A Guide to Arabic Prepositions for Non-native Speakers

A TRAIL EDITION

A Guide to Arabic Preposition for
Non-Native Speakers

Usages of Arabic Prepositions

By
Yaman Hussien

Usages preposition in Arabic sentences correctly has been always an issue for
non-native Arabic speakers. Even advanced learners of Arabic find prepositions
difficult, as a 1:1 translation is usually not possible. One preposition in your native
language might have several translations depending on the situation. This guide is a
participation to help learning when and which one to use in Arabic language.
For each preposition, you'll find a table of most usages and plenty of
examples. Some verbs in Arabic always come with specific preposition (s). That's
why, reading a lot and looking them up in a dictionary can be very helpful.
I looked in different references and dictionaries to came up with simple way
to deliver these information. I also used online Oxford dictionary to make
comparison between Arabic and English prepositions. There are translation for all
Arabic examples to help learners clear any confusing that might be in this area.
As you had notice, this edition is just a trail. You can use it for any education
purposes for yourself and for others (if you're a teacher) but not for commercial
usages.
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2

‫ن‬
ْ ِ‫م‬
‫استِع َاالت َرْف اجلَر‬
‫ْ ْم ح‬

‫مَال‬
‫ِث‬

‫الَرْج َة‬
‫ت َم‬

Preposition usages

Example

Translating

[1] To mark the
beginning of place

ِ‫يمْشِي َي ٌ مِ َ الَيْتِ إىل الـ َدْ َ َة‬
‫م رس‬
‫َ زد ن ب‬

Zayd walks from home
to the school

[2] To mark the
beginning of period of
time

5 ‫َمْشي َي ٌ م َ ال ّاعة 3 إىل ال َّا َة‬
‫سع‬
‫ي ز د ِن س‬

Zayd walks from 3
o'clock to the 5 o'clock

‫َرِ َ َيْ ٌ مِن العصِري‬
َ
‫شبزد‬
(In this example Zayd didn't drink
the whole juice)

[3] To get few out of
whole

Zayd drank from the
juice

Zayd doesn't have any
money

‫َيْ ٌ َأطْ َ ُ مِن ُور‬
‫ز د ول ن‬

Zayd is taller than Noor

‫َأَا مِن فلَسْطِني‬
َ ‫ن‬

I'm from Palatine

ِ‫أنا قَرِي ٌ مِ َ الَيْت‬
‫ب ن ب‬
[5] Indicating the
source or provenance
of someone or
something

Zayd eats a little of food

‫ال يملِكُ َيْ ًا َيًا مِن املَال‬
‫َْ ز د ش ئ‬
[4] To compare - must
come after
comparative verb:
(‫)أطول – أقصر – أرخص - أمجل‬

‫َأك ُ َي ٌ القلِيل مِن الطَّ َام‬
‫ع‬
َ ‫ي لزد‬

I'm close to home

‫َاهِد ُ ُو َ الشمسِ مِن هَا‬
‫ُن‬
ْ َ ‫ش شر ق‬

Watch sunrise from
here


This book is from Zayd

‫ال َغ َبْ منْـ َا‬
‫ت ْض ِ ه‬
[6] To show what
something is made of
or consist of

‫َ َا الكَا ُ مِن َيد‬
‫هذ ِت ب ز‬

Don't be angry with her

ِ‫َيْ ٌ من اخلَ َب‬
‫ش‬
‫بت‬

A house out of wood

‫َذِهِ رِ َا َةٌ مِن َالث ف ُول‬
‫ه و ي ث ُص‬

This is a novel in three
parts

3

‫ِإلَى‬
‫ْ ْم ح‬

‫مَال‬
‫ِث‬

‫ت َم‬

Preposition usages

Example

Translating

[1] To mark the ending
of place

ِ‫يمْشِي َي ٌ مِ َ الَيْتِ إىل الـ َدْ َ َة‬
‫م رس‬
‫َ زد ن ب‬

Zayd walks from home
to the school

[2] To mark the ending
of period of time

5 ‫َمْشي َي ٌ م َ ال ّاعة 3 إىل ال َّا َة‬
‫سع‬
‫ي ز د ِن س‬

Zayd walks from 3
o'clock to the 5 o'clock

[3] Indicating the
source or provenance
when comparing - must
come after
comparative verb:
(‫)أطول – أقصر – أرخص - أمجل‬

‫القِ َاءةُ َأح ُّ اهلِ َا َاتِ إِىل نفْسِي‬
َ
‫ر َ َب و ي‬

Reading is the most
favorite hobbies to
myself

‫املَدْ َ َةُ أَقْر ُ إِىل بيْتِي‬
َ ‫رس َب‬

School is closer to my
home

[4] Before the question
"‫"أين‬
[5] In the phrase

"‫"إىل اللِّقًاء‬
[6] In the sense of until
– It comes before

‫أن + فِعل‬


‫ِإلَى أَيْ َ َ َذْ َ ُ َيْد؟‬
‫ن سي هب ز‬
You can also say:

(To) where will Zayd go?

