Arabic Grammar Lessons

7/30/2019 Arabic Grammar Lessons

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Arabic grammar lessonsHere are some pages I put together on Arabic grammar. Most of this information focuses on Egyptian Arabic, butsome material on standard Arabic is also included. I've used EA to indicate that a lesson covers Egyptian Arabicand MSA to indicate that a lesson covers (modern) standard Arabic.

Articles & the sun and moon letters EA - information on the definite article, its use, and the "sun and moon letters

(rules of assimilation of the -l of the definite article).Nouns EA - information on how to inflect nouns for gender and number (make them feminine, dual, and plural).

Adjectives EA - definition of what adjectives are and how to inflect them for gender and number. A list ofcommon, basic adjectives. Information on the rules of adjective agreement with nouns, and how to form nisbaadjectives.

Comparative and superlative adjectives EA - how to form the "elative" adjective forms that are used forcomparisons. How to make both comparative and superlative statements.

Adverbs EA - lists of common adverbs, arranged by type (adverbs of time, place, degree, and manner).

Subject and object pronouns EA MSA - tables of the subject and object pronouns in Arabic.

Possessive pronouns EA MSA - tables of the possessive pronouns, with notes on usage and examples.

Demonstrative and relative pronouns EA MSA - tables of the demonstrative and relative pronouns, with examplesof usage.

The genitive construct and other ways to express possession EA - information on the construct that indicatepossession, and on prepositions that can also be used for the same purpose.

Introduction to the Arabic sentence EA MSA - the basic types of Arabic sentences, definition of subject andpredicate, and how to negate sentences.

Asking questions EA MSA - information on how to ask questions in Arabic, covering questions using interrogativwords (who, what, when, where, how, why, etc.), yes/no questions, and questions posing alternatives to choosefrom.

The verb forms MSA - information on the different verb forms and their associated meanings, and a table of all thverb forms including their perfect/imperfect conjugations, active/passive participles, and verbal nouns.

Verb conjugations EA MSA - information on the different types of sound and weak verbs, and conjugation tablesfor verbs of each type.

Verb tenses EA - information on the past, simple present, present continuous, and future tenses: how to use themand negate them, with examples.

Modals EA MSA - information on modals, including examples of usage.

The imperative EA - how to form and negate commands, including tables showing the steps to do this andexamples.
http://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_articles.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_nouns.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_adj.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_adjcomp.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_adv.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_pronouns.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_pronouns_poss.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_pronouns_demr.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_idafa.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_intro.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_question.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_vforms.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_tenses.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_modals.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_command.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_articles.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_nouns.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_adjcomp.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_adv.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_pronouns.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_pronouns_poss.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_pronouns_demr.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_idafa.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_intro.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_question.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_vforms.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_tenses.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_modals.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_command.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_adj.html


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The active participle EA - the usage of the active participle, including examples, how to derive the active participfrom verbs, and a table of commonly-used active participles.

The passive participle EA - the usage of the passive participle, including examples and how to derive the passiveparticiple from verbs.

Conditional statements EA - how to form possible and impossible conditional statements, including lots ofexamples.

Numbers EA - the numbers from 0 to 1 billion, information on how to read out long numbers, and noun-numberconstructions.

Case endings MSA - information on the nominative, genitive, and accusative cases: when and how to use them,with examples.

kaana, inna, and Zanna and their sisters MSA - information on these verbs, which shift part of the sentence they'rein to the accusative case; includes examples.
http://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_act.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_pass.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_cond.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_numbers.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_cases.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_nawaasix.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_act.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_pass.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_cond.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_numbers.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_cases.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_nawaasix.html


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Articles and the sun and moon letters in Egyptian Arabic

Articles

Definite articles

A definite article "the," in English specifies something in particular, usually something that has already beementioned, as opposed to something general (the book, as opposed to any book). In Arabic, there is a definitearticle ( -il, "the") that is invariable; it is used for singular and plural, masculine and feminine nouns.

(oft il-walad illi saakin gambi)I saw the boy who lives next to me.

Note: While English doesn't use articles to refer to generic nouns or general concepts, Arabic uses the definitearticle in these instances.

(baHebb il-aflaam il-agnabiyya)I like foreign films (lit. the foreign films, since we're referring to foreign films in general)

(is-salaam aHsan min il-Harb)Peace is better than war (lit. the peace, the war)

Indefinite articles

An indefinite article refers to non-specific/non-particular nouns. English has two definite article, "a" and "an."Arabic has no indefinite article. So while we would say "He is an engineer" or "She is a teacher" in English, inArabic we would say:

(howwa mohandis)

He is an engineer (lit. He engineer)

(heyya mudarrisa)She is a teacher (lit. She teacher)

Note: Arabic does not use a present-tense form of "to be."


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Sun and moon letters

Sun letters

If a word begins with one of the "sun letters" ( ), and is definite, the "l" of the definite article isassimilated into the following consonant. So instead of pronouncing as "il-ams," you say "i-ams."

(t) (it-taman) the price

(T) (iT-Taalib) the student(d) (id-duniya) the world

(D) (iD-Deif) the guest

(s) (is-sitt) the woman(S) (iS-Seif) summer

() (i-erka) the company

(z) (iz-zeit) oil(Z) (iZ-Zarf) the envelope

() (the French "j") (i-akitta) the jacket

(n) (in-nuur) the light(r) (ir-raagil) the man

In Egyptian Arabic, there are two more letters that may or may not be assimilated:(g) (ig-gamal or il-gamal) the camel

(k) (ik-kitaab or il-kitaab) the book

Moon letters

With "moon letters" ( ), however, the definite article is not assimilated into the following letter

.(a) (il-ax) the brother

(il-'ahwa) the coffee

(b) (il-baab) the door(H) (il-Hafla) the party(x) (il-xoDaar) vegetables

)3 ) (il-3arabiyya) the car() (il-ada) lunch(f) (il-fundu') the hotel(q) (il-qariya) the village

(m) (il-mayya) the water(w) (il-waadi) the valley(h) (il-hidiyya) the present(y) (il-yunaan) Greece


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Nouns in Egyptian Arabic

Nouns: genderNouns are the names of things, whether objects, people, or places. Nouns in Arabic, both human and non-human,are either masculine or feminine. Usually, if a (singular) noun ends in a ta marbuuTa ( , pronounced -a), it isfeminine, and if it doesn't end in a ta marbuuTa, it's masculine.

(beit) masculine nounhouse

(a''a) feminine nounapartment

However, there are exceptions. All of these words are feminine, even though they don't end in a ta marbuuTa:(naar) fire(sama) sky

(arD) land/earth

(ams) sun

(riiH) wind

)3 ein) eye

(iid) hand(ruuH) soul

(Harb) war

Nouns that can refer to both men and women (like job titles) can be made feminine with the addition of the suffix(-a).

Masculine Feminine

teacher (mudarris) (mudarrisa)engineer (mohandis) (mohandisa)

actor (mumassil) (mumassila)

artist (fannaan) (fannaana)

Nouns: number

Dual nouns

In Arabic, if you're talking about two things, you need to use the dual form of the noun. Just add the suffix (-ein) to the masculine singular form of the noun.Singular Dual

book (kitaab) (kitaabein)

window (ibbaak) (ibbaakein)

Note: If the singular form ends in a taa marbuuTa ( , -a), you need to "untie it" change it to a beforeadding the suffix. Take the word ("sentence") as an example: (gomla)"Untie" the taa marbuuTa (replace it with a :(Add the suffix: (gomlatein) - "two sentences"


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Note: While you can use the suffix to talk about two people, usually it's better to say " (itnein) + [pluralnoun]":

Singular Dualteacher (mudarris) (itnein mudarrisiin)engineer (mohandis) (itnein mohandisiin)

If you want to talk about a pair of things, like socks or shoes, you should use the singular form of the noun, and itbe understood that you're talking about a pair. If you want to talk about one item out of a pair, say

(farda

min), literally "an individual from."

(laazim ateri gazma gdiida)I need to buy a new pair of shoes. - Note that although "gazma" technically means "shoe," it's understood that youmean a pair of shoes.

(ana mi la'ya farda min araabi)I can't find one of my socks. - Again, note that "araabi" technically means just "my sock," but it's understood tomean a pair.

Broken plurals

Most Arabic nouns have broken (irregular) plurals. A few examples:Singular Plural

book (kitaab) (kutub)child/boy (walad) (awlaad)sentence (gomla) (gomal)

With these nouns, you simply have to memorize their plural forms until you internalize the broken plural patternsEventually, once you've memorized enough broken plurals, you'll start being able to predict the plural forms of

new nouns.

Regular masculine plurals

There are some nouns that have regular (sound) plurals. Almost all masculine nouns that have regular plurals fallunder the category of job titles etc. that can refer to either men or a mixed group of men and women. To make oneof these nouns plural, you simply add the suffix (-iin).

Singular Pluralteacher (mudarris) (mudarrisiin)

engineer (mohandis) (mohandisiin)actor (mumassil) (mumassiliin)artist (fannaan) (fannaaniin)

Note: In Arabic, plural human nouns that take the masculine form can refer to either a group of all men, or a grouof men and women. So a group of could be a bunch of male engineers, or a mixed group of male andfemale engineers.


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Regular feminine plurals

To make a feminine noun (that doesn't have a broken plural form) plural, you drop the taa marbuuTa and add thesuffix (-aat). Many foreign loanwords, even some that are masculine, take this plural form (see and

).Singular Plural

car )3 arabiyya) )3 arabiyyaat)

word(kelma) (kalimaat)clinic )3 iyaada) )3 iyaadaat)

jacket (akitta) (akittaat)computer (kombiyuuter) (kombiyuuteraat)

Note: If you want to talk about a group of all women, you take the masculine singular form of the noun and, againadd the suffix.

Singular Feminine pluralteacher (mudarris) (mudarrisaat)

engineer (mohandis) (mohandisaat)actor (mumassil) (mumassilaat)

artist (fannaan) (fannaanaat)


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Adjectives in Egyptian Arabic

IntroductionAn adjective is a word that describes a noun "smart," "pretty," "good," etc. Remember that (the activparticiple) acts as an adjective.

