Arabic Case System

Arabic case system

Introduction

Nominative case

Genitive case

Accusative case

Additional notes

Introduction

First, what are case endings in Arabic? They are little markings (حركات Harakaat) that

are attached to the ends of words to indicate the words' grammatical function. That is, if

a word is the subject of a sentence, you use a case ending to indicate that; if a word is

the object of a verb, you use another case ending to indicate that. So clearly, using case

endings correctly requires a solid knowledge of grammar. If you're a native English

speaker who hasn't studied a language with a case system, like Latin or Russian, getting

used to this may be difficult.

Case endings are usually not written (with one exception) outside of the Qur'an/Bible

and children's books. But you will hear newscasters pronounce them, and if you want to

speak fuSHa well, it's a good idea to be familiar with the case system. Each case marker

corresponds to one of three different cases — nominative (مرفوع marfū3), genitive (

.and is pronounced as a short vowel — (manSūbمنصوب) majrūr), and accusative مجرور

Here are the three case markers:

On the left is the ضمة (Damma). It resembles a tiny و, goes above the end of a word,

and is pronounced as a short "u." It marks words in the nominative case. In the middle

is the كسرة (kasra), which goes below the end of a word and is pronounced as a short

"i." It marks words in the genitive case. On the right is the فتحة (fatHa), which goes

above the end of a word and is pronounced as a short "a." It marks words in the

accusative case.

Note: If the word you're marking is an indefinite adjective or noun, the case marker will

be nunated. That is, the Damma will be pronounced "-un" instead of "-u," the kasra will

be pronounced "-in" instead of "-i," and the fatHa will be pronounced "-an" instead of "-

a." And the markings will look like this:

Some examples:

Rاللقاَء (al-liqaa'a) Xلقاَء (liqaa'an)

Yالمكتُب (al-maktabu) (maktabun) مكتُب\

Rالمكتبة (al-

maktabata)

Xمكتبة (maktabatan

)

(Taawilati) طاولة^ (Taawilatin) طاولة`

Note: If a word in the accusative case (i.e. that needs a fatHa) is nunated and does not

end in a taa marbuuTa or hamza, it would take an alif along with the nunated fatHa.

Rالولَد (al-walada) (waladan) ولَدا

Rالبنَت (al-binta) (bintan) بنتا

Rالسعيَد (as-

sa3iida)

sa3iidan) سعيَدا

)

Rالحزيَن (al-

Haziina)(Haziinan) حزينا

So when exactly do you use these case markers? Let's go on to discuss the three cases.

Nominative case - المرفوع (al-marfū3)

This case is marked by a Damma. Words that fall into the following categories are

nominative:

1. فعلية جملة في  the subject of a verbal sentence - الفاعل

المَدرسة^ إلى Yالولَد Rذهُب. (dahaba l-waladu ila l-madrasati.)

The boy went to school.

2. اسمية جملة في والخبر  the subject and predicate of a nominal sentence - المبتَدأ

طويل\ Yالولَد. (al-waladu Tawīlun.)

The boy is tall. Note that طويل is nunated (-un instead of just -u) because

it is indefinite.

كبير\ البنَ̂ت Yبيَت. (beitu l-binti kabīrun.)

The girl's house is large. Again, note the nunation of the indefinite

adjective كبير.

3.  the vocative (addressing someone directly) - النَداَء

Yوالسادة Yالسيَدات (...ayyuha s-sayyidātu was-sādatu) ...أيها

Ladies and gentlemen...

