SlideShare a Scribd company logo
1 of 6
Download to read offline
Nouns: gender
Nouns 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
(‫ةة‬‫ة‬‫ـ‬, pronounced -a), it is feminine, and if it doesn't
end in a ta marbuuTa, it's masculine.
However, there are exceptions. All of these words
are feminine, even though they don't end in a ta
marbuuTa:
Nouns that can refer to both men and women (like
job titles) can be made feminine with the addition
of the suffix ‫ـة‬ (-a).
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 ‫ةي‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ـ‬ (-ein) to the masculine singular form of
the noun.
Note: If the singular form ends in a taa marbuuTa (
‫ةة‬‫ـ‬, -a), you need to "untie it" — change it to a ‫ت‬ —
before adding the ‫ةي‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ـ‬ suffix. Take the word ‫ةملة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ج‬
("sentence") as an example:
Note: While you can use the ‫ةي‬‫ـ‬ suffix to talk about
two people, usually it's better to say "‫ةني‬‫ت‬‫ا‬ (itnein) +
[plural noun]":
If you want to talk about a pair of things, like socks
or shoes, you should use the singular form of the
noun, and it'll be understood that you're talking
about a pair. If you want to talk about one item out
of a pair, say ‫ةن‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫م‬ ‫ةردة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ف‬ (farda min), literally "an
individual from."
‫جديدة‬ ‫جزمة‬ ‫اشتري‬ ‫لزم‬ (laazim ašteri gazma gdiida)
I need to buy a new pair of shoes. - Note that
although "gazma" technically means "shoe," it's
understood that you mean a pair of shoes.
‫شرابي‬ ‫ةن‬‫ة‬‫م‬ ‫فردة‬ ‫ةية‬‫ة‬‫ق‬‫ل‬ ‫ةش‬‫ة‬‫م‬ ‫ةا‬‫ة‬‫ن‬‫أ‬ (ana miš la'ya farda min
šaraabi)
I can't find one of my socks. - Again, note that
"šaraabi" technically means just "my sock," but it's
understood to mean a pair.
Broken plurals
Most Arabic nouns have broken (irregular) plurals.
A few examples:
With these nouns, you simply have to memorize
their plural forms until you internalize the broken
plural patterns. Eventually, once you've memorized
enough broken plurals, you'll start being able to
predict the plural forms of new nouns.
Regular masculine plural
There are some nouns that have regular (sound)
plurals. Almost all masculine nouns that have
regular plurals fall under the category of job titles
etc. that can refer to either men or a mixed group of
men and women. To make one of these nouns
plural, you simply add the suffix ‫ـي‬ (-iin).
Note: In Arabic, plural human nouns that take the
masculine form can refer to either a group of all
men, or a group of men and women. So a group of
‫ةي‬‫ة‬‫س‬‫ةهند‬‫ة‬‫م‬ could be a bunch of male engineers, or a
mixed group of male and female engineers.
Regular feminine plurals
To make a feminine noun (that doesn't have a
broken plural form) plural, you drop the taa
marbuuTa and add the suffix ‫ةات‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ـ‬ (-aat). Many
foreign loanwords, even some that are masculine,
take this plural form (see ‫جاكيتة‬ and ‫.)كومبيوتر‬
Note: If you want to talk about a group of all
women, you take the masculine singular form of
the noun and, again, add the ‫ـات‬ suffix.

More Related Content

What's hot

Present tense powerpoint
Present tense powerpointPresent tense powerpoint
Present tense powerpointMissCairns
 
4 the present tense of regular ar verbs
4 the present tense of regular  ar verbs4 the present tense of regular  ar verbs
4 the present tense of regular ar verbsLaura Riddle
 
Chapter 1 present time
Chapter 1 present timeChapter 1 present time
Chapter 1 present timeAbyasaWidiarta
 
General Conjugation -Er Verbs
General Conjugation -Er VerbsGeneral Conjugation -Er Verbs
General Conjugation -Er Verbspotasz
 
Present Tense of Regular_-ar_verbs
Present Tense of Regular_-ar_verbsPresent Tense of Regular_-ar_verbs
Present Tense of Regular_-ar_verbsMirna Deakle
 