(il-film da mumill)

This movie is boring.

(kitaab kwayyis)a good book

(howwa naayim)He is sleeping.

(is-sitt illi wa'fa hnaak)the woman who is standing there

Some basic adjectives

Here's a list of some common, basic adjectives in Egyptian Arabic:small Soayyar (pl.) Suaarbig kibiir (pl.) kobaarshort 'oSayyar (pl.) 'uSaarlong; tall Tawiil (pl.) Tuwaalsmart zaki (pl.) azkiyastupid abi (pl.) abiya

rich ani (pl.) aniyapoor fa'iir (pl.) fu'raold (in reference to things, not people) 'adiim (pl.) 'udaamnew gediid (pl.) gudaadpretty, beautiful gamiil (pl.) gumaalugly 'abiiH (pl.) 'ubaHa

weHi

clean naDiif (pl.) nuDaafdirty wisix

expensive aali

cheap raxiiS

good kwayyis

bad weHi

easy sahl

hard, difficult Sa3b

heavy ti'iil

light xafiif
http://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_act.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_act.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_act.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_act.html


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high 3aali

low waaTi

fat tixiin

thin rofayya3

fast, quick sarii3

slow baTii'

Inflections for gender and number

As with nouns, to make adjectives feminine or plural, usually you add a suffix: (-a) for the feminine form, (iin) for the regular plural form. But again, many adjectives do not have regular plural forms, so for those you haveto memorize the broken plurals. The first half of the list above is made up of adjectives with broken plurals. Alsosee the following examples:

Singular masculine Singular feminine Pluralbig (kibiir) (kibiira) (kobaar)poor (fa'iir) (fa'iira) (fu'ra)

Here's a regular adjective:

Singular masculine Singular feminine Pluralgood (kwayyis) (kwayyesa) (kwayyisiin)

Note: Say an adjective ends in (-i) and is not of the form (faa3il). When you're adding on your andsuffixes to make it feminine/plural, you need to insert a "yy" between the adjective and the suffix (in terms of youpronunciation).

Singular masculine Singular feminine Pluralstupid (abi) (abeyya) (abiya)smart (zaki) (zakeyya) (azkiya)Egyptian* (maSri) (maSreyya) (maSriyyiin)

* Seebelow for more on this type of adjective.

If, however, an adjective ending in is of the form , you don't insert a "yy" between it and the suffix whenyou're making it feminine/plural. And while the masculine form of this adjective has a long "aa," the feminine andplural forms have a short "a."

Singular masculine Singular feminine Pluralexpensive (aali) (alya) (alyiin)quiet, calm (haadi) (hadya) (hadyiin)

Adjectives: agreement

In English, adjectives come right before the noun they describe, but in Arabic, adjectives always directly followthe noun they modify. Also, adjectives and nouns must always agree in definiteness (they must be both definite orboth indefinite).
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Adjectives for singular nouns

A singular noun is modified by a singular adjective of the same gender.

(il-mudarris il-gediid)the new teacher - lit. "the-teacher the-new"

(bint hadya)

a quiet girl - lit. "girl quiet"

Adjectives for dual nouns

Any dual noun must be modified by a plural adjective.

(waladein maSriyyiin) (kitaabein alyiin)two Egyptian boys two expensive books

(bintein suriyyiin) )3 arabiyyatein gudaad)two Syrian girls two new cars

Adjectives for human plural nouns

Human plural nouns, masculine or feminine, are usually modified by masculine plural nouns.

(awlaad kobaar)big boys

(banaat Soaar)small girls

Adjectives for non-human plural nouns

Non-human plural nouns are modified by feminine singular adjectives. This is confusing at first, but you get usedto it fast!

(dowal mit'addima)advanced countries

(arabiyyaat 'adiima)old cars

(aflaam gediida)new movies

Note: A lot of beginning students get confused about adjectival phrases and whether or not they can be completesentences. Look at these examples for some clarification:

(it-tilmiiz aaTir)A complete simple sentence: "The student is smart." (Lit. "The-student smart.")

(it-tilmiiz i-aaTir)A phrase/sentence fragment: "The smart student." (Lit. "the-student the-smart.")


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(tilmiiz aaTir)A phrase/sentence fragment: "A smart student." (Lit. "student smart.")

Nisba adjectives ( )

Nisba adjectives are those that indicate a relationship, often a nationality. Nouns are transformed into theseadjectives in this manner:

1. Drop any definite article at the beginning of the noun, and any taa marbuuTa ( ) or alif ( ) at the end of it2. Add the suffixes (-ii) for the masculine adjective, (-eyya) for the feminine adjective, and (-

iiyyiin) for the plural adjective.

Here are some examples of nouns and their correponding nisba adjectives:

Noun Adjective Masculine singular Feminine singular PluralEgypt (maSr) Egyptian (maSri) (maSreyya) (maSriyyiin)

Lebanon (libnaan) Lebanese (libnaani) (libnaneyya) (libnaniyyiin)

the US (amriika) American (amriiki) (amrikeyya) (amrikiyyiin)

Palestine (filisTiin) Palestinian (filisTiini) (filisTiineyya) (filisTiiniyyiinSyria (surya) Syrian (suuri) (sureyya) (suriyyiin)

Sudan (is-suudaan) Sudanese (sudaani) (sudaneyya) (sudaniyyiin)

school (madrasa) scholastic (madrasi) (madraseyya) (madrasiyiin)

Note: For some nouns that end in -a, you don't follow that formula but use the suffixes (-awi), (-aweyya)and (-awiyyiin).

Noun AdjectiveMasculine

singular

Feminine singular Plural

France (faransa)

French (faransawi)

(faransaweyya)

(faransawiyyiin)

Asia (asya) Asian (asawi) (asaweyya) (asawiyiin)

year (sana) yearly/annual (sanawi) (sanaweyya) (sanawiyyiin)

prophet (nabi) prophetic (nabawi) (nabaweyya) (nabawiyyin)

Some plural nisba adjectives are irregular:

Masculine singular Feminine singular Plural

Arab )3 arabi) )3 arabeyya) )3 arab)Turkish (turki) (turkeyya) (atraak)

Kurdish (kurdi) (kurdeyya) (akraad)

Moroccan (maribi) (maribeyya) (maarba)

British (ingiliizi) (ingliizeyya) (ingiliiz)


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Comparative and superlative adjectives in Egyptian ArabicElative forms of adjectivesIn Arabic, there are elative forms of adjectives that are used for both comparisons (ex. "bigger") and superlatives(ex. "best"). Elative adjectives are invariable and take three regular forms:1. (af3al) - this is the most common form.

(kibiir) (akbar)big bigger

(kitiir) (aktar)many more

(fa'iir) (af'ar)poor poorer

(gamiil) (agmal)pretty prettier

(sahl) (ashal)easy easier

(Sa3b) (aS3ab)

hard, difficult harder (Tawiil) (aTwal)tall, long taller, longer

(Tayyib) (aTyab)nice nicer 2. (af3a) - corresponds to adjectives that end in (-i) or (-w).

(Helw) (aHla)sweet, nice sweeter, nicer

)3 aali) (a3la)high higher

(aali) (ala)expensive more expensive

(zaki) (azka)smart smarter 3. (afa3ll) - corresponds to adjectives with a doubled/geminate root.

(gediid) (agadd)new newer

(mohimm) (ahamm)important more important

(xafiif) (axaff)light lighter

('aliil) (a'all)few less, fewer

(laziiz) (alazz)delicious more deliciousThere is an irregular comparative:

(kwayyis) (aHsan)good better


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Forming comparative and superlative statements

To form a comparison (between two things) in Arabic, you use the elative adjective followed by (min).

(il-'amiiS da ala min da)This shirt is more expensive than that one.

(Hussein aTwal minni)Hussein is taller than me.

To form a superlative (comparing one thing to multiple other things), you can use the elative adjective followed byan indefinite noun. This has a basic "the [adj]est [noun]" meaning.

(howwa aSar walad)He's the youngest boy.

(di arxaS akitta)This is the cheapest jacket.

(il-qaahira akbar mediina fi maSr)Cairo is the biggest city in Egypt.

For another kind of superlative, you can use the elative adjective followed by a definite plural noun. This has a "th[adj]est of (all) the [nouns]" meaning.

(howwa aSar il-wilaad fil-faSl)He's the youngest of the boys in the class

(di arxaS i-akittaat fil-maHall)

This is the cheapest of the jackets in the shop.

(il-qaahira akbar il-mudun fi maSr)Cairo is the biggest of the cities in Egypt.


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Adverbs in Egyptian Arabic

An adverb modifies a verb (or an adjective or adverb) and answers questions like how, when, where, why, and towhat degree something was done. Here is a list of some common adverbs; all usually come after the expressionthey're modifying, except for , which usually comes before the modified expression.

Adverbs of time Adverbs of place

today (in-nahaarda)yesterday (imbaariH)

tomorrow (bukra)

now (dilwa'ti)

later (ba3dein)

a long time ago (zamaan)

recently/soon ('ariib/'orayyib)

always (dayman)

never (abadan)

early (badri)late (waxri)

(mit'axxar)

finally (axiiran)

usually )3 aadatan)

usually, for the most part (aaliban)

sometimes (aHyaanan)

here (hina)there (hinaak)

outside (barra)

inside (guwwa)

up, upstairs (foo')

down, downstairs (taHt)

in front of ('uddaam)

behind (wara)

Adverbs indicating degree

very ('awi) (il-film da 3agibni 'awi)

I liked that movie a lot.

(di Suura Helwa 'awi)This is a really nice picture.very/at all (xaaliS)

(howwa mi 3aaref Haaga xaaliS)He doesn't know a thing.

(il-balad di xarbaana xaaliS)

This country is totally messed up.very (giddan)

(kalaamak gamiil giddan)What you're saying is really good.a lot; often (kitiir)

(il-xabar da 'ala'ni kitiir)This news really worried me.totally (moot) * This is very slangy.

(il-aaani di gamda moot)These songs are really cool.


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more, in addition (kamaan)

(istanna kamaan wayya)Wait a little more.nearly (ta'riiban)

(fiDilna ta'riiban noSS saa3a)We had almost half an hour left.