4. The nominative case is also the default for words that are on their own. 

األوسط (aš-šarqu l-awsaTu) الشرق

the Middle East

5. It's also used with certain adverbs regardless of their position in the sentence.

Yمنُذ (mundu)

since; ago

Yحيُث (Haytu)

where; whereas

Genitive case - المجرور (al-majrūr)

This case is marked by a kasra. Words that fall into the following categories are

genitive:

1. The object of a preposition

اليميَن (ila l-yamīni) إلى

to the right

المكتبة^ (fi l-maktabati) في

in the library

2. زمان وظرف مكان the object of a locative adverb - ظرف

الشمِ̂س نور^ Rتحَت (taHta nūri š-šamsi)

under the sunlight (lit. light of the sun)

` أياٍم Rقبل (qabla ayyāmin)

[a few] days ago (lit. before days) - Note the nunation of the indefinite

noun أياٍم.

3. اليه the second term of an iDāfa - المضاف

المؤسسة^ Yمَدير (mudīru l-mu'assasati)

the foundation's director (or "the director of the foundation")

التجارة^ (ġurfatu t-tijārati) غرفة

the chamber of commerce

Accusative case - المنصوب (al-manSūb)

This case is marked by a fatHa. Words that fall into the following categories are

accusative:

1. به the object of a transitive verb - المفعول

نارا تشعل (la tuš3il nāran) ال

Don't light a fire. Again, نار is nunated because it is indefinite. It has an alif

because it ordinarily would have a regular fatHa, and doesn't end in a taa

marbuuTa or hamza.

Rاللقاَء (HaDarū l-liqā'a) حضروا

They attended the meeting.

2. فيه adverbial expressions of time, place, and manner, indicating the - المفعول

circumstances under which an action takes place

واحَدا يوما Yتستمر. (tastamirru yooman wāHidan.)

It lasts one day.

االقترا̂ع ^ يوٍم Rفجر (.jā'ū fajra yoomi l-iqtirā3i) .جاَءوا

They came at dawn on the day of balloting.

الجنسية^ على حَديثا Yحصلَت. (HaSaltu Hadītan 3ala l-jinsiyyati.)

I recently obtained citizenship.

3. المطلق the internal object or cognate accusative structure. What - المفعول

does that mean? It's just a way of intensifying an action by following the verb with

its corresponding verbal noun (مصَدر maSdar) and an adjective modifying it.

جُذريا حال Rالموضوع (.Hallati l-mawDū3a Hallan jidriyyan) .حل�َت

It solved the issue fundamentally.

Rفع�الة Rمساهمة (.sāhamā musāhamatan fa33ālatan) .ساهما

They [dual] participated effectively.

4. the circumstantial accusative. This is a way to describe a condition/action - الحال

going on at the same time as the main action.

معترضا يَدRه Rرفَع. (rafa3a yadahu mu3tariDan.)

He raised his hand objecting.

متأخرا Rالصَف Rدخل. (daxala S-Saffa muta'axxiran.)

He entered class late.

Xمُذعورة (.qafazat mad3ūratan) .قفزت¤

She jumped, frightened.

سؤا̂ل على ردا Rوقال... (wa-qāla raddan 3ala su'ālin...)

[And] he said, replying to a question...

5. ألجله shows the purpose of an action, usually using an - المفعول

indefinite مصَدر.

أسلحة` عَن بحثا Xحملة Yتشَن Yالقوات. (al-quwwātu tašunnu

Hamlatan baHtan 3an asliHatin.)

The forces are launching a campaign searching for weapons.

له تكريما أقاموها استقبا̀ل حفلة^ Rخالل (xilāla Haflatin istiqbālin

aqāmūha takrīman lahu)

during a reception they gave in his honor

6. the accusative of specification; often answers the question "in what - التمييز

way?" Includes the comparative/superlative and counted nouns between 11 and

99.

وفعال قوال Rذاَك Yنعلَن. (nu3linu dāka qawlan wa-fi3lan.)

We announce that in speech and action.

Xوفخامة جاها عاصمة` Rأكبر -kānat akbara 3āSimatin jāhan wa) .كانَت¤

faxāmatan.)

It was the greatest capital in fame and splendor.