‫أين س َذْ َ ُ َيد‬
‫ي هب ز‬

‫َأَذْ َ ُ اآلن، ِإلَى اللِّقاء‬
‫س هب‬
‫غَّتْ األ ُّ لِطِفلِ َا ِإلَى أَن َام‬
‫ن‬
‫َن ُم ْ ه‬
You can use

‫ حَّى‬instead of ‫إِلَى أن‬
‫َت‬

4

I'll take off now, see you
later

The mother sang the
baby to sleep

‫علَى‬
َ
‫ْ ْم ح‬

‫مَال‬
‫ِث‬

‫ت َم‬

Preposition usages

Example

Translating

[1] In a position touching
a surface

‫اللَوْ َةُ علَى احلَائِط‬
َ ‫ح‬

The picture is on the
wall

[2] To move
something/somebody to
the top of something

ِ‫َ َ ُ زيْ ٌ الكَِا َ َلَى الطَّاوِلَة‬
‫يضع َ د ت ب ع‬

Zayd puts the book on
the table

[3] To move
something/somebody OFF
the top of something

[4] To show the reason for
award or punish

ِ‫سقَطَ الكَِا ُ منْ َلَى الطَّاوِلَة‬
‫تب ِ ع‬
َ
(ْ ِ must comes before ‫) َلَى‬
‫من‬
‫ع‬

The book fell off the
table
Zayd awarded the child
for his work

ِ‫َاق َ زيْ ٌ ال َلَ َ َلَى َ َلِه‬
‫ع َب َ د و د ع عم‬

Zayd punished the child
for his work

ِ‫علَى الت ْلمِيذِ املُ َاكَ َة‬
‫ذ ر‬
ِّ َ

The student has to
study

‫علَى َيْ ٌ إِعْ َاد ال َ َاء‬
‫َ ز د د عش‬

Zayd has to fix dinner

‫ال عليك‬

It's ok, don't mention it

ِ‫كَا َ َلَى الت ْلمِيذِ املُ َاكَ َة‬
‫ذ ر‬
ِّ ‫ن ع‬

The student had to
study

[7] In the sense of even

َ‫أُحُّكَ علَى أَخْطَائِك‬
َ ‫ِب‬

I like you even you do
mistakes

[8] In the phrase
"‫" َلَى املَو ِد‬
‫ع ْع‬

‫َا َ َيْ ٌ علَى املَوْعِد‬
َ ‫جء زد‬

Zayd came on time

[5] In the meaning of has
to/have to

[6] In the meaning of had
to

[9] To read a ratio
[10] To show somebody's
attitude or reaction to
something


‫= خمْ َة علَى سبْ َة‬
‫َس َ َع‬
‫َذِهِ املُوسِيقَى لَيْ َت علَى َوْقِي‬
‫س َ ذ‬
‫ه‬
5

= five by seven

This music isn't to my
taste

‫فِي‬
‫ْ ْم ح‬

‫مَال‬
‫ِث‬

‫ت َم‬

Preposition usages

Example

Translating

‫َولَةٌ فِي أَفْرِيقِ َا‬
‫ي‬
ْ‫د‬

a country in Africa

‫األطْفال كَانوا يلْعُون فِي َّارِع‬
‫الش‬
‫َ َب‬
َ

The kids were playing in
the street

‫ُو فِي َ َا ال ُرْج‬
‫ه هذ د‬

It's in that drawer

ِ‫َيْ ٌ فِي الَيْت‬
‫ب‬
‫زد‬

Zayd at home

ِ‫و َ َ َيْ ٌ الكُ َةَ فِي ال َنْ ُوق‬
‫صد‬
ّ
‫َضع ز د ر‬

Zayd put the ball into
the box

[1] At a point within an
area or a space

[2] In movement into a
closed space
[3] during a period of time
-

months / seasons

‫فِي ِإبْرِيل‬

in April

-

time of day

‫فِي الصَاح‬
‫َّب‬

in morning

‫فِي اللَّيْل‬

at night

8991 ‫فِي َام‬
‫ع‬

in 1998

‫فِي ُطلَة األُسُوع‬
‫ْب‬
ْ‫ع‬

at the weekend

‫فِي َّا َة ال ّادِ َة والنصْف‬
ِّ ‫الس ع َ س‬
‫س‬

at half past six

‫املنزِ ُ فِي أَحْ َنِ َال‬
‫س ح‬
‫َْ ل‬

The house is in good
repair

‫هِي َع َ ُ فِي َ َالِ الