ي-ء
خَلَقَ	he created	184	خ-ل-ق
أَنزَلَ	he sent down	183	ن-ز-ل
كَذَّبَ	he denied	176	ك-ذ-ب
دَعَا	he called	170	د-ع-و
ٱتَّقَىٰ	he feared (God)	166	و-ق-ي
هَدَى	he guided	144	ه-د-ي
أَرَادَ	he intended	139	ر-و-د
ٱتَّبَعَ	he followed	136	ت-ب-ع
أَرْسَلَ	he sent	130	ر-س-ل
أَخَذَ	he took	127	أ-خ-ذ
ٱتَّخَذَ	he took (as)	124	أ-خ-ذ
عَبَدَ	he worshipped	122	ع-ب-د
ظَلَمَ	he wronged	110	ظ-ل-م
سَأَلَ	he asked	106	س-أ-ل
وَجَدَ	he found	106	و-ج-د
أَخْرَجَ	he brought out	99	خ-ر-ج
أَكَلَ	he ate	93	أ-ك-ل
لَيْسَ	is not	89	ل-ي-س
فَعَلَ	he did	88	ف-ع-ل
نَظَرَ	he looked	87	ن-ظ-ر
ذَكَرَ	he remembered	84	ذ-ك-ر
خَافَ	he feared	83	خ-و-ف
قَتَلَ	he killed	83	ق-ت-ل
رَجَعَ	he returned	79	ر-ج-ع
سَمِعَ	he heard	78	س-م-ع
تَوَلَّىٰ	he turned away	78	و-ل-ي
أَمَرَ	he commanded	77	أ-م-ر
دَخَلَ	he entered	76	د-خ-ل
جَزَىٰ	he rewarded	73	ج-ز-ي
أَطَاعَ	he obeyed	72	ط-و-ع
أَوْحَىٰ	he revealed	72	و-ح-ي
أَشْرَكَ	he associated	71	ش-ر-ك
أَلْقَىٰ	he cast/threw	71	ل-ق-ي
وَعَدَ	he promised	70	و-ع-د
أَنفَقَ	he spent	68	ن-ف-ق
غَفَرَ	he forgave	65	غ-ف-ر
أَحَبَّ	he loved	64	ح-ب-ب
أَصَابَ	he afflicted	64	ص-و-ب
أَضَلَّ	he misled	64	ض-ل-ل
تَابَ	he repented	63	ت-و-ب
كَسَبَ	he earned	62	ك-س-ب
نَزَّلَ	he sent down	62	ن-ز-ل
تَلَىٰ	he recited	61	ت-ل-و
رَزَقَ	he provided	61	ر-ز-ق
قَضَىٰ	he decreed	59	ق-ض-ي
نَصَرَ	he helped	59	ن-ص-ر
صَبَرَ	he was patient	58	ص-ب-ر
جَرَىٰ	it flowed	57	ج-ر-ي
مَسَّ	he touched	56	م-س-س
ضَرَبَ	he struck	55	ض-ر-ب
قَاتَلَ	he fought	54	ق-ت-ل
أَقَامَ	he established	54	ق-و-م
خَرَجَ	he went out	53	خ-ر-ج
ضَلَّ	he went astray	53	ض-ل-ل
بَعَثَ	he raised	52	ب-ع-ث
أَحْيَا	he gave life	51	ح-ي-ي
تَذَكَّرَ	he remembered	51	ذ-ك-ر
أَهْلَكَ	he destroyed	51	ه-ل-ك
ٱفْتَرَىٰ	he fabricated	50	ف-ر-ي

Home | Verb

Verb Patterns

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0100

Verb Patterns #

Forms I–V #

Each verb entry follows the structure below:

✅ Form # – Transitivity Status

•	•	•
Active Participle	Present	Past
اِسْم الْفَاعِل	الْمُضَارِع	الْمَاضِي
Passive Participle	Passive Present	Passive Past
اِسْم الْمَفْعُول	الْمَبْنِي لِلْمَجْهُول (مُضَارِع)	الْمَبْنِي لِلْمَجْهُول (مَاضِي)
Negative Imperative	Imperative	Verbal Noun
نَهْي	أَمْر	الْمَصْدَر

🔠 Three Vowel Variants on Third Root Letter (in Present Tense) #

✅ Form I – Transitive (Fatha) #

فَتَحَ – يَفْتَحُ – فَاتِح
فُتِحَ – يُفْتَحُ – مَفْتُوح
فَتْح – اِفْتَحْ – لَا تَفْتَحْ
🔁 He opened

Gender

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Gender #

Masculine and feminine nouns and agreement rules.