�َدا مجل Rعشريَن (fī 3išrīna mujalladan) في

in twenty volumes

عاما Rعشر Xخمسة مَدى (3ala mada xamsata 3ašra 3āman) على

for fifteen years

Those are the main instances where you use the accusative. There are also other,

special words that shift words into the accusative case:

وأخواتها - - ظَن� وأخواتها إن� وأخواتها  كانClick here for more information on that. 

A couple of notes:

With feminine plural nouns ending in ـات, change any fatHa that would ordinarily go at

the end to a kasra.

السيارا̂ت Yالرجل Rغسل. (ġasala l-rajulu s-sayyārāti.)

The man washed the cars. It has to be sayyārāti, not sayyārāta!

Note that dual and regular plural nouns like بنتان (bintān, two girls)

or مصريون (miSriyūn, Egyptians) change endings in the genitive case; the ـان (ān)

becomes ـيَن (-ein), and the ـون (ūn) becomes ـيَن (-īn).

Yالكتابان -hādāni l) هُذا̂ن

kitaabaanu)

الكتابيَ̂ن هُذيَ̂ن -fī hādeini l) في

kitābeini)

these two books in these two books

Rالموظفيَن مَع X اجتماعا Yالمَدير R3) .عقَدaqada l-mudīru ijtimā3an ma3a l-

muwaZZafīna.)

The director held a meeting with the employees.

Special converters to accusative

Introduction

وأخواتها (kāna wa-axawātuha) كان

وأخواتها (inna wa-axawātuha) إن�

وأخواتها (Zanna wa-axawātuha) ظَن�

Introduction

There are three categories of words that shift what follows into the accusative case (

.(المنصوب

But first, let's pick a simple nominal sentence ( اسمية :to work with as an example (جملة

طويل\ Yالولَد (al-waladu Tawiilun)

The boy is tall.

Each part of this sentence — the subject (المبتَدأ), al-walad, and the predicate (الخبر),

Tawiil — is in the "default" nominative case (المرفوع). Now, if we put a word

like كان or  at the beginning of this sentence, it will shift a part of the sentence into the إن�

accusative case (المنصوب).

وأخواتها (kāna wa-axawātuha) كان

to be (kāna) كان

to not

be;

(laysa) ليِس

used

for

negatio

n

to

becom

e

أصب

(aSbaHa)ح(Sāra) صار

با

bāta)ت

)

أمس

(amsa)ى

to

remain(Zalla) ظل

baqiy) بقى

a)

to

continu

e to

be/still

be

زال ma) ما

zāla)

ما | داٍم

/dāma) داٍم

ma dāma)

If you put any of these words in a sentence, it will change the predicate (الخبر) from the

nominative case (المرفوع) to the accusative case (المنصوب).

طويل\ Yالولَد (al-waladu Tawiilun) طويال Yالولَد (kaana l-waladu Tawiilan) كان

The boy is tall. The boy was tall.

جيَد\ Yالكتاب -haada l) هُذا

kitaabu jayyidun)

جيَدا Rليِس Yالكتاب -haada l) هُذا

kitaabu laysa jayyidan)

This book is good. This book is not good.

ناجحة\ Yالطالبة (aT-

Taalibatu naajiHatun)

Rناجحة Yالطالبة -aSbaHat aT) أصبحَت

Taalibatu naajiHatan)

The student is successful. The student became successful.

Yمتفائل Yالشعُب (aš-

ša3bu mutafaa'ilun)

متفائال Yالشعُب Rزال -ma zaala š) ما

ša3bu mutafaa'ilan)

The people are optimistic. The people are still optimistic.

وأخواتها (inna wa-axawātuha) إن<

indeed — used for emphasis — or that* (inna) إن�

that* (anna) أن�

butlaakinna) لكَن�

)

because (li'anna) ألن

as if (ka'anna) كأن

perhaps (la3alla) لعل�

If you put any of these words in a sentence, it will change the subject (المبتَداَء) from the

nominative case (المرفوع) to the accusative case (المنصوب).