Regular present-tense-er-ir
Regular present-tense-er-irRegular present-tense-er-ir
Regular present-tense-er-irmmmckay
 
FRENCH: REGULAR VERBS IN ER RE IR- PRESENT TENSE
FRENCH:  REGULAR VERBS IN ER RE IR- PRESENT TENSEFRENCH:  REGULAR VERBS IN ER RE IR- PRESENT TENSE
FRENCH: REGULAR VERBS IN ER RE IR- PRESENT TENSEM, Michelle Jeannite
 
Course 8-Unit 3: Perfect modals meaning and form. adjust.
Course 8-Unit 3: Perfect modals meaning and form. adjust.Course 8-Unit 3: Perfect modals meaning and form. adjust.
Course 8-Unit 3: Perfect modals meaning and form. adjust.Martin Caicedo
 
Stress and Intonation
Stress and IntonationStress and Intonation
Stress and IntonationJoy Celestial
 
Ab General Conj. Span1
Ab General Conj. Span1Ab General Conj. Span1
Ab General Conj. Span1potasz
 
English adverbial clauses and turkish adverbial phrases (2)
English adverbial clauses and turkish adverbial phrases (2)English adverbial clauses and turkish adverbial phrases (2)
English adverbial clauses and turkish adverbial phrases (2)Our Sad Loss, 1930-2018
 
Modal verbs in english and modal allomorphs in turkish, yuksel goknel (revise...
Modal verbs in english and modal allomorphs in turkish, yuksel goknel (revise...Modal verbs in english and modal allomorphs in turkish, yuksel goknel (revise...
Modal verbs in english and modal allomorphs in turkish, yuksel goknel (revise...Our Sad Loss, 1930-2018
 
Derivational morpemes and their allomorphs
Derivational morpemes and their allomorphsDerivational morpemes and their allomorphs
Derivational morpemes and their allomorphsOur Sad Loss, 1930-2018
 

What's hot (17)

Present perfect
Present perfectPresent perfect
Present perfect
 
Present tense powerpoint
Present tense powerpointPresent tense powerpoint
Present tense powerpoint
 
Greek verbs: Type A and B1
Greek verbs: Type A and B1Greek verbs: Type A and B1
Greek verbs: Type A and B1
 
Future Tense
Future TenseFuture Tense
Future Tense
 
4 the present tense of regular ar verbs
4 the present tense of regular  ar verbs4 the present tense of regular  ar verbs
4 the present tense of regular ar verbs
 
Chapter 1 present time
Chapter 1 present timeChapter 1 present time
Chapter 1 present time
 
General Conjugation -Er Verbs
General Conjugation -Er VerbsGeneral Conjugation -Er Verbs
General Conjugation -Er Verbs
 
Present Tense of Regular_-ar_verbs
Present Tense of Regular_-ar_verbsPresent Tense of Regular_-ar_verbs
Present Tense of Regular_-ar_verbs
 
Regular present-tense-er-ir
Regular present-tense-er-irRegular present-tense-er-ir
Regular present-tense-er-ir
 
FRENCH: REGULAR VERBS IN ER RE IR- PRESENT TENSE
FRENCH:  REGULAR VERBS IN ER RE IR- PRESENT TENSEFRENCH:  REGULAR VERBS IN ER RE IR- PRESENT TENSE
FRENCH: REGULAR VERBS IN ER RE IR- PRESENT TENSE
 
Course 8-Unit 3: Perfect modals meaning and form. adjust.
Course 8-Unit 3: Perfect modals meaning and form. adjust.Course 8-Unit 3: Perfect modals meaning and form. adjust.
Course 8-Unit 3: Perfect modals meaning and form. adjust.
 
Stress and Intonation
Stress and IntonationStress and Intonation
Stress and Intonation
 
Ab General Conj. Span1
Ab General Conj. Span1Ab General Conj. Span1
Ab General Conj. Span1
 
Plural of nouns
Plural of nounsPlural of nouns
Plural of nouns
 
English adverbial clauses and turkish adverbial phrases (2)
English adverbial clauses and turkish adverbial phrases (2)English adverbial clauses and turkish adverbial phrases (2)
English adverbial clauses and turkish adverbial phrases (2)
 
Modal verbs in english and modal allomorphs in turkish, yuksel goknel (revise...
Modal verbs in english and modal allomorphs in turkish, yuksel goknel (revise...Modal verbs in english and modal allomorphs in turkish, yuksel goknel (revise...
Modal verbs in english and modal allomorphs in turkish, yuksel goknel (revise...
 