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10 Verb Forms

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

10 Arabic Verb Forms (الأَوْزَان العَشَرَة) #

In Arabic, most verbs come from a set of three root letters. These roots can appear in 10 common patterns (called forms). Each form gives the root a slightly different meaning. Learning these helps you understand if something is passive, intensive, repeated, reciprocal, or caused by someone.

🔹 Form I – ٱلْفِعْلُ ٱلثُّلَاثِيّ ٱلْمُجَرَّد (faʿala) #

Pattern: فَعَلَ / يَفْعَلُ / فِعْلٌ
Meaning: The basic/root meaning of the verb
Example: كَتَبَ – He wrote

Imperative

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Imperative Form in Arabic (الأمر) #

Rules for Regular Verbs #

Middle letter with fatḥa (ـَـ) or kasra (ـِـ) → Imperative starts with إِ
Middle letter with ḍamma (ـُـ) → Imperative starts with أُ

Examples:

Verb (Past)	Present (You masc.)	Imperative (You masc.)	Notes
كَتَبَ	أَنتَ تَكْتُبُ	أُكْتُبْ	ḍamma → أُ
جَلَسَ	أَنتَ تَجْلِسُ	إِجْلِسْ	kasra → إِ
قَرَأَ	أَنتَ تَقْرَأُ	إِقْرَأْ	fatḥa → إِ
رَكِبَ	أَنتَ تَرْكَبُ	إِرْكَبْ	fatḥa → إِ

Plural Forms of رَكِبَ:

Numbers

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Numbers (الأَعْدَاد) #

Arabic numerals and counting rules.

#

1–10 (الأَعْدَاد الأَسَاسِيَّة) #

Number	Arabic Numeral	Arabic	Transliteration
1	١	وَاحِد	wāḥid
2	٢	اِثْنَان	ithnān
3	٣	ثَلَاثَة	thalātha
4	٤	أَرْبَعَة	arbaʿa
5	٥	خَمْسَة	khamsa
6	٦	سِتَّة	sitta
7	٧	سَبْعَة	sabʿa
8	٨	ثَمَانِيَة	thamāniya
9	٩	تِسْعَة	tisʿa
10	١٠	عَشَرَة	ʿashara

11–19 (أَحَدَ عَشَرَ إِلَى تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ) #

Numbers 11–19 are special:

Arabic

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 10:55:52 +0100

Arabic Language #

Arabic is a beautiful language with deep roots and rich meaning. These are my notes as I learn Arabic — vocabulary, grammar, and practice.

Home

Noun: Dual

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Noun: Dual #

The dual form for:

Nouns
Adjectives, and
Verbs (used for two of something)

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Directions

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0100

Directions (اتجاهات) #

Nouns that describe spatial or geographical directions الاتجاهات (al-ittiǧāhāt) such as north, south, east, west, right, and left.

They are not true adverbs, but they are often used in adverbial expressions with prepositions like:

إِلَى (to / towards)
مِنْ (from)
فِي (in)
نَحْوَ (towards)

Main Directions (الاتجاهات الرئيسية) #

Arabic	Transliteration	Meaning	Example
شَمَال	shamāl	north	ذَهَبَ إِلى الشَّمَالِ – He went to the north.
جَنُوب	janūb	south	سَافَرَ إِلى الجَنُوبِ – He travelled to the south.
شَرْق	sharq	east	الشَّمْسُ تَطْلُعُ مِنَ الشَّرْقِ – The sun rises from the east.
غَرْب	gharb	west	تَغْرُبُ فِي الغَرْبِ – It sets in the west.