طويل\ Yالولَد (al-

waladu Tawiilun)طويل\ Rالولَد (inna l-walada Tawiilun) إن�

The boy is tall. [Indeed] the boy is tall.

مريضة\ Yالبنَت (al-

bintu muriiDatun)

مريضه\ إنها Rالبنَت qaalat al-binta innaha) قالَت

muriiDatun)

The girl is sick. The girl said [that] she is sick.

قريُب\ Yالنجاُح (an-

najaaHu qariibun)

قريُب\ Rالنجاُح -la3alla an) لعل

najaaHa qariibun)

Success is near. Perhaps success is near.

* The difference between   and إن�  :أن�

Uses of  :(inna) إن�

1. Follows قال to mean "to say that"

2. May come at the beginning of a sentence, for emphasis; like "indeed"

Uses of  :(anna) أن�

1. Reports factual information after a verb of perception —  أن� to believe) اعتقَد

that);  أن�  — or a verb of communication — (to hear that) سمَع أن� to announce) أعلَن

that);  أن� .(to mention that) ذكر

وأخواتها (Zanna wa-axawātuha) ظّن<

These verbs include verbs of perception and verbs of transformation:

to believe, suppose (Zanna) ظَن�

to consideri3tabara) اعتبر

)

to see, perceive, deem (ra'a) رأى

to find, deem (wajada) وجَد

to consider, deem (3adda) عَد�

to convert �ر (Sayyara) صي

to make (ja3ala) جعل

to to take, adopt (as) (ittaxada) اتخُذ

to leave (taraka) ترَك

If you put any of these words in a sentence, it will change both the subject (المبتَداَء) and

the predicate (الخبر) to the accusative case (المنصوب).

ضرورٌي\ Yاالجتماع (al-ijtimaa3u

Daruuriyyun)

ضروريا Rاالجتماع na3atabiru l-ijtimaa3a) نعتبر\

Daruuriyyan)

The meeting is necessary.We consider the meeting [to be]

necessary.

مفتوُح\ Yالباب (al-baabu

maftuuHun)

\ مفتوحا Rالباب Rترَك (taraka l-baaba

maftuuHan)

The door is open. He left the door open.

سهلة\ Yالقيادة (al-qiyaadatu

sahlatun)

Rسهلة Rالقيادة أحمَد -Zanna aHmad al) ظَن

qiyaadata sahlatan)

Driving is easy. Ahmed believed driving was easy.

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 with object pronouns, these take the form of suffixes; they are

attached to the noun that's owned.

(beiti) بيتي

my house

(kitaabu) كتابه

his book

(uxtuhum) أختهم

their sister

Note: If the noun that's owned ends in a taa' marbuuTa (ـة), the taa' marbuuTa must

be "untied" and made into a ت before the pronoun suffix is added:

maternal aunt - (xaala) خالة

Untie the taa' marbuuTa to get خالَت and then add the pronoun suffix:

my maternal aunt - (xalti) خالتي

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

person singular.

Possessive pronouns in standard and Egyptian Arabic:

  EnglishStandard

ArabicEgyptian Arabic

Singula

r

my (i)- ـي

your (masc.) Rـَك -(ka) (ak)- ـَك

your (fem.) (ki)- ـَ̂ك (ik)- ـَك

his (u)- ـه

her (ha)- ـها

Dual

our (na)- ـنا  

your (kuma)- ـكما  

their (huma)- ـهما  

Plural

our (na)- ـنا

your (masc.) (kum)- ـكمـكم\ -/ku)- ـكو

kum)your (fem.) (kunna)- ـكَن

their (masc.) (hum)- ـهم

(hom)- ـهم

their (fem.) (hunna)- ـهَن

Note: In standard Arabic, if the noun that's owned is dual (ends in ـان -aan or ـيَن -ein),

or if the noun has a sound masculine plural suffix (ـون -uun or ـيَن -iin), you need to

drop the final ـَن before adding the pronoun suffix.

waal) والَدان

idaan)

waali) والَداهم

daahum)

mu'ay) مؤيَدون

yiduun)

mu'ay) مؤيَدوه

yiduuh)

two parents their parents supporters his supporters

yadein) يَديَن

)(yadeiha) يَديها

mud) مَدرسيَن

arrisiin)

muda) مَدرسي�

rrisiyya)

two hands her hands teachers my teachers

Note: In Egyptian Arabic, if a noun, verb, or preposition ends in a vowel that is not a

taa' marbuuTa, some of the pronoun suffixes you'll need to use with it will change. For

object/possessive pronouns:

.stays the same (ni-) ـني

(i-) ـي (ya-) ـيا →

-) ـَكak)

(k-) ـَك →

(ik-) ـَك-) ـكي →ki)

(u-) ـه (h-) ـه →

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

examples:

(wara) ورا (waraaya) وراياHawaal) حوالي

i)

Hawaleiyya) حوالي�

)

behind behind me around around me

(-li) لـ (liik) ليَك ا (warra) ور� اَك (warraak) ور�

forfor you (masc.

sing.)to show

he showed you

(masc. sing.)

 على

(3ala)

 عليكي

(3aleiki)(baaba) بابا (babaaki) باباكي

onon you (fem.

sing.)dad

your dad (fem.

sing.)

(ma3a) مَع (ma3aah) معاه (fi) في (fiih) فيه

with with him in in him

Note: In colloquial Arabic, when used with possessive suffixes, the words أب (ab),

"father," and أخ (ax), "brother," take the form أبو(abu) and أخو (axu). Again, the final -u

vowel is lengthened before the suffix is added.

(abuuya) أبويا (axuuya) أخويا

my father my brother

(abuuk) أبوَك (axuuk) أخوَك

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

(abuuki) أبوكي (axuuki) أخوكي

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

(abuuh) أبوه (axuuh) أخوه

his father his brother

etc.

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 كتابيني

  بتوعي il-kitabein) الكتابيَن

bituu3i)

There are, however, a few exceptions:

 عيني�

(3eineiyya)

rigleiyy) رجلي�

a)(iideiyya) ايَدٌي�

my (two) eyes my (two) legs my (two) hands

(3eineik) عينيَك (rigleik) رجليَك (iideik) ايَديَك

your eyes your legs your hands

etc.

Subject and object pronouns in standard and Egyptian Arabic

Subject pronouns -  الفاعل (Damaa'ir al-faa3il) ضمائر

Object pronouns -  به المفعول (Damaa'ir al-maf3uul bihi) ضمائر

Subject pronouns

Subject pronouns (I, you, we, he, she, we, they) take the place of a noun and function as

the subject of a sentence.

أمريكا مَن (ana min amriika) أنا

I am from the US.

مهنَدس (howwa mohandis) هو

He is an engineer.

Note: In Arabic, the subject pronoun is frequently dropped. You can tell from a verb

conjugation who the subject is, so it's not really necessary to use the subject pronoun in

such cases except for emphasis. However, in equational (verbless) sentences like the

two above, you do need the subject pronoun.

Subject pronouns in standard and Egyptian Arabic

  English Standard Egyptian

Arabic Arabic

Singula

r

I (ana) أنا

you (masc.) Rانَت (anta) (inta) انَت

you (fem.) (anti) انَ̂ت (inti) انتى

he (howwa) هو

she (heyya) هي

Dual

we (naHnu) نحَن  

you (antuma) أنتما  

they (humaa) هما  

Plural

we (naHnu) نحَن (eHna) احنا

you (masc.) (antum) أنتم

(intu) انتو

you (fem.) (antunna) أنتَن

they (masc.) (homa) هم

(homa) هم

they (fem.) (hunna) هَن

Note: In English, there is only one second-person pronoun, "you," which is used

whether you're talking to one person, 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:  Rانَ̂ت\انَت  if you're addressing one

person, أنتما if you're addressing two (in standard Arabic), and أنتَن\أنتم  if you're

addressing three or more people. Note that the dual "you" (أنتما) is the same regardless

of gender. In standard Arabic, there is also a dual version of "they" (هما - which is

gender-indiscriminate as well) and masculine and feminine versions of the plural "they"