Derivational morpemes and their allomorphs
Derivational morpemes and their allomorphsDerivational morpemes and their allomorphs
Derivational morpemes and their allomorphs
 

Viewers also liked

3 theory
3 theory3 theory
3 theorybiscus
 
2 b textilmatutino_tarea3_EncisoBirriel
2 b textilmatutino_tarea3_EncisoBirriel2 b textilmatutino_tarea3_EncisoBirriel
2 b textilmatutino_tarea3_EncisoBirrielFernanda Enciso
 
프레젠테이션1
프레젠테이션1프레젠테이션1
프레젠테이션1cvmpartners
 
4 theory
4 theory4 theory
4 theorybiscus
 
1 theory
1 theory1 theory
1 theorybiscus
 
Samuthána Consultancoaching LLP Brochure
Samuthána Consultancoaching LLP BrochureSamuthána Consultancoaching LLP Brochure
Samuthána Consultancoaching LLP BrochureDinakar Murthy Krishna
 
Samuthána Consultancoaching LLP Broschüre
Samuthána Consultancoaching LLP BroschüreSamuthána Consultancoaching LLP Broschüre
Samuthána Consultancoaching LLP BroschüreDinakar Murthy Krishna
 
6 theory
6 theory6 theory
6 theorybiscus
 
Group presentation for Information Security Class.
Group presentation for Information Security Class.Group presentation for Information Security Class.
Group presentation for Information Security Class.Ashley Clark
 
Getting started on social media
Getting started on social mediaGetting started on social media
Getting started on social mediaCathy Yerges
 
Recorte de diseño curricular para trabajar con el área de lengua
Recorte de diseño curricular para trabajar con el área de lenguaRecorte de diseño curricular para trabajar con el área de lengua
Recorte de diseño curricular para trabajar con el área de lenguaAgustin Huaranca
 
DP Bio Topic 4-2 Energy Flow
DP Bio Topic 4-2 Energy FlowDP Bio Topic 4-2 Energy Flow
DP Bio Topic 4-2 Energy FlowR. Price
 

Viewers also liked (15)

3 theory
3 theory3 theory
3 theory
 
Activism
ActivismActivism
Activism
 
2 b textilmatutino_tarea3_EncisoBirriel
2 b textilmatutino_tarea3_EncisoBirriel2 b textilmatutino_tarea3_EncisoBirriel
2 b textilmatutino_tarea3_EncisoBirriel
 
프레젠테이션1
프레젠테이션1프레젠테이션1
프레젠테이션1
 
PC DMIS 2010
PC DMIS 2010PC DMIS 2010
PC DMIS 2010
 
4 theory
4 theory4 theory
4 theory
 
1 theory
1 theory1 theory
1 theory
 
Samuthána Consultancoaching LLP Brochure
Samuthána Consultancoaching LLP BrochureSamuthána Consultancoaching LLP Brochure
Samuthána Consultancoaching LLP Brochure
 
Samuthána Consultancoaching LLP Broschüre
Samuthána Consultancoaching LLP BroschüreSamuthána Consultancoaching LLP Broschüre
Samuthána Consultancoaching LLP Broschüre
 
6 theory
6 theory6 theory
6 theory
 
Group presentation for Information Security Class.
Group presentation for Information Security Class.Group presentation for Information Security Class.
Group presentation for Information Security Class.
 