%% Mermaid flowchart diagram — compass
flowchart TB
 style CENTER fill:#fff,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
 N[شَمَال<br/>North] -->|↑| CENTER((●))
 S[جَنُوب<br/>South] -->|↓| CENTER
 W[غَرْب<br/>West] -->|←| CENTER
 E[شَرْق<br/>East] -->|→| CENTER
 CENTER --> R[يَمِين<br/>Right]
 CENTER --> L[يَسَار<br/>Left]

 classDef dir fill:#f2f8ff,stroke:#2b6cb0;
 class N,S,W,E,R,L dir;

↔️ Horizontal Directions (الاتجاهات الجانبية) #

Arabic	Transliteration	Meaning	Example
يَمِين	yamīn	right	الجَانِبُ اليَمِين – The right side
يَسَار / شِمَال	yasār / shimāl	left	الجَانِبُ اليَسَار – The left side

💡 Note: Both يَسَار and شِمَال mean “left,” though يَسَار is more common in Modern Standard Arabic.

Nouns: Plurals

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Nouns: Plurals (الجمع) #

Arabic plurals fall into two main types:
Sound (regular) plurals and Broken (irregular) plurals.

Sound Plurals (الجمع السالم) #

A sound plural keeps the singular word intact and adds a regular ending.
The root structure does not change.

1. Masculine Sound Plural (جمع المذكر السالم) #

Formed by adding:

ونَ in the nominative (مرفوع)
ينَ in the accusative/genitive (منصوب / مجرور)

Singular	Plural (Nom.)	Plural (Acc./Gen.)	Meaning
مُعَلِّم	مُعَلِّمُونَ	مُعَلِّمِينَ	teacher(s)
مُهَنْدِس	مُهَنْدِسُونَ	مُهَنْدِسِينَ	engineer(s)
مُسْلِم	مُسْلِمُونَ	مُسْلِمِينَ	Muslim(s)

2. Feminine Sound Plural (جمع المؤنث السالم) #

Formed by changing ة → ات or adding ات.

Pronouns: Demonstrative

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Demonstrative Pronouns (أسماء الإشارة) #

The demonstrative pronoun (اِسْم الإشَارَة ism al-ishārah) is a word used to point to something specific. It always comes before the noun it refers to and makes that noun definite.

Its role is to indicate whether the thing being pointed to is:

Singular, Dual (المُثنّى), or Plural
Masculine or Feminine
Near (قريب) or Far (بعيد)

Demonstrative Pronouns (أسماء الإشارة) #

Number	Human / Non-human	Near (قريب)	Far (بعيد)
Singular	Masculine	هٰذَا	ذٰلِكَ
Singular	Feminine	هٰذِهِ	تِلْكَ
Plural	Human (masc/fem)	هٰؤُلَاءِ	أُولٰئِكَ
Plural	Non-human (all)	هٰذِهِ (fem. sg.)	تِلْكَ (fem. sg.)

Mnemonic: #

Think of هٰذَا / هٰذِهِ as “this” (close),
and ذٰلِكَ / تِلْكَ as “that” (far).

For plurals:

Idafah - Possessive Construction

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Iḍāfah (الإضافة) – The Possessive Construction #

In Arabic, الإضافة (Idāfah) is the structure used to link two nouns together in a relationship of possession or description.
It often means “the X of Y” in English.

The first noun is the مُضَاف (the possessed thing).
The second noun is the مُضَاف إِلَيْهِ (the possessor / owner).

Example:

كِتَابُ الطَّالِبِ → the student’s book (book of the student)

Structure (Two-Noun Idāfah) #

Arabic Term	Meaning	Rules
المُضَاف	the possessed thing	• Always first • Never takes ال or tanwīn
المُضَاف إِلَيْهِ	the possessor	• Always last • Always genitive (مَجْرُور) with kasrah • Can be definite or indefinite

Rules of Iḍāfah #

The first noun (مُضَاف) cannot take:

Rules

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Arabic Grammar Rules (قَوَاعِد اللُّغَة العَرَبِيَّة) #

Notes from my lectures.

A list of useful Arabic grammar rules compiled for reference and memorisation.

#	Rule / Description
1	Negative verbs use the present tense — there’s no past tense negative form.
2	Possessive suffixes are used with prepositions and nouns to show ownership.
3	Verbs on the pattern أَفْعَلَ usually mean “helping someone do the action.”
4	Prefix مـ indicates a place or tool (e.g. كَتَبَ → مَكْتَب).
5	If a weak verb starts with و, the weak letter is dropped in present tense (e.g. وَعَدَ → يَعِدُ).
6	كَانَ / كُنْتُ is used for nominal sentences or past continuous (e.g. was reading).
7	مَعَ – with people; بِـ – with tools or means.
8	لَيْسَ negates adjectives; it has present meaning but is conjugated as past.
9	Active participle (اسم الفاعل) shows the one doing the action (e.g. كَاتِب – writer).
10	Adjective agreement: noun before adjective; both match in definiteness (ال or no ال).
11	الإِضَافَة (Idāfah): “the … of …” structure (e.g. كِتَابُ الطَّالِبِ).
12	Number rules: 11–19 no “و”; 21+ use “و” between unit and ten (e.g. خمسة وعشرون).
13	Imperative (الأمر): derived from present tense; e.g. يَكْتُبُ → اُكْتُبْ (write!).
14	Comparative/Superlative (اسم التفضيل): pattern أَفْعَلُ (كَبِير → أَكْبَر).
15	Prepositions (من، إلى، عن، على، في، بـ، لـ، كـ) make the following noun kasrah-ending (ـِ).
16	أنْ is used before verbs; أنَّ before nouns.
17	Spend: أَنْفَقَ (money), قَضَى / أَمْضَى (time).
18	على + noun → on something; على أن + verb → that something happens.
19	Because: لِأَنَّ (because), بِسَبَبِ (due to).
20	Verb Patterns: كَسَرَ – كَاسِر – مَكْسُور (verb, active participle, passive participle).
21	Conditional sentences: لو … لَـ (past hypothetical), لو … فَـ (future condition).
22	If verb precedes noun, verb remains in “he” form (e.g. يَزُورُنَا جَدِّي).
23	Diminutive (التَّصْغِير): add يّ with shadda to show smallness/affection — بَحْر → بُحَيْرَة (sea → lake), كِتَاب → كُتَيِّب (book → small book).

Home | Arabic

Vocabulary - Conversation

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Arabic Conversation Starters #

A collection of useful Arabic phrases to help with conversation, daily interaction, and travel situations.

Greetings & Starting #

Show Greetings

كَيْفَ حَالُكَ؟
How are you?
أَنَا بِخَيْرٍ مَا دَامَ أَحِبَّائِي بِخَيْرٍ
I am well as long as my loved ones (you) are well.
سَعِيدٌ بِلِقَائِكَ!
Nice to meet you!
مَا ٱسْمُكَ؟
What is your name?
مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتَ؟
Where are you from?

Starting or Joining a Conversation #

هَلْ تَسْمَحُ لِي بِمُحَادَثَتِكَ؟
May I talk to you?

Vocabulary - Proverbs & Idioms

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Proverbs and Idioms #

الأَمْثَال وَالتَّعَابِير العَرَبِيَّة

Arabic uses many short expressions that carry deep meanings.
Some are general proverbs, while others are Islamic expressions commonly used in daily speech.

Part 1: General Arabic Proverbs & Idioms #

These are cultural expressions used in everyday conversation.

الصَّبْرُ مِفْتَاحُ الفَرَج
Patience is the key to relief.
Used when encouraging someone to stay patient during difficulty.

مَنْ جَدَّ وَجَد
Whoever strives, succeeds.
Used to motivate effort and hard work.

كُلُّ تَأْخِيرٍ فِيهِ خَيْر
Every delay has good in it.
Said when something doesn’t happen as expected.

اليَوْمَ لَكَ وَغَدًا عَلَيْكَ
Today it’s for you, tomorrow against you.
Life changes; don’t be arrogant or hopeless.

عَلَى قَدِّ لِحَافِكَ مَدَّ رِجْلَيْكَ
Stretch your legs according to your blanket.
Live within your means.

لِكُلِّ مُجْتَهِدٍ نَصِيب
Everyone who strives gets a share.
Effort is always rewarded in some way.

دَقَّة بِدَقَّة
Tit for tat / action for action.
Used when actions are repaid in kind.