.(هَن and هم)

Note that Egyptian Arabic has fewer pronouns than standard Arabic, since it has no dual

pronouns; it just has plural pronouns that are used to talk about two or more people, of

any gender. And the colloquial انتو and هم are gender-neutral.

Object pronouns

Object pronouns (me, you, us, him, her, them) are used when you do something

directly to someone or something else. In Arabic, these pronouns are suffixes that are

attached to the verb:

(Darabatu) ضربته

She hit him.

(yaškuruuni) يشكروني

They thank me.

Object pronouns in standard and Egyptian Arabic

  EnglishStandard

ArabicEgyptian Arabic

Singula

r

me (ni)- ـني

you (masc.) Rـَك -(ka) (ak)- ـَك

you (fem.) (ki)- ـَ̂ك (ik)- ـَك

him (u)- ـه

her (ha)- ـها

Dual

us (na)- ـنا  

you (kuma)- ـكما  

them (huma)- ـهما  

Plural

us (na)- ـنا

you (masc.) (kum)- ـكمـكم\ -/ku)- ـكو

kum)you (fem.) (kunna)- ـكَن

them (masc.) (hum)- ـهم

(hom)- ـهم

them (fem.) (hunna)- ـهَن

Note: In colloquial Arabic, ـكو and ـكم are both used, but the former is more colloquial

than the latter.

Here are some examples of object pronoun usage, using the verb سأل (sa'al) - "to ask." 

  English Standard Arabic Egyptian Arabic

Singula

r

He asked me (sa'alni) سألني

He asked you Rسألَك (sa'alaka) (sa'alak) سألَك

(masc.)

He asked you

(fem.)(sa'alaki) سألَ̂ك (sa'alik) سألَك

He asked him sa'alahu [more standard] or sa'alu [more) سأله

colloquial])

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

colloquial])

Dual

He asked us (sa'alna) سألنا  

He asked you (sa'alkuma) سألكما  

He asked them (sa'alhuma) سألهما  

Plural

He asked us (sa'alna) سألنا

He asked you

(masc.)(sa'alkum) سألكم

ـكم\ (sa'alku/sa'alkum) سألكو

He asked you

(fem.)(sa'alkunna) سألكَن

He asked them

(masc.)(sa'alhum) سألهم

(sa'alhom) سألهم

He asked them

(fem.)(sa'alhunna) سألهَن

Articles and the sun and moon letters in Egyptian Arabic

Articles

Sun and moon letters

Articles

Definite articles

A definite article — "the," in English — specifies something in particular, usually

something that has already been mentioned, as opposed to something general

(the book, as opposed to any book). In Arabic, there is a definite article (الـ -il, "the")

that is invariable; it is used for singular and plural, masculine and feminine nouns.

جنبي ساكَن اللي الولَد (šoft il-walad illi saakin gambi) شفَت

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 definite article in these instances.

األجنبية األفالٍم  (baHebb il-aflaam il-agnabiyya) بحُب

I like foreign films (lit. the foreign films, since we're referring to foreign films in general)

الحرب مَن أحسَن  (is-salaam aHsan min il-Harb) السالٍم

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, in Arabic we would say:

مهنَدس  (howwa mohandis) هو

He is an engineer (lit. He engineer) 

مَدرسة  (heyya mudarrisa) هي

She is a teacher (lit. She teacher)

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

Sun and moon letters

Sun lettersIf a word begins with one of the "sun letters" ( الشمسية and is definite, the ,(الحروف

"l" of the definite article is assimilated into the following consonant. So instead of

pronouncing الشمِس as "il-šams," you say "iš-šams."