Glosario
Glosario Glosario
Glosario
 
Getting started on social media
Getting started on social mediaGetting started on social media
Getting started on social media
 
Recorte de diseño curricular para trabajar con el área de lengua
Recorte de diseño curricular para trabajar con el área de lenguaRecorte de diseño curricular para trabajar con el área de lengua
Recorte de diseño curricular para trabajar con el área de lengua
 
DP Bio Topic 4-2 Energy Flow
DP Bio Topic 4-2 Energy FlowDP Bio Topic 4-2 Energy Flow
DP Bio Topic 4-2 Energy Flow
 

Similar to Gender and Number of Arabic Nouns

Spanish verbs that end in -ar
Spanish verbs that end in -arSpanish verbs that end in -ar
Spanish verbs that end in -arSeema Sumod
 
Arabic verb : Present tense ٱلْفِعْلُ ٱلْمُضَارِع
Arabic verb : Present  tense  ٱلْفِعْلُ ٱلْمُضَارِع Arabic verb : Present  tense  ٱلْفِعْلُ ٱلْمُضَارِع
Arabic verb : Present tense ٱلْفِعْلُ ٱلْمُضَارِع abd5050
 
Grammar Book
Grammar BookGrammar Book
Grammar Bookgmetropol
 
Español grammar book 2 added
Español grammar book 2 addedEspañol grammar book 2 added
Español grammar book 2 addedScottlyn James
 
Español grammar book 2 added
Español grammar book 2 addedEspañol grammar book 2 added
Español grammar book 2 addedScottlyn James
 
Subject pronouns, conjugation
Subject pronouns, conjugationSubject pronouns, conjugation
Subject pronouns, conjugationkrm38464
 
Grammar book
Grammar bookGrammar book
Grammar bookbrycemat
 
Adjectives in-english-and-arabic
Adjectives in-english-and-arabicAdjectives in-english-and-arabic
Adjectives in-english-and-arabica1mani
 
Grammar Review
Grammar ReviewGrammar Review
Grammar Reviewdavidsoj
 
Grammar Book -- Manuel Ormstrup
Grammar Book -- Manuel OrmstrupGrammar Book -- Manuel Ormstrup
Grammar Book -- Manuel OrmstrupManuelOrmstrup
 
Spanish 3 Grammar Notebook sem 1 and 2
Spanish 3 Grammar Notebook sem 1 and 2Spanish 3 Grammar Notebook sem 1 and 2
Spanish 3 Grammar Notebook sem 1 and 2Arce3
 
Complete English Grammar and language in PPT.pdf
Complete English Grammar and language in PPT.pdfComplete English Grammar and language in PPT.pdf
Complete English Grammar and language in PPT.pdfUsmanKaran
 
Grammar book2 s
Grammar book2 sGrammar book2 s
Grammar book2 sForrestB
 

Similar to Gender and Number of Arabic Nouns (20)

Spanish verbs that end in -ar
Spanish verbs that end in -arSpanish verbs that end in -ar
Spanish verbs that end in -ar
 
Spanish stuff
Spanish stuffSpanish stuff
Spanish stuff
 
Grammar book
Grammar bookGrammar book
Grammar book
 
Arabic verb : Present tense ٱلْفِعْلُ ٱلْمُضَارِع
Arabic verb : Present  tense  ٱلْفِعْلُ ٱلْمُضَارِع Arabic verb : Present  tense  ٱلْفِعْلُ ٱلْمُضَارِع
Arabic verb : Present tense ٱلْفِعْلُ ٱلْمُضَارِع
 
Grammar Book
Grammar BookGrammar Book
Grammar Book
 
Bianca book 2
Bianca book 2Bianca book 2
Bianca book 2
 
Español grammar book 2 added
Español grammar book 2 addedEspañol grammar book 2 added
Español grammar book 2 added
 
Español grammar book 2 added
Español grammar book 2 addedEspañol grammar book 2 added
Español grammar book 2 added
 
Subject pronouns, conjugation
Subject pronouns, conjugationSubject pronouns, conjugation
Subject pronouns, conjugation
 
Joscelyn roldan
Joscelyn roldanJoscelyn roldan
Joscelyn roldan
 
NOUN LESSON.docx
NOUN LESSON.docxNOUN LESSON.docx
NOUN LESSON.docx
 
Grammar book
Grammar bookGrammar book
Grammar book
 
Adjectives in-english-and-arabic
Adjectives in-english-and-arabicAdjectives in-english-and-arabic
Adjectives in-english-and-arabic
 