(xiliS ramaDaan ta'riiban)

Ramadan is almost over.nearly (Hawaali) * Usually comes before the expression being modified.

(ana ba'aali Hawaali saa3a mistanniyya kida)I've been waiting like this for about an hour.a little (wayya)

(il-mumassil da laazim tixtaar adwaaru aHsan wayya)That actor should pick his roles a bit better.

Adverbs of manner

like this, in this way (kida)

(mi 3arfa bit3aamilni kida leih)I don't know why you're treating me like this.in this way/manner (bi-akle da)

(izzaayy tistigri tkallemni bi-akle da?)How do you dare talk to me like that?quickly (bi-sur3a)

(kunte maai fi-aari3 bis-sur3a 3aaan alHa' awSal)I was walking down the street fast so I could make it on time.quickly, in a short time ('awaam)

(yalla nibda' 3aaan nixallaS 'awaam)Come on, let's get started so we can finish quickly.slowly (biwei)

(biwei iwayya, mista3gil 3ala eih?)[Go] slowly, what are you in a hurry for?right away, immediately (Haalan)

! (ana 3awza r-rudd Haalan!)I want the answer right away!presently, at this time (Haaliyyan)

(ana Haaliyyan muqiima fi almanya)Right now I'm living in Germany.together (sawa)

(kullina fil-hawa sawa)We're all in the same boat (lit. "We are in the air together").alone, by oneself (li-waHd- + pronoun suffix)

(bafaDDal askun li-waHdi)I prefer to live by myself.straight ahead; right away; continuously; forever (ala Tuul)


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(imi 3ala Tuul li-Hadde matlaa'i g-gaami3 3ala maalak)Go straight until you find the mosque on your left.

(di'ii'a wa-gayy 3ala Tuul)Just a minute, I'm coming right away.

(inta waHeni 3ala Tuul)I miss you all the time.

(ana msafra qaTar ba3d il-faraH 3ala Tuul)

I'm going to Qatar right after the wedding. (howwa mi hayifDal yiksib 3ala Tuul)He won't keep winning forever.deliberately, on purpose (amdan)

(bitfakkar inni 3amelte kida 3amdan?)Do you think I did that deliberately?


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Subject and object pronouns in standard and Egyptian Arabic

Subject pronouns - (Damaa'ir al-faa3il)Subject pronouns (I, you, we, he, she, we, they) take the place of a noun and function as the subject of a sentence.

(ana min amriika)I am from the US.

(howwa mohandis)He is an engineer.

Note: In Arabic, the subject pronoun is frequently dropped. You can tell from a verb conjugation who the subjectis, so it's not really necessary to use the subject pronoun in such cases except for emphasis. However, in equationa(verbless) sentences like the two above, you do need the subject pronoun.

Subject pronouns in standard and Egyptian ArabicEnglish Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

Singular

I )ana(

you (masc.)

)anta( )inta(

you (fem.) )anti( )inti(he )howwa(

she )heyya(

Dual

we )naHnu(

you )antuma(

they )humaa(

Plural

we )naHnu( )eHna(

you (masc.) )antum()intu(

you (fem.) )antunna(they (masc.) )homa(

)homa(they (fem.) )hunna(

Note: In English, there is only one second-person pronoun, "you," which is used whether you're talking to oneperson, two people, or more. But in Arabic, as you see above, there are masculine and feminine versions of "you,"as well as singular, dual (standard Arabic only), and plural versions: \ if you're addressing one person, you're addressing two (in standard Arabic), and \ if you're addressing three or more people. Note that thedual "you" ( ) is the same regardless of gender. In standard Arabic, there is also a dual version of "they" ( -which is gender-indiscriminate as well) and masculine and feminine versions of the plural "they" ( and ).

Note that Egyptian Arabic has fewer pronouns than standard Arabic, since it has no dual pronouns; it just hasplural pronouns that are used to talk about two or more people, of any gender. And the colloquial and aregender-neutral.

Object pronouns - (Damaa'ir al-maf3uul bihi)Object pronouns (me, you, us, him, her, them) are used when you do something directly to someone or somethingelse. In Arabic, these pronouns are suffixes that are attached to the verb:

(Darabatu) She hit him.(yakuruuni) They thank me.


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Object pronouns in standard and Egyptian Arabic

English Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

Singular

me -)ni(

you (masc.) -)ka( -)ak(you (fem.) -)ki( -)ik(him -)u(

her -)ha(

Dual

us -)na(

you -)kuma(

them -)huma(

Plural

us -)na(

you (masc.) -)kum(-)ku/-kum(

you (fem.) -)kunna(

them (masc.) -)hum(-)hom(

them (fem.) -)hunna(

Note: In colloquial Arabic, and are both used, but the former is more colloquial than the latter.Here are some examples of object pronoun usage, using the verb (sa'al) - "to ask."


Singular

He asked me )sa'alni(

He asked you (masc.) )sa'alaka( )sa'alak(He asked you (fem.) )sa'alaki( )sa'alik(He asked him )sa'alahu [more standard] or sa'alu [more colloquial([

He asked her )sa'alaha [more standard] or sa'alha [more colloquial([

Dual

He asked us )sa'alna(

He asked you )sa'alkuma(He asked them )sa'alhuma(

Plural

He asked us )sa'alna(

He asked you (masc.) )sa'alkum()sa'alku/sa'alkum(

He asked you (fem.) )sa'alkunna(

He asked them (masc.) )sa'alhum()sa'alhom(

He asked them (fem.) )sa'alhunna(


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Possessive pronouns in standard and Egyptian Arabic

Possessive pronouns (my, your, his, her, our, their) are used to indicate ownership of something. In Arabic, as withobject pronouns, these take the form of suffixes; they are attached to the noun that's owned.

(beiti)my house

(kitaabu)his book

(uxtuhum)their sister

Note: If the noun that's owned ends in a taa' marbuuTa ( ), the taa' marbuuTa must be "untied" and made into abefore the pronoun suffix is added:

(xaala) - maternal aunt

Untie the taa' marbuuTa to get and then add the pronoun suffix:(xalti) - my maternal aunt

The object and possessive pronoun suffixes are exactly the same except for the first person singular.

Possessive pronouns in standard and Egyptian Arabic:English Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

Singular

my -)i(your (masc.) -)ka( -)ak(your (fem.) -)ki( -)ik(his -)u(her -)ha(

Dual

our -)na(

your -)kuma(

their -)huma(

Plural

our -)na(

your (masc.) -)kum(-)ku/-kum(

your (fem.) -)kunna(their (masc.)

-)hum( -)hom(their (fem.) -)hunna(

Note: In standard Arabic, if the noun that's owned is dual (ends in -aan or -ein), or if the noun has a soundmasculine plural suffix ( -uun or -iin), you need to drop the final before adding the pronoun suffix.

(waalidaan) (waalidaahum) (mu'ayyiduun) (mu'ayyiduuh)two parents their parents supporters his supporters

(yadein) (yadeiha) (mudarrisiin) (mudarrisiyya)two hands her hands teachers my teachers


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Note: In Egyptian Arabic, if a noun, verb, or preposition ends in a vowel that is not a taa' marbuuTa, some of thepronoun suffixes you'll need to use with it will change. For object/possessive pronouns:

(-ni) stays the same.

(-i) (-ya)

(-ak) (-k)

(-ik) (-ki)

(-u) (-h)

Also, the final vowel in the noun/verb/whatever will need to be lengthened. Some examples:

(wara) (waraaya) (Hawaali) (Hawaleiyya)behind behind me around around me

(li-) (liik) (warra) (warraak)for for you (masc. sing.) to show he showed you (masc. sing.)

)3 ala) )3 aleiki) (baaba) (babaaki)on on you (fem. sing.) dad your dad (fem. sing.)

(ma3a) (ma3aah) (fi) (fiih)with with him in in him

Note: In colloquial Arabic, when used with possessive suffixes, the words (ab), "father," and (ax), "brother,take the form (abu) and (axu). Again, the final -u vowel is lengthened before the suffix is added.

(abuuya) (axuuya)my father my brother

(abuuk) (axuuk)your (masc. sing.) father your (masc. sing.) brother

(abuuki) (axuuki)your (fem. sing.) father your (fem. sing.) brother

(abuuh) (axuuh)his father his brother

Note: Usually, you do not use possessive pronoun suffixes with dual nouns in Egyptian Arabic. Instead, you say"il-[noun]ein bituu3[possessive pronoun suffix]."

my two books

(il-kitabein bituu3i)

There are, however, a few exceptions:

)3 eineiyya) (rigleiyya) (iideiyya)my (two) eyes my (two) legs my (two) hands

)3 eineik) (rigleik) (iideik)your eyes your legs your handsetc.


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Demonstrative and relative pronouns in standard and EgyptianArabic

Demonstrative pronouns- (ism al-iaara)

Demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those) point to and identify a noun or pronoun. In standard Arabic, thedemonstrative pronoun comes before the noun it refers to; in 3ammiyya, it follows the noun. While fuSHa has

specific words for "that" and "those" (as opposed to "this" and "these"), 3ammiyya does not.

Standard Arabic Egyptian ArabicI like this book. (uHibbu haada l-kitaab) (baHebb il-kitaab da)Did you see thatgirl? (ra'eita tilka l-bint?) (oft il-bint di?)

Here are all the demonstrative pronouns in Arabic:

Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

this (masc.) (haada) (da)this man (haada r-rajul) (ir-raagil da)this lesson (haada d-dars) (id-dars da)this (fem.)* (haadihi) (di)* Note that all plural non-human nouns are grammatially treated as feminine, and this applies to demonstrativepronouns (as well as other things like adjectives).

this girl (haadihi l-bint) (il-bint di)this pillow (haadihi l-mixadda) (il-mixadda di)

These books are long (haadihi l-kutub Tawiila) (il-kutub di Tawiila)

These cars are new (haadihi s-sayaraat jadiida)

(il-3arabiyyaat di gediida)

that (masc.) (daalika)that man (daalika r-rajul)that (fem.) (tilka)

that girl (tilka l-bint)these (masc. dual) | (haadaani/haadeini)* (dool)

* is used with nouns in the nominative case ( ;( is used with nouns in the genitive and accusativecases ( ).