لَا نَاقَةَ لِي فِيهَا وَلَا جَمَل
I have neither a camel nor a she-camel in it.
Meaning: It has nothing to do with me.

ضَرْبُ عُصْفُورَيْنِ بِحَجَرٍ وَاحِد
To kill two birds with one stone.
Achieving two goals with one action.

الطُّيُورُ عَلَى أَشْكَالِهَا تَقَع
Birds of a feather flock together.
People with similar traits stick together.

القِرْدُ بِعَيْنِ أُمِّهِ غَزَال
A monkey is a gazelle in his mother’s eyes.
Parents see their children as perfect.

أَنَا فِي وَادٍ وَأَنْتَ فِي وَادٍ
I am in a valley and you are in a valley.
We are not on the same wavelength.

Part 2: Islamic Expressions & Proverbs #

These are phrases rooted in Islamic belief and commonly used by Muslims.

Vocabulary - Similar Words

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Similar Arabic Words – Meanings and Nuances #

Below are groups of similar or confusing Arabic words, with short explanations, examples, and English translations.

Coming and Arriving #

جاء – أتى – وصل #

جَاءَ
Meaning: he came (general coming, often toward the speaker).
Example:
جَاءَ الطَّالِبُ إِلَى المَدْرَسَةِ.
The student came to the school.
أَتَى
Meaning: he came / he brought / he performed (more formal, often Qur’anic).
Example:
أَتَى الرَّجُلُ مِنَ البَيْتِ.
The man came from the house.

Arabic on Arshad Siddiqui

Grammar Terminology

Arabic Grammar Terms and Structure #

🟦 Sentence Structure #

🟨 Parts of Speech #

🟩 Verb Tenses and Moods #

🟥 Cases and Declension #

🟪 Possession (Iḍāfah) #

Verbs

Verbs in Arabic ( فِعْلٌ ) #

Sentence Structure

Sentence Structure #

Verbs from the Qur'an

Most Frequent Arabic Verbs in the Qur’an #

Verb Patterns

Verb Patterns #

Forms I–V #

🔠 Three Vowel Variants on Third Root Letter (in Present Tense) #

✅ Form I – Transitive (Fatha) #

Gender

Gender #

10 Verb Forms

10 Arabic Verb Forms (الأَوْزَان العَشَرَة) #

🔹 Form I – ٱلْفِعْلُ ٱلثُّلَاثِيّ ٱلْمُجَرَّد (faʿala) #

Imperative

Imperative Form in Arabic (الأمر) #

Rules for Regular Verbs #

Numbers

Numbers (الأَعْدَاد) #

#

1–10 (الأَعْدَاد الأَسَاسِيَّة) #

11–19 (أَحَدَ عَشَرَ إِلَى تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ) #

Arabic

Arabic Language #

Noun: Dual

Noun: Dual #

Directions

Directions (اتجاهات) #

Main Directions (الاتجاهات الرئيسية) #

↔️ Horizontal Directions (الاتجاهات الجانبية) #

Nouns: Plurals

Nouns: Plurals (الجمع) #

Sound Plurals (الجمع السالم) #

1. Masculine Sound Plural (جمع المذكر السالم) #

2. Feminine Sound Plural (جمع المؤنث السالم) #

Pronouns: Demonstrative

Demonstrative Pronouns (أسماء الإشارة) #

Demonstrative Pronouns (أسماء الإشارة) #

Mnemonic: #

Idafah - Possessive Construction

Iḍāfah (الإضافة) – The Possessive Construction #

Structure (Two-Noun Idāfah) #

Rules of Iḍāfah #

Rules

Arabic Grammar Rules (قَوَاعِد اللُّغَة العَرَبِيَّة) #

Vocabulary - Conversation

Arabic Conversation Starters #

Greetings & Starting #

Starting or Joining a Conversation #

Vocabulary - Proverbs & Idioms

Proverbs and Idioms #

Part 1: General Arabic Proverbs & Idioms #

Part 2: Islamic Expressions & Proverbs #

Vocabulary - Similar Words

Similar Arabic Words – Meanings and Nuances #

Coming and Arriving #

جاء – أتى – وصل #