Grammar Review
Grammar ReviewGrammar Review
Grammar Review
 
Morphology
Morphology Morphology
Morphology
 
Grammar book sp3
Grammar book sp3Grammar book sp3
Grammar book sp3
 
Grammar Book -- Manuel Ormstrup
Grammar Book -- Manuel OrmstrupGrammar Book -- Manuel Ormstrup
Grammar Book -- Manuel Ormstrup
 
Spanish 3 Grammar Notebook sem 1 and 2
Spanish 3 Grammar Notebook sem 1 and 2Spanish 3 Grammar Notebook sem 1 and 2
Spanish 3 Grammar Notebook sem 1 and 2
 
Complete English Grammar and language in PPT.pdf
Complete English Grammar and language in PPT.pdfComplete English Grammar and language in PPT.pdf
Complete English Grammar and language in PPT.pdf
 
Grammar book2 s
Grammar book2 sGrammar book2 s
Grammar book2 s
 

Gender and Number of Arabic Nouns

  • 1. Nouns: gender Nouns 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 (‫ةة‬‫ة‬‫ـ‬, pronounced -a), it is feminine, and if it doesn't end in a ta marbuuTa, it's masculine. However, there are exceptions. All of these words are feminine, even though they don't end in a ta marbuuTa:
  • 2. Nouns that can refer to both men and women (like job titles) can be made feminine with the addition of the suffix ‫ـة‬ (-a). 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 ‫ةي‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ـ‬ (-ein) to the masculine singular form of the noun. Note: If the singular form ends in a taa marbuuTa ( ‫ةة‬‫ـ‬, -a), you need to "untie it" — change it to a ‫ت‬ —
  • 3. before adding the ‫ةي‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ـ‬ suffix. Take the word ‫ةملة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ج‬ ("sentence") as an example: Note: While you can use the ‫ةي‬‫ـ‬ suffix to talk about two people, usually it's better to say "‫ةني‬‫ت‬‫ا‬ (itnein) + [plural noun]": If you want to talk about a pair of things, like socks or shoes, you should use the singular form of the noun, and it'll be understood that you're talking about a pair. If you want to talk about one item out of a pair, say ‫ةن‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫م‬ ‫ةردة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ف‬ (farda min), literally "an individual from." ‫جديدة‬ ‫جزمة‬ ‫اشتري‬ ‫لزم‬ (laazim ašteri gazma gdiida) I need to buy a new pair of shoes. - Note that although "gazma" technically means "shoe," it's understood that you mean a pair of shoes.
  • 4. ‫شرابي‬ ‫ةن‬‫ة‬‫م‬ ‫فردة‬ ‫ةية‬‫ة‬‫ق‬‫ل‬ ‫ةش‬‫ة‬‫م‬ ‫ةا‬‫ة‬‫ن‬‫أ‬ (ana miš la'ya farda min šaraabi) I can't find one of my socks. - Again, note that "šaraabi" technically means just "my sock," but it's understood to mean a pair. Broken plurals Most Arabic nouns have broken (irregular) plurals. A few examples: With these nouns, you simply have to memorize their plural forms until you internalize the broken plural patterns. Eventually, once you've memorized enough broken plurals, you'll start being able to predict the plural forms of new nouns.
  • 5. Regular masculine plural There are some nouns that have regular (sound) plurals. Almost all masculine nouns that have regular plurals fall under the category of job titles etc. that can refer to either men or a mixed group of men and women. To make one of these nouns plural, you simply add the suffix ‫ـي‬ (-iin). Note: In Arabic, plural human nouns that take the masculine form can refer to either a group of all men, or a group of men and women. So a group of ‫ةي‬‫ة‬‫س‬‫ةهند‬‫ة‬‫م‬ could be a bunch of male engineers, or a mixed group of male and female engineers. Regular feminine plurals To make a feminine noun (that doesn't have a broken plural form) plural, you drop the taa
  • 6. marbuuTa and add the suffix ‫ةات‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ة‬‫ـ‬ (-aat). Many foreign loanwords, even some that are masculine, take this plural form (see ‫جاكيتة‬ and ‫.)كومبيوتر‬ Note: If you want to talk about a group of all women, you take the masculine singular form of the noun and, again, add the ‫ـات‬ suffix.