These (two) boys are Egyptian (haadaani l-waladaan miSriyaan)

(il-waladein dool maSriyiin)

I saw these (two) boys (ra'eitu haadeini l-waladein)

(oft il-waladein dool)

these (fem. dual) | (haataani/haateini)* (dool)* is used with nouns in the nominative case ( ;( is used with nouns in the genitive and accusativecases ( ).


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these (two) girls (haataani l-bintaan) (il-bintein dool)I saw these (two) girls (ra'eitu haateini l-bintein) (oft il-bintein dool)these (masc. and fem. pl.) (haa'ulaa) (dool)these men (haa'ulaa r-rijaal) (ir-riggaala dool)these girls (haa'ulaa l-banaat) (il-banaat dool)those (masc. and fem. pl.) (uulaa'ika)

those men (uulaa'ika r-rijaal)those girls (uulaa'ika l-banaat)

Relative pronouns - (al-ism al-mawSuul)

Relative pronouns (such as "that, which, who") begin relative clauses, which act like adjectives and describe thenoun they follow. In Arabic, if the relative pronoun is referring back to a noun that is a direct object or the objectof a preposition (like "the book [that] I read," "the girl [whom] I wrote to"), a pronoun suffix referring to this nounmust be added to the relative pronoun.

(al-kitaab alladi qara'tuhu)the book that I read - lit. "the book that I read it"

(al-bint allati katabtu laha)the girl whom I wrote to - lit. "the girl whom I wrote to her"

If you are referring to a noun that is indefinite, you do notuse a relative pronoun. (lii zamiil yatakallam sittu luaat)

I have a colleague who speaks six languages.

Note that although English still uses the relative pronoun "who," there's no corresponding pronoun in Arabic.These two rules hold for both standard and Egyptian Arabic.

Relative pronouns in standard and Egyptian Arabic

The Egyptian dialect has only one relative pronoun:(illi) - used in reference to all nouns, regardless of gender/number.

Standard Arabic, on the other hand, has a whole bunch of relative pronouns:Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

used in reference to amasculine singularnoun

(alladi) (illi)

the man who went to

the US

(ar-rajul alladi dahab ila amriika)

(ir-raagil illi raaH amriika)the book (that) I read (al-kitaab alladi qara'tuhu) (il-kitaab illi 'areitu)used in reference to afeminine singularnoun

(allati) (illi)

* Again, remember that all plural non-human nouns are grammatially treated as feminine singular.the girl who studiedArabic

(al-bint allati darasit al-3arabiyya)

(il-bint illi darsit 3arabi)

the movies (that) I saw (al-aflaam allati ra'eituha)

(il-aflaam illi oftaha)


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used in reference to amasculine dual noun

| (alladaani/alladeini)

(illi)

* is used with nouns in the nominative case ( ;( is used with nouns in the genitive and accusativecases ( ).

the two teams whoreached the finals

(al-fariiqaanalladaani waSalaa ila n-nihaa'i)

(il-farii'ein illi waSalu n-nihaa'i)

used in reference to afeminine dual noun | (allataani/allateini) (illi)* is used with nouns in the nominative case ( ;( is used with nouns in the genitive and accusativecases ( ).

the two women whostayed in the village

(al-imra'ataan allataani baqiyataa fi l-qaria)

I gave the present tothe two girls whowanted it

(a3Teitu l-hadiyya lil-bintein allateiniaraadaataha)

used in reference to amasculine plural noun (alladiina) (illi)

the Egyptians whowork in the Gulf

(al-maSriyyuun alladiina ya3maluun fil-xaliij)

(il-maSriyyiin illi bitaalu fil-xaliig)

used in reference to afeminine plural noun

(allaati/allawaati)

(illi)

the women who workin the field ofengineering

(an-nisaa' allawaati ya3milna fi majaal al-handasa)

(is-sittaat illi bitaalu fi magaal il-handasa)

Note: Relative pronouns are only used to refer to a definite noun. If you are not referring to a definite noun, youwould not use a relative pronoun. See these examples:

Standard Arabic Egyptian ArabicI talked to theEgyptians whowork in the Gulf

(takallamtu ma3a l-maSriyyiin alladiina ya3maluunfil-xaliij)

(kallimt il-maSriyyiin illi bitaalu fil-xaliig

I talked withEgyptians whowork in the Gulf

(takallamtu ma3a maSriyyiin ya3maluun fil-xaliij)

kallimte maSriyyiin bitaalu fil-xaliig)

Note: Egyptian Arabic also has the pronouns (aho), (ahe), and (ahom). When pronounced with the

emphasis on the first syllable (ho, he, hom), these words introduce a word/phrase with a "there it is" meaning. (he gayya)

There she comes.

When these words are pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable (ah, ah, ahm), they follow a nounand act as demonstrative pronouns drawing attention to the noun.

(il-mudarris fein? - il-mudarris ah)Where's the teacher? - The teacher's right over there.

(ma3aak il-muftaaH? - il-muftaaH ma3aaya ah)Do you have the key (with you)? - I have the key (with me) right here.


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The genitive construct and other ways to express possession inEgyptian Arabic

The genitive construct - (il-iDaafa)

In Arabic, two nouns can be placed one after the other in what is called a genitive construct ( ) to indicate

possession. First comes the noun being possessed ( ), then comes the noun referring to the owner (). For example:

(kitaab il-walad)the boy's book

(ism il-bint)the girl's name

(mediinat il-'uds)the city of Jerusalem

(bint 3ammi)my cousin (paternal uncle's daughter)

If ends in a taa' marbuuTa, then the end of that word will be pronounced -it instead of -a.

(ooDit oxti)my sister's room

)3 arabiyyit Nabiila)

Nabila's car

(Suurit SaHbi)my friend's picture

(a''it Nagwa)Nagwa's apartment

In Egyptian Arabic, must be indefinite,but may be definite or indefinite.

(kitaab il-walad)the boy's book

(kitaab Hasan)Hasan's book

(kitaab walad)a boy's book

Whether an adjective modifies or , it will come at the very end, after . As usual, itwill agree in gender, number, and definiteness with the noun it modifies.


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(kitaab il-bint iT-Tawiila) (kitaab il-bint iT-Tawiil)the tall girl's book the girl's long book

(kitaab bint Tawiil) (kitaab bint Tawiila)a girl's long book a tall girl's book

But sometimes, if both or are the same gender and number, there can be confusion over what

noun is being modified by the adjective, as with this phrase:

(kitaab il-walad iT-Tawiil) - does this mean "the tall boy's book" or "the boy's long book"?

Fortunately, Egyptian Arabic has a solution for this kind of ambiguity: use of the (bitaa3) construction. Theword (female form bitaa3a, plural form bituu3) indicates possession.

(il-kitaab bitaa3 il-walad iT-Tawiil)the tall boy's book

(il-kitaab iT-Tawiil bitaa3 il-walad)the boy's long book

This construction is also used if you want to modify both terms of the with adjectives.

(il-kitaab iT-Tawiil bitaa3 il-walad iS-Soayyar)the little boy's long book

Other ways to express possession

There are also other ways to express possession. Of course, you can use possessive pronouns.

Arabic has no verb for "to have," but you can express this idea with three different prepositions, with possessivepronoun suffixes added:

(and-) - used to talk about "having" something in the sense of owning or possessing it. This is the mostcommonly-used of these three choices.

(ir-raagil da 3andu beit kibiir)That man has a big house.

(li-) - used to refer to something intended for somebody or something "owned" by an inanimate object. (liik gawaab fil-bosTa)

You have a letter in the mail.

(il-ooDa liiha talat ababiik)The room has three windows.

(ma3a) - used to talk about something you physically have with you. (ma3aak filuus?)

Do you have money (with you)?
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Here are the "conjugations" of these words:

I have )3 andi) (leyya) (ma3aaya)

you (masc. sing.) have )3 andak) (lik) (ma3aak)

you (fem. sing.) have )3 andik) (likii) (ma3aakii)he has )3 andu) (luh) (ma3aah)

she has )3 andaha) (laha) (ma3aaha)

we have )3 andena) (lina) (ma3aana)you (pl.) have )3 anduku) (luku) (ma3aaku)

they have )3 anduhum) (luhum) (ma3aahum)

And here are the negations:

I don't have (ma3andii) (malii) (mama3ii)you (masc. sing.) don'thave (ma3andak) (malak) (mam3ak)

you (fem. sing.) don't

have (ma3andikii) (malkii) (mam3akii)he doesn't have (ma3anduu) (maluu) (mam3ahuu)

she doesn't have (ma3andahaa) (malhaa) (mam3ahaa)

we don't have (ma3andenaa) (malnaa) (mam3anaa)

you (pl.) don't have (ma3andukuu) (malkuu) (mam3akuu)they don't have (ma3anduhum) (malhum) (mam3ahum)

To shift into the past tense, you say (kaan) or (makan) followed by the preposition + pronoun suffix. (makan 3andi fikra innu howwa lli 3amal kida)

I had no idea that he was the one who did that.


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Introduction to the Arabic sentence

Types of sentences

In traditional Arabic grammar, there are two basic types of sentence, based on what the sentence's first word is.1. (al-jumla l-ismiyya) - the nominal sentence, where the sentence's first word is a noun.

. (al-walad miSri) - The boy is Egyptian.

2. (al-jumla l-fi3liyya) - the verbal sentence, where the sentence's first word is a verb. . (wulida l-walad fi miSr) - The boy was born in Egypt.

Those categories are different from the ones used in many Arabic classes in the West, where sentences areclassified simply according to whether or not they include a verb regardless of where the verb is in the sentenc

1. Equational sentence - a sentence without a verb. . (al-walad miSri) - The boy is Egyptian.

Although this sentence contains a verb in English, it doesn't in Arabic. Remember that since Arabic doesnuse a present-tense form of "to be," this is a verbless sentence consisting only of a noun and adjective. Itliterally translates as "The boy Egyptian"; the "is" is understood.

. (fi usrati talaatat afraad) - There are three people in my family.Again, the English translation contains a verb ("are"), but the original Arabic doesn't. It literally translatesas "In my family three individuals." Since there's no present-tense form of "to be," "In my family [are]three individuals" is implied.