(t) ت (it-taman) التمَن the price

(T) ط-iT) الطالُب

Taalib)the student

(d) د (id-duniya) الَدنيا the world

(D) ض (iD-Deif) الضيَف the guest

(s) س (is-sitt) السَت the woman

(S) ص (iS-Seif) الصيَف summer

(š) ش (iš-šerka) الشركةthe

company

(z) ز (iz-zeit) الزيَت oil

(Z) ظ (iZ-Zarf) الظرفthe

envelope

("the French "j) (ž) ج-iž) الجاكيتة

žakitta)the jacket

(n) ن (in-nuur) النور the light

(r) ر (ir-raagil) الراجل the man

In Egyptian Arabic, there are two more letters that may or may not be assimilated:

(g) ج-ig-gamal or il) الجمل

gamal)

the

camel

k) َك

)

-ik-kitaab or il) الكتاب

kitaab)the book

Moon lettersWith "moon letters" ( القمرية however, the definite article is not assimilated ,(الحروف

into the following letter.

(a) أ (il-ax) األخ the brother

  (il-'ahwa) القهوة the coffee

b) ب

)(il-baab) الباب the door

(H) ُح (il-Hafla) الحفلة the party

(x) خ (il-xoDaar) الخضار vegetables

(3) ع-il) العربية3arabiyya)

the car

(ġ) غ (il-ġada) الغَدا lunch

(f) ف ('il-fundu) الفنَدق the hotel

(q) ق (il-qariya) القرية the village

m) ٍم

)(il-mayya) المية the water

(w) و (il-waadi) الوادٌي the valley

(h) ه (il-hidiyya) الهَديةthe

present

(y) ٌي (il-yunaan) اليونان Greece

Adverbs in Egyptian Arabic

An adverb modifies a verb (or an adjective or adverb) and answers questions like how,

when, where, why, and to what degreesomething was done. Here is a list of some

common adverbs; all usually come after the expression they're modifying, except for

.which usually comes before the modified expression ,حوالي

Adverbs of time Adverbs of place

today -in) النهارده

nahaarda)

yesterda

y

imbaa) امبارُح

riH)

tomorrow (bukra) بكرة

now dilwa) دلوقَت

'ti)

later ba3dei) بعَديَن

n)

a long

time ago

zamaa) زمان

n)

recently/

soon

'/ariib') قريُب

orayyib)

always dayman) دايما

)

never (abadan) أبَدا

early (badri) بَدرٌي

late (waxri) وخرٌي

here (hina) هنا

there hin) هناَك

aak)

outside barra) برا

)

inside gu) جوه

wwa)

up,

upstair

s

'foo) فوق

)

down,

downst

airs

ta) تحَتHt)

in front

of

ud') قَداٍم

daam)

behind wara) ورا

)

  mit'ax) متأخر

xar)

finally (axiiran) أخيرا

usually  عادة

(3aadatan)

usually,

for the

most part

ġaaliban) غالبا

)

sometim

es

aHyaan) أحيانا

an)

  sa3a) ساعات

at)

Adverbs indicating degree

very (awi') قوٌي

      قوٌي عجبني ده I liked that movie a - (il-film da 3agibni 'awi) الفيلم

lot.

      قوٌي حلوة صورة This is a really nice - (di Suura Helwa 'awi) دٌي

picture.

very/at all (xaaliS) خالص

      خالص حاجة عارف مش He - (howwa miš 3aaref Haaga xaaliS) هو

doesn't know a thing.

      خالص خربانة دٌي This country is - (il-balad di xarbaana xaaliS) البلَد

totally messed up.

very (giddan) جَدا

      جَدا جميل What you're saying is - (kalaamak gamiil giddan) كالمَك

really good.

a lot; often (kitiir) كتير

      كتير قلقني ده This news really - (il-xabar da 'ala'ni kitiir) الخبر

worried me.

totally .This is very slangy * (moot) موت

      موت جامَدة دٌي These songs - (il-aġaani di gamda moot) األغاني

are really cool.

more, in

addition

(kamaan) كمان

      شوية كمان .Wait a little more - (istanna kamaan šwayya) استنى

nearly (ta'riiban) تقريبا

      ساعة نص تقريبا We had - (fiDilna ta'riiban noSS saa3a) فضلنا

almost half an hour left.

      تقريبا رمضان Ramadan is almost - (xiliS ramaDaan ta'riiban) خلص

over.

nearly Usually comes before the * (Hawaali) حوالي

expression being modified.

      كَده مستنية ساعة حوالي بقالي ana ba'aali Hawaali saa3a) أنا

mistanniyya kida) - I've been waiting like this for about an hour.

a little (šwayya) شوية

      شوية أحسَن أدواره يختار الزٍم ده il-mumassil da laazim) الممثل

tixtaar adwaaru aHsan šwayya) - That actor should pick his roles a bit

better.

Adverbs of manner

like this, in this way (kida) كَده

      ليه كَده بتعاملني عارفة I - (miš 3arfa bit3aamilni kida leih) مش

don't know why you're treating me like this.

in this way/manner ده (biš-šakle da) بالشكل

      ده؟ بالشكل تكلمني تستجرٌي -izzaayy tistigri tkallemni biš) ازاٌي

šakle da?) - How do you dare talk to me like that?

quickly (bi-sur3a) بسرعة

      أوصل ألحق عشان بسرعة الشارع في ماشي kunte) كنَت

maaši fiš-šaari3 bis-sur3a 3ašaan alHa' awSal) - I was walking down the

street fast so I could make it on time.

quickly, in a short time (awaam') قواٍم

      قواٍم نخلص عشان نبَدأ - (yalla nibda' 3ašaan nixallaS 'awaam) يلال

Come on, let's get started so we can finish quickly.

slowly (bišweiš) بشويش

      ايه؟ على مستعجل شوية، bišweiš šiwayya, mista3gil) بشويش

3ala eih?) - [Go] slowly, what are you in a hurry for?

right away, immediately (Haalan) حاال

      حاال الرد عاوزة I want the answer - (!ana 3awza r-rudd Haalan) !أنا

right away!

presently, at this time (Haaliyyan) حاليا

      ألمانيا في مقيمة حاليا - (ana Haaliyyan muqiima fi almanya) أنا

Right now I'm living in Germany.

together (sawa) سوا

      سوا الهوا في We're all in the same boat - (kullina fil-hawa sawa) كلنا

(lit. "We are in the air together").

alone, by oneself li-waHd- + pronoun) لوحَد

suffix)

      لوحَدٌي أسكَن I prefer to live by - (bafaDDal askun li-waHdi) بفضل

myself.

straight ahead; right away;

continuously; forever

طول (3ala Tuul) على

      شمالَك على الجامَع ماتالقي لحَد طول على imši 3ala) امشى

Tuul li-Hadde matlaa'i g-gaami3 3ala šmaalak) - Go straight until you find

the mosque on your left.

      طول على وجاٌي ,Just a minute - (di'ii'a wa-gayy 3ala Tuul) دقيقة

I'm coming right away.

      طول على واحشني I miss you all the - (inta waHešni 3ala Tuul) انَت

time.

      طول على الفرُح بعَد قطر مسافرة ana msafra qaTar ba3d) انا

il-faraH 3ala Tuul) - I'm going to Qatar right after the wedding.

      طول على يكسُب هيفضل مش howwa miš hayifDal yiksib) هو

3ala Tuul) - He won't keep winning forever.

deliberately, on purpose (3amdan) عمَدا

      عمَدا؟ كَده عملَت إني bitfakkar inni 3amelte kida) بتفكر

3amdan?) - Do you think I did that deliberately?