2. Verbal sentence - a sentence with a verb. . (wulida l-walad fi miSr) - The boy was born in Egypt.

Subject and predicate

Now let's look at the parts of these sentences. The subject ( al-mubtada') is what the sentence is talking about. It could be a noun (the boy; Cairo;

Ahmed), pronoun (I; he; they), or noun phrase (the math teacher; a long book). The predicate ( al-xabar) tells us something about the subject. The Arabic means a piece of news,

so you can think of the predicate as delivering news about the subject. It may be an adjective (happy), verb(woke up), or noun (student).

Here are some simple examples. The subject is in bold, and the predicate is underlined.

. (al-walad miSri)The boy is Egyptian. - The subject is a noun, and the predicate is an adjective.

. (bint 3ammi mudarrisa)My cousin is a teacher. - The subject is a noun phrase (a genitive construction), and the predicate is a noun.

. (howwa Tawiil)He is tall. - The subject is a pronoun, and the predicate is an adjective.

. (xarajat Manaal mubakkiran)Manal went out early. - The subject is a (proper) noun, and the predicate is a verb paired with an adverb.
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Note: In sentences with a verb, standard Arabic usually follows a Verb-Subject-Object order, though sometimes iuses a Subject-Verb-Object order. The Egyptian dialect pretty much always follows a Subject-Verb-Object order.

Manal went out early.

(xarajat Manaal mubakkiran) (Manaal xargit badri)

The boy ate an apple.

(akala l-waladu tuffaaHatan) (il-walad kal tuffaaHa)

Negation

Now, how do we negate these sentences? Negating a sentence with a verb is simple; you just negate the verb. (Tolearn how to negate a verb in Egyptian Arabic, go here.) Negating a sentence without a verb, however, requires adifferent but still quite simple approach. In standard Arabic, you simply insert (laysa), conjugated tomatch the noun. Here are the conjugations of :

English Standard Arabic

Singular

I am not )lastu(you (masc.) are not )lasta(you (fem.) are not )lasti(he is not )laysa(

she is not )laysat(

Dual

we are not )lasna(

you are not )lastuma(they (masc.) are not )laysaa(they (fem.) are not )laysataa(

Plural

we are not)lasna(you (masc.) are not )lastum(

you (fem.) are not )lastunna(

they (masc.) are not )laysuu(

they (fem.) are not )lasna(

Here are examples of negated verbless sentences in standard Arabic:

(ana lubnaaniyya) (ana lastu lubnaaniyya)I am Lebanese. I am not Lebanese.

(bint 3ammi mudarrisa) (bint 3ammi laysat mudarrisa)My cousin is a teacher. My cousin is not a teacher.

(howwa Tawiil) (howwa laysa Tawiil)He is tall. He is not tall.

(min al-laazim an taSHu mubakkiran)

(laysa min al-laazim an taSHu mubakkiran)

You need to wake up early. You don't need to wake up early.

(honaaka xiyaar aaxar) (laysa honaaka xiyaar aaxar)There is another choice. There is no other choice.
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(ladayha xibra fi haada l-majaal)

(laysa ladayha xibra fi haada l-majaal)

She has experience in this field. She doesn't have experience in this field.

To negate verbless sentences in Egyptian Arabic, you insert (mi) between the subject and predicate.

(ana libnaniyya) (ana mi libnaniyya)I am Lebanese. I am not Lebanese.

(bint 3ammi mudarrisa) (bint 3ammi mi mudarrisa)My cousin is a teacher. My cousin is not a teacher.

(howwa Tawiil) (howwa mi Tawiil)He is tall. He is not tall.

(laazim tiSHa badri) (mi laazim tiSHa badri)You need to wake up early. You don't need to wake up early.

(fii xiyaar taani) (mafii xiyaar taani)*There is another choice. There is no other choice.

)3 andaha xibra fil-

magaal da)

(ma3andahaa xibra fil-

magaal da)*She has experience in this field. She doesn't have experience in this field.

* Note: In Egyptian Arabic, if a verbless sentence contains an inverted predicate (that is, where the predicatecomes before the subject instead of after) consisting of either , "there is," or a preposition and pronoun suffix,like , then the predicate is negated with the (ma...) form.


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Asking questions in standard and Egyptian Arabic

Asking informational questions

What/which

First, note that in standard Arabic, question words generally come at the beginning of a question, while in

colloquial Arabic, these words usually (but not necessarily always) come at the end.


what | (maa/maada)

(eih)

which (ayya) (anhu [masc.] - anhi [fem.] - anhum [pl.])

and are used in different types of questions; the former is used in questions that do not have verbs, while thlatter is used in questions that do have verbs. Frequently is followed by the pronoun corresponding to the nounbeing asked about. , on the other hand, is fairly straightforward, and is used anytime you would say "what" in

English.

Standard Arabic Egyptian ArabicWhat's your name? (ma ismuka?) (ismak eih?)What's the differencebetween us and them?

(ma [huwwa] l-farq beinna wa-beinhum?)

(eih il-far'beinna wa-beinhum?)

What do you want? (maada turiid?) (inta 3aayiz eih?)What shall I tell you? (maada aquul lak?) (a'ollak eih?)

In standard Arabic, can be used with a pronoun suffix to mean "which of..." In Egyptian Arabic, you can put

before a noun to ask "which [noun]..."

Standard Arabic Egyptian ArabicWhich one of them doyou prefer?

(ayyahumtufaDDil?)

(bitfaDDal ayyawaaHid minhom?)

Which team do yousupport?

(tuajja3 ayyafariiq?)

(bitagga3 ayya farii'?)

Egyptian Arabic also has an alternative way to say "which": . This can be a little tricky, since it cancome either before or after the noun being referred to. The formulation is either:

1. [nhu/nhi/nhum - stress falling on the first syllable] + [indefinite noun]2. [definite noun] + [anh/anh/anhm - stress falling on the second syllable]Note that you would usually go with the second option only when the "which" question is on its own -- simplyasking "Which book? Which girl?" as opposed to "Which book do you like? Which girl do you know?" in whichcase you'd probably go with the first option.

(inta saakin fi nhi a''a?)Which apartment do you live in?

(nhu door?) -or- (id-door anh?)Which floor?


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Where

Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabicwhere (ayna) (fein)

to where (ila ayna) ( (])3 ala] fein)from where (min ayna) (minein)

The usage of "where" in Arabic is fairly straightforward.Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

Where is the museum? (ayna l-matHaf?) (il-matHaf fein?)Where are you going? (ila ayna daahiba?) (rayHa 3ala fein?)Where are you from? (min ayna anta?) (inta minein?)

Why/when


why (li-maada) (leih)what for (li-maada) | )3 aaan eih/3alaaan eih)when (mata) (imta)

Examples of usage:


Why did you go to Egypt? (li-maada dahabti ila miSr?)

(roHti maSr leih?)

Why do you hate him? (li-maada takrahu?) (bitikrahu leih?)

Why did he pick her? (li-maada ixtaarha?) (ixtaarha 3aaan eih?)

When will Hasan return? (mata saya3uud Hasan?)

(Hasan hayirga3 imta?)

When is your birthday? (mata 3iid miilaadak?)

(3iid milaadak imta?)

WhoStandard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

who (man) (miin)

whose (li-man) | (bitaa3 miin/li-miin)or is used in any questions that would use "who" or "whom" in English.

Standard Arabic Egyptian ArabicWho are you? (man anta?) (inta miin?)

Whose book is this? (li-man haada l-kitaab?)

(il-kitaab da bitaa3 miin?) -or-

(da kitaab miin?)Whom did you meet? (man qaabalt?) ('aabilt miin?)


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How/how much

Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabichow (kayfa) (izzaayy)

how many (kam) (kam)

how much (kam) ('adde eih)how much (price) (bi-kam) (bi-kam)

how long (time) (mundu mata) (min imta)

The use of is fairly simple, but note that in Arabic (both standard and colloquial) must be followed by asingular noun (unlike English, in which "how many" is followed by a plural noun). And in standard Arabic, thissingular noun must be in the accusative case and remember that since the noun is singular, it must be nunated.

Standard Arabic Egyptian ArabicHow are you? (kayfa Haaluka?) (izzayyak?)How did you know? (kayfa 3arafta?) )3 ereft izzaayy?)What time is it? (kam as-saa3a?) (is-saa3a kam?)

Lit. How much is the hour?How old are you? (kam 3umruki?) )3 andik kam sana?)

Lit. How much is your age? Lit. How many years do you have?How many students arein the university?

(kam Taaliban fil-jaami3a?)

(kam Taalib fig-gam3a?)

Asking "how much money" is pretty simple; you use in standard Arabic and in the Egyptian dialect. Forthe other meanings of "how much" (to what extent; how much of an uncountable noun), you use in standardArabic and (which is quite flexible and can be used for "to what extent, how big, how long, how much"questions) in Egyptian.


How much is this book? (bi-kam haada l-kitaab?)

(il-kitaab da bi-kam?)

How much do you love Egypt? (kam tuHibb miSr?)

(bitHebbe maSr 'adde eih?)

How much money do you have(with you?)

(kam ma3ak min al-maal?)

(ma3aak filuus 'adde eih?)

"How long" can be a bit tricky to express in Arabic. But before I get into that, an explanation on .

Note: is the use of the connecting participle to introduce a clause clarifying the circumstances underwhich the main action took place. Basically, it's used in a sentence that talks about two things: the main event, andwhat was going on in the background at the time. helps describe the background events. Here are someexamples of usage:

. (saafarat Daalia ila amriika wa-hiyya Saiira)Dalia traveled to the US when she was small. lit. "and she is small"

. (saafarat wa-abuuha muriiD)She traveled while her father was sick. lit. "and her father is sick"


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. (waSalat wa-ma3aha uxtuha l-kubra)She arrived with her older sister. lit. "and with her, her older sister"

. (aadat ila miSrwa-qad HaSalat 3ala d-dukturaah)She returned to Egypt having received her PhD. lit. "and she had received her PhD"

. (aadat taHmil lina 3iddat hadaaya)She returned carrying a number of gifts for us. lit. "carries for us a number of gifts"

All that said, in standard Arabic, the expression (literally "since when") can be combined with toask "How long has something been happening?"

The Egyptian Arabic equivalent of is , which can be combined with an active participle to ask howlong something's been happening.


How long have you been living here? (mundu mata wa-anta ta3ii huna?)

(inta 3aayi hina min imta?)

In colloquial Arabic, there are multiple ways to ask a "how long" question. The expression (ba'aal + a pronou

suffix) means "for [a specified period of time]" if you're talking about an action that began in the past and is stillcontinuing. Like "X amount of time has elapsed since I began doing this."

(ba'aali saa3a mistanniyya kida)I've been waiting like this for an hour.

(ba'alha fi maSrtalat siniin)She's been (living) in Egypt for three years.

So you can ask ... (ba'aalak kam...) to ask "How many [singular unit of time] have you been..." or ... (ba'aalak 'adde eih...) to ask more generally "How long have you been..." While must be followed by a

specific, singular unit of time (an hour, a day, a year), means a more general "how long."Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

How long did the operation last? (kam daamit al-3amaliyya?)

(il-3amaliyya ba'it 'adde eih?)

How many hours did theoperation last?

(kam saa3a daamit al-3amaliyya?)

(il-3amaliyya ba'it kam saa3a?)

Some additional examples of colloquial questions:

(bitirab sagaayir ba'aalak kam sana?)How many years have you been smoking cigarettes?

(ba'aalak 'adde eih 3aayi hina?)How long have you been living here?

(i-anTa di 'adde eih?)How big is this bag?

(wiSilt min imta?)How long ago did you arrive?
http://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_act.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_act.html


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Asking yes-or-no questions

In Arabic, if you ask a question with a yes-or-no answer, the question takes the exact same form as thecorresponding statement; the only difference is intonation, and the optional addition of (hal) at the beginning othe question. is standard Arabic, but is also used in colloquial Arabic by educated speakers.

Standard Arabic Egyptian ArabicStatement: You're Egyptian. (anta miSri) (inta maSri)Question: Are you Egyptian? (hal anta miSri?) (hal inta maSri?)Statement: This university isfamous.

(haadihi l-jaami3a mahuura)

(ig-gam3a di mahuura)

Question: Is this universityfamous?

(haadihi l-jaami3a mahuura?)

(ig-gam3a di mahuura?)

An alternative to is . Like , it goes at the beginning of the question. Unlike , it's used in standard Arabiconly, and cannot be used in front of a definite noun or a word beginning with . It's also much more uncommonthan . Examples:

(a-laysa kadaalika?)Isn't that so?

(a-adan alqaak?)Will I see you tomorrow? (This is the title of a famous Umm Kalthoum song.)

Asking "alternative" questionsStandard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

or (used in between two choices) (am) (walla)or (used in between three or more choices) (aw) (walla)

An "alternative" question presents two or more choices to pick from. In standard Arabic, (am) is used to separata single pair of choices.

(maada tufaDDil, a-aay am al-qahwa?)What do you prefer, tea or coffee?

However, if you are presenting more than two choices to pick from, you must use (aw) in between each choice

(tufaDDil as-safar bis-sayyaara aw biT-Taa'ira aw bil-qiTaaraw bis-safiina?)Do you prefer to travel by car, plane, train, or ship?

That's all for standard Arabic. In Egyptian Arabic, you simply use (walla), "or," in between each choice you'representing.

(mazaagak eih - saada walla 3ar-riiHa walla mazbuuT walla ziyaada?)What do you feel like - black, a little sugar, sweet, or very sweet? (in reference to coffee/tea)

(hina walla take away?)For here or to go?

(meeit walla lissa?)Have you left yet? (lit. Did you leave or not yet?)


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Additional notes on asking questions in colloquial Egyptian ArabicNote that in Egyptian Arabic, to politely ask if someone would like to do something, you can use an imperfect-form verb:

(tirab aay?)Would you like tea?

(tirab eih?)

What would you like to drink?

(tiigi ma3aana?)Would you like to come with us?

Among some useful colloquial "question" words to know are: (ime3na), "why (in particular)" and('ummaal), "So [if that's the case, then]..."

(ime3na ana?)Why me?

('ummaal ana me3na d-donia mi3anda ma3aaya?)So how come nothing's going my way? (lit. the world is against me) - with a sort of "why me?" emphasis

(Taalib: "ya doktoor,howw-eHna leih laazim niktib kulle da fil-imtiHaan?" il-ustaaz: "ya Habiibi, 'ummaal hansa''atku zzaay?")Student: "Professor, how come we have to write all of that in the exam?" Professor: "[If you didn't, then] howcould we fail you?"

(law inta mi inta, 'ummaal inta miin?)If you're not you, then who are you?

The expression ... (+ noun/pronoun) has several meanings:

1. What's the matter with...? What's wrong with...?

(maalak?)What's the matter with you?

(maal Dina?)What's wrong with Dina?

2. What's that got to do with...?

(ana maali?)What business is it of mine? (implying that I don't see what the topic at hand has to do with me)

(malha wa-maali?)What's she got to do with me? (implying that I don't want anything to do with her)

(maalik wa-maalu?)What's he got to do with you? (implying that you should leave him alone and stop interfering with him)


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3. (we-maalu?) - can mean either "So what?" or "That's ok."

There are also quite a few "tags" you can tack onto the end of your question to ask for affirmation:

(walla la?)or not?

(walla eih?)

or what?

(mi kida?)isn't that so?

(wallana alTaan?)or am I mistaken?

(SaHH?)right? (correct?)

So you could say ... (inta maSri...) and add on any of the above expressions to mean "You're Egyptian,aren't you?"


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The Arabic verb formsMost Arabic words are derived from a three-letter (trilateral) root. And each trilateral Arabic root can theoreticallybe transformed into one of fifteen possible verb forms ( , al-awzaan). (Forms 11 through 15 are very rare, speople usually just focus on forms 1 through 10, although 9 is also pretty rare). Each form has a basic meaningassociated with the general meaning of the root being used. Here's a more detailed breakdown, using (fa3ala, do) as an example. (This is all taken from old handouts I got at the AUC, so it's not my original work.)

Form 1 - (fa3ala)Expresses the general verbal meaning of the root in questionRoot Form 1 verb

(x-r-j) - leaving, departing (xaraja) - to leave, go out (j-m-3) - joining, uniting (jama3a) - to gather, collect

)3 -m-l) - doing, making )3 amala) - to work, to do, to make (q-T-3) - cutting (qaTa3a) - to cut, cut off (b-3-d) - separating, distance (ba3ada) - to be far from

Form 2 - (fa33ala)Built on form 1 by doubling the middle radical of the form 1 verb (adding a shadda to it)Often is a causative version of the form 1 verb

(xaraja) means "to go out"; (xarraja) means "to make (s.o.) go out; to graduate (s.o.)"Often an intensive version of the form 1 verb (especially if the form 1 verb is transitive)

(jama3a) means "to collect, gather"; (jamma3a) means "to amass, to accummulate"

Form 3 - (faa3ala)Built on form 1 by adding an alif between the first and second radicals of the form 1 verbUsually gives an associative meaning to the form 1 verb; describes someone doing the act in question to or withsomeone else

)3 amala) means "to work"; )3 aamala) means "to treat or deal with (s.o.)"

Form 4 - (af3ala)Built on form 1 by prefixing an alif to the form 1 verb and putting a sukuun over the first radicalSimilar to form 2 in that it is usually a causative version of the form 1 verb

(xaraja) means "to go out"; (xarraja) means "to graduate (s.o.)"; (axraja) means "to expel, to evictto produce"

Form 5 - (tafa33ala)Built on form 2 by adding the prefix to the form 2 verbOften a reflexive version of the form 2 verb

(xarraja) means "to graduate (s.o.)"; (taxarraja) means "to graduate" (Note: form 5 is usuallyintransitive)Sometimes an intensive version of a form 1 verb

(jama3a) means "to collect, gather"; (tajamma3a) means "to congregate, to flock together"

Form 6 - (tafaa3ala)Built on form 3 by adding the prefix to the form 3 verbUsually a reflexive version of the form 3 verb

(aamala) means "to treat or deal with (s.o.)"; (ta3aamala) means "to deal with each other" (Form 6 isusually intransitive)


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Form 7 - (infa3ala)Built on form 1 by adding the prefix to the form 1 verbUsually a reflexive and/or passive version of the form 1 verb

(qaTa3a) means "to cut, to cut off"; (inqaTa3a) means "to be cut off (from); to abstain (from)"

Form 8 - (ifta3ala)Built on form 1 by adding the prefix to the form 1 verb and placing a sukuun must be placed over its first radicalOften a reflexive version of the form 1 verb

(jama3a) means "to collect, gather"; (ijtama3a) means "to meet; to agree (on)"

Sometimes has a specially derived meaning relative to a form 1 verb(ba3ada) means "to be far away"; (ibta3ada) means "to avoid"

Form 9 - (if3alla)Built on form 1 by adding the prefix to the form 1 verb, placing a sukuun over its first radical, and adding ashadda to the last radicalRelates to colors

(H-m-r) relates to "redness"; (iHmarra) means "to become or turn red"

Form 10 - (istaf3ala)Built on form 1 by adding the prefix to the form 1 verb and inserting a between the first and second radicala sukuun must be placed over the first radicalOften a considerative version of the form 1 verb; means "to consider or to deem someone to have the quality" ofthe form 1 verb in question

(ba3ada) means "to be far away"; (istab3ada) means "to consider s.o. or s.t. remote or unlikely"Often a requestive version of a form 1 verb; means "to request or to seek something" for oneself

(amala) means "to make; to do"; (ista3mala) means "to use, to put into operation" (that is, to seek tomake something work for oneself)

And here's a table of all the verb forms, including their perfect and imperfect conjugations ( ),active and passive participles ( ), and verbal nouns ( ). Because they're all regular andpredictable (with the exception of form 1 - the second vowel in the imperfect and perfect conjugations, and theverbal noun), if you just memorize them, you'll know them for almost every verb there is. So if you're learningArabic, I suggest you memorize all the verb forms along with their associated meanings as soon as you can; it'llreally come in handy.

1

2 or 3 4

5 6

7 8 - 9

10


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Verb conjugations for standard and Egyptian Arabic

This page contains information about the different kinds of verbs in Arabic and conjugation tables for each kind inboth standard and Egyptian Arabic.First of all, there are two moods/tenses in Arabic:

the perfect/past ( al-maaDi) - used to indicate actions that have been completed. the imperfect/present ( al-muDaari3) - used to indicate actions that have not been completed yet.

There are two main classes of verbs in Arabic: sound ( SaHiiH) and weak ( mu3tall). Here's an outlineof the types of verbs:

(al-fi3l aS-SaHiiH) Sound verbs - don't have a or as one of the three root letterso (al-fi3l aS-SaHiiH as-saalim) Regular sound verbso Irregular sound verbs:

(al-fi3l al-muDa33af) Geminate/doubled verbs - where the second and thirdradicals of the root are the same

daqqa - yadiqqu (to knock) radda - yaruddu (to reply)

(al-fi3l al-mahmuuz) Hamzated verbs - where is one of the consonants

akala - ya'kulu (to eat) sa'ala - yas'alu (to ask) bada'a - yabda'u (to begin)

(al-fi3l al-mu3tall) Weak verbs - have a or as one or more of the root radicalso (al-fi3l al-mitaal)Assimilated verbs - begin with or (usually ); in the imperfect an

in other situations the often disappears waDa3a - yaDa3u (to put) waSala - yaSilu (to arrive)

o (al-fi3l al-ajwaf) Hollow verbs - the second radical is either a or ; in the perfect, thor is replaced by an alif baa3a - yabii3u (to sell)

3 aada - ya3uudu (to return)o (al-fi3l al-naaqiS)Defective verbs- where the final root radical is either or a

nasiya - yansa (to forget) bada - yabdu (to appear, seem)
http://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html#regsoundhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html#gemhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html#hamzhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html#assimhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html#assimhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html#hollhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html#defecthttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html#defecthttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html#defecthttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html#regsoundhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html#gemhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html#hamzhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html#assimhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html#hollhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html#defect


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Sound verbs (al-fi3l aS-SaHiiH)Sound verbs don't have a or as one of the three root letters.

Regular sound verbs (al-fi3l aS-SaHiiH as-saalim)

This is the first type of sound verb.

Regular sound verbs - perfect mood(to write)


Singular

I wrote )katabtu( )katabt(you (masc.) wrote )katabta( )katabt(you (fem.) wrote )katabti( )katabti(he wrote )kataba( )katab(she wrote )katabat( )katabit(

Dual

we wrote)katabna(you wrote )katabtuma(

they (masc.) wrote )katabaa(

they (fem.) wrote )katabataa(

Plural

we wrote )katabna( )katabna(

you (masc.) wrote )katabtum()katabtuu(

you (fem.) wrote )katabtunna(

they (masc.) wrote )katabuu()katabuu(

they (fem.) wrote )katabna(

Regular sound verbs - imperfect mood(to write)


Singular

I write )aktubu( )aktib(

you (masc.) write )taktubu( )tiktib(

you (fem.) write )taktubiina( )tiktibi(

he writes )yaktubu( )yiktib(

she writes )taktubu( )tiktib(

Dualwe write )naktubu(you write )taktubaani(

they (masc.) write )yaktubaani(

they (fem.) write )taktubaani(

Plural

we write )naktubu( )niktib(

you (masc.) write )taktubuuna()tiktibuu(

you (fem.) write )taktubna(

they (masc.) write )yaktubuuna()yiktibuu(

they (fem.) write )yaktubna(


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Sound verbs (al-fi3l aS-SaHiiH)There are two types of irregular sound verbs. The first is:

Geminate/doubled verbs (al-fi3l al-muDa33af)Verbs where the second and third radicals of the root are the same.

Geminate verbs - perfect mood

(to reply)English Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

Singular

I replied )radadtu( )raddeit(you (masc.) replied )radadta( )raddeit(you (fem.) replied )radadti( )raddeiti(he replied )radda( )radd(she replied )raddat( )raddit(

Dual

we replied )radadna(

you replied )radadtuma(

they (masc.) replied )raddaa( they (fem.) replied )raddataa(

Plural

we replied )radadna( )raddeina(you (masc.) replied )radadtum(

)raddeituu(you (fem.) replied )radadtunna(they (masc.) replied )radduu(

)radduu(they (fem.) replied )radadna(

Note that in fuSHa, the doubled consonant is separated into two consonants for all the conjugations except thehighlighted ones. In 3ammiyya, though, the doubled consonant stays doubled.

Geminate verbs - imperfect mood (to reply)


Singular

I reply )aruddu( )arodd(you (masc.) reply )taruddu( )tirodd(you (fem.) reply )taruddiina( )tiroddi(he replies )yaruddu( )yirodd(she replies )taruddu( )tirodd(

Dual

we reply )naruddu(you reply )taruddani(they (masc.) reply )yaruddaani(they (fem.) reply )taruddaani(

Plural

we reply )naruddu( )nirodd(you (masc.) reply )tarudduuna(

)tirodduu(you (fem.) reply )tardudna(they (masc.) reply )yarudduuna(

)yirodduu(they (fem.) reply )yardudna(


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In fuSHa, the doubled consonant remains doubled for the imperfect conjugations, with the exception of the seconand third-person feminine plural conjugations. In 3ammiyya, the doubled consonant again remains doubled foreverything.

Sound verbs (al-fi3l aS-SaHiiH)The second type of irregular sound verb is:

Hamzated verbs

(al-fi3l al-mahmuuz)Verbs where is one of the root consonants.

Hamzated verbs - perfect mood(to eat)


Singular

I ate )akaltu( )akalt(you (masc.) ate )akalta( )akalt(you (fem.) ate )akalti( )akalti(

he ate )akala( )akal(she ate )akalat( )aklit(

Dual

we ate )akalna(

you ate )akaltuma(they (masc.) ate )akalaa(

they (fem.) ate )akalataa(

Plural

we ate )akalna( )akalna(you (masc.) ate )akaltum(

)akaltuu(you (fem.) ate )akaltunna(

they (masc.) ate )akaluu( )akaluu(they (fem.) ate )akalna(

Note that in 3ammiyya, people usually say (kal) rather than (akal). However, for the sake of directcomparison with fuSHa, I went with the latter variation for this table.

Hamzated verbs - imperfect mood(to eat)


Singular

I eat )akulu( )aakul(

you (masc.) eat )ta'kulu( )taakul(you (fem.) eat )ta'kuliina( )takli(

he eats )ya'kulu( )yaakul(

she eats )ta'kulu( )taakul(

Dual

we eat )na'kulu(you eat )ta'kulaani(

they (masc.) eat )ya'kulaani(

they (fem.) eat )ta'kulaani(


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Plural

we eat )na'kulu( )naakul(

you (masc.) eat )ta'kuluuna()taklu(

you (fem.) eat )ta'kulna(

they (masc.) eat )ya'kuluuna()yaklu(

they (fem.) eat )ya'kulna(

Note that while in fuSHa the hamza is kept in the imperfect conjugations, in 3ammiyya it is elided into a long alif

Hamzated verbs 2 - perfect mood(to ask)


Singular

I asked )sa'altu( )sa'alt(you (masc.) asked )sa'alta( )sa'alt(you (fem.) asked )sa'alti( )sa'alti(he asked )sa'ala( )sa'al(she asked )sa'alat( )sa'alit(

Dualwe asked )sa'alna(you asked )sa'altuma(

they (masc.) asked )sa'alaa(

they (fem.) asked )sa'alataa(

Plural

we asked )sa'alna( )sa'alna(

you (masc.) asked )sa'altum()sa'altuu(

you (fem.) asked )sa'altunna(

they (masc.) asked )sa'aluu()sa'aluu(

they (fem.) asked )sa'alna(

Hamzated verbs 2 - imperfect mood

(to ask)English Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

Singular

I ask )as'alu( )as'al(

you (masc.) ask )tas'alu( )tis'al(

you (fem.) ask )tas'aliina( )tis'ali(he asks )yas'alu( )yis'al(

she asks )tas'alu( )tis'al(

Dual

we ask )nas'alu(you ask )tas'alaani(

they (masc.) ask )yas'alaani(

they (fem.) ask )tas'alaani(

Plural

we ask )nas'alu( )nis'al(

you (masc.) ask )tas'aluuna()tis'aluu(

you (fem.) ask )tas'alna(

they (masc.) ask )yas'aluuna()yis'aluu(

they (fem.) ask )yas'alna(


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Hamzated verbs 3 - perfect mood

(to read)English Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

Singular

I read )qara'tu( ')areit(you (masc.) read )qara'ta( ')areit(you (fem.) read )qara'ti( ')areiti(he read )qara'a( ')ara(

she read )qara'at( ')arit(

Dual

we read )qara'na(

you read )qara'tuma(

they (masc.) read )qar'aa(

they (fem.) read )qara'taa(

Plural

we read )qara'na( ')areina(

you (masc.) read )qara'tum(')areituu(

you (fem.) read )qara'tunna(they (masc.) read )qara'uu(

')aruu(they (fem.) read )qara'na(Again, note that while the hamza is kept in the fuSHa conjugations, it is elided in 3ammiyya.

Hamzated verbs 3 - imperfect mood(to read)


Singular

I read )aqra'u( )a'ra(

you (masc.) read )taqra'u( )ti'ra(

you (fem.) read )taqra'iina( )ti'ri(

he reads )yaqra'u( )yi'ra(she reads )taqra'u( )ti'ra(

Dual

we read )naqra'u(

you read )taqra'aani(

they (masc.) read )yaqra'aani(

they (fem.) read )taqra'aani(

Plural

we read )naqra'u( )ni'ra(you (masc.) read )taqra'uuna(

)ti'ru(you (fem.) read )taqra'na(

they (masc.) read )yaqra'uuna()yi'ru(

they (fem.) read )yaqra'na(


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Weak verbs (al-fi3l al-mu3tall)A verb is "weak" if one of the letters from the verb's three root letters is , , or . There are three different classeof weak verbs; let's begin with:

Assimilated verbs (al-fi3l al-mitaal)Verbs where the first radical is a long vowel (usually ).

Assimilated verbs - perfect mood (to arrive)English Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

Singular

I arrived )waSaltu( )wiSilt(you (masc.) arrived )waSalta( )wiSilt(you (fem.) arrived )waSalti( )wiSilti(he arrived )waSala( )wiSil(she arrived )waSalat( )wiSlit(

Dual

we arrived )waSalna(

you arrived )waSaltuma(they (masc.) arrived )waSalaa(

they (fem.) arrived )waSalataa(

Plural

we arrived )waSalna( )wiSilna(

you (masc.) arrived )waSaltum()wiSiltuu(

you (fem.) arrived )waSaltunna(

they (masc.) arrived )waSaluu()wiSiluu(

they (fem.) arrived )waSalna(Note that weak verbs beginning with a are just like regular verbs regarding perfect conjugations.

Assimilated verbs - imperfect mood(to arrive)


Singular

I arrive )aSilu( )awSil(

you (masc.) arrive )taSilu( )tiwSil(

you (fem.) arrive )taSiliina( )tiwSili(

he arrives )yaSilu( )yiwSil(

she arrives )taSilu( )tiwSil(

Dual

we arrive )naSilu(you arrive )taSilaani(

they (masc.) arrive )yaSilaani(they (fem.) arrive )taSilaani(

Plural

we arrive )naSilu( )niwSil(

you (masc.) arrive )taSiluuna()tiwSilu(

you (fem.) arrive )taSilna(

they (masc.) arrive )yaSiluuna()yiwSilu(

they (fem.) arrive )yaSilna(


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Note that in the imperfect mood, an assimilated verb drops its first letter in fuSHa. In 3ammiyya, however, theinitial letter remains.

Weak verbs (al-fi3l al-mu3tall)The second kind of weak verb is:

Hollow verbs (al-fi3l al-ajwaf)

Verbs where the second radical is either a (as with ) or (as with ); in the perfect, the oris replaced by an alif.

Hollow verbs - perfect mood

(to visit)English Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

Singular

I visited )zurtu( )zurt(you (masc.) visited )zurta( )zurt(you (fem.) visited )zurti( )zurti(

he visited )zaara( )zaar(she visited )zaarat( )zaarit(

Dual

we visited )zurna(

you visited )zurtuma(

they (masc.) visited )zaaraa(

they (fem.) visited )zaarataa(

Plural

we visited )zurna( )zurna(you (masc.) visited )zurtum(

)zurtuu(you (fem.) visited )zurtunna(

they (masc.) visited )zaaruu( )zaaru(they (fem.) visited )zurna(

Note that the long vowel is dropped in all conjugations but those for the third-person singular, dual, and pluralmasculine. When the long vowel is dropped, it is replaced by a short version of the long consonant used in theimperfect conjugation. For example, the imperfect conjugation of zaara is yazuuru, so a short "u" is usedOther examples: the imperfect conjugation of kaana is yakuunu, so a short "u" is used for the perfectconjugations where the long vowel is dropped. But the imperfect conjugation of saara is yasiiru, so ashort "i" would be used in those instances.

Hollow verbs - imperfect mood(to visit)


Singular

I visit )azuuru( )azuur(you (masc.) visit )tazuuru( )tizuur(

you (fem.) visit )tazuuriina( )tizuuri(

he visits )yazuuru( )yizuur(

she visits )tazuuru( )tizuur(Dual we visit )nazuuru(


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you visit )tazuuraani(

they (masc.) visit )yazuuraani(they (fem.) visit )tazuuraani(

Plural

we visit )nazuuru( )nizuur(

you (masc.) visit )tazuuruuna()tizuuru(

you (fem.) visit )tazurna(

they (masc.) visit )yazuuruuna()yizuuru(they (fem.) visit )yazurna(

Note that here the long vowel is dropped only for the feminine second and third-person plurals.

Weak verbs (al-fi3l al-mu3tall)The third kind of weak verb is:

Defective verbs (al-fi3l an-naaqiS)

Verbs where the final root radical is either a (as with - ) or (as with - ).Defective verbs - perfect mood

(to forget)English Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

Singular

I forgot )nasiitu( )niseit(you (masc.) forgot )nasiita( )niseit(you (fem.) forgot )nasiiti( )niseiti(he forgot )nasiya( )nisi(

she forgot )nasiyat( )nisyit(

Dual

we forgot )nasiina(

you forgot )nasiituma(

they (masc.) forgot )nasiyaa(

they (fem.) forgot )nasiyataa(

Plural

we forgot )nasiina( )niseina(

you (masc.) forgot )nasiitum()niseitu(

you (fem.) forgot )nasiitunna(

they (masc.) forgot )nasiyuu()nisyu(

they (fem.) forgot )nasiina(

Defective verbs - imperfect mood(to forget)


Singular

I forget )ansa( )ansa(

you (masc.) forget )tansa( )tinsa(you (fem.) forget )tansiina( )tinsi(

he forgets )yansa( )yinsa(

she forgets )tansa( )tinsa(


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Dual

we forget )nansa(

you forget )tansaani(they (masc.) forget )yansaani(

they (fem.) forget )tansaani(

Plural

we forget )nansa( )ninsa(you (masc.) forget )tansuuna(

)tinsu(you (fem.) forget )tansana(

they (masc.) forget )yansuuna( )yinsu(

they (fem.) forget )yansuna(


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Verb tenses in Egyptian Arabic The past tense

o Uses the perfect ( ) conjugationo Negated with the prefix-suffix combination

The simple present tenseo Uses the imperfect ( ) conjugationo Rarely used outside a few situations

The present continuous tense*o Uses the prefix b- attached to imperfect ( ) verbo Frequently used for habitual actions, permanent conditions, and present continuous actionso Negated with the prefix-suffix combination

The future tenseo Uses the prefix ha- attached to imperfect ( ) verbo Negated with

* What I've labeled here as the present continuous tense is frequently used in the same way as the simple presenttense in English; I've used the "simple present" and "present continuous" labels here merely for purposes of

simplicity.

The past tenseFor the appropriate verb conjugations, see the perfect ( ) conjugationshere. Usage of the past tense inEgyptian Arabic is fairly simple; you use it much as you would in English.

(is-sana lli faatit roHna skenderiyya wa-'a3adna hnaak ahr)Last year we went to Alexandria and stayed there for a month.

(imbaariH kallemte babaaya fet-telefoon)Yesterday I talked to my dad on the phone.

The past tense is negated by adding the prefix and the suffix to the beginning and end of the verb. Here's anexample, using the verb )3 amal - yi3mel), "to do/make."

Past tense Negated past tense

(ana) I )3 amalt) (ma3amalte)

(enta) you masc. )3 amalt) (ma3amalte)

(enti) you fem. )3 amalti) (ma3amaltii)

(howwa) he )3 amal) (ma3amal)

(heyya) she )3 amlit) (ma3amlit)(eHna) we )3 amalna) (ma3amalnaa)

(entu) you pl. )3 amaltu) (ma3amaltuu)

(homma) they )3 amalu) (ma3amaluu)

Note that with the first-person and second-person masculine conjugations, a "helping vowel" is added before thefinal . A three-consonant cluster (like "ma3amalt") is not allowed in Egyptian Arabic, so a vowel is added tomake "ma3amalte." Also note that with weak and geminate/doubled verbs with a long -ei sound in the first- andsecond-person conjugations, the long -ei is shortened to a short -i sound for the negation:
http://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_tenses.html#pasthttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_tenses.html#preshttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_tenses.html#preschttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_tenses.html#futhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_tenses.html#pasthttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_tenses.html#preshttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_tenses.html#preschttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_tenses.html#futhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html


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Past tense Negated past tense

(ana) I (niseit) (mansit)

(enta) you masc. (niseit) (mansit)

(enti) you fem. (niseiti) (mansitii)

(howwa) he (nisi) (manasaa)

(heyya) she (nisyit) (manisyit/manasat)

(eHna) we (niseina) (mansinaa)

(entu) you pl. (niseitu) (mansituu)

(homma) they (nisyu) (manisyuu)

A simple example of negated past tense: (lil-asaf ma'dirte aagi 3aaan kunte 3ayyaana)

Unfortunately, I couldn't come because I was sick.

You can also say followed by the perfect ( ) conjugation of a verb to say that you've never donethat in your life.

(omri ma'areit Haaga zayye kida)I've never read anything like this.

(omru ma3amal wala haya3mel Haaga mufiida lin-naas)He never has done anything useful for people, and he never will.

(omri maoft aba min kida)I've never seen anything stupider than this.

The simple present tense

For the appropriate verb conjugations, see the imperfect ( ) conjugationshere. The simple present tense israrely used in Egyptian Arabic outside a few set situations.

It is used to ask somebody if they would like to do something. (tirab eih?)

What would you like to drink?

It is used with modals and words like and .

(mumkin ti'olli fein midaan it-taHriir?)

Can you tell me where Tahrir Square is?

(yemkin ateri 3arabiyya ba3de ma abtidi oli g-gediid)I might buy a car after I start my new job.

(3ayza at3allem 3arabi 3alaaan a'dar atkallem ma3a giddi)I want to learn Arabic so I can talk with my grandfather.
http://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.htmlhttp://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_conj.html


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The present continuous tense

In Egyptian Arabic, when you talk about anything happening in the present, you usually need to add a b- prefex tothe imperfect verb conjugations. Here's an example, again using .

Imperfect verb Present continuous tense

(ana) I (a3mel) (ba3mel)

(enta) you masc. (ti3mel) (biti3mel)

(enti) you fem. (ti3meli) (biti3meli)

(howwa) he (yi3mel) (biyi3mel)

(heyya) she (ti3mel) (biti3mel)

(eHna) we (ni3mel) (bini3mel)

(entu) you pl. (ti3melu) (biti3melu)

(homma) they (yi3melu) (biyi3melu)

If you want to express a habitual meaning (that you do something regularly), you have to use this tense. And if yowant to express a present continuous meaning (that you "are doing" something right now), you often use this tens

although sometimes you must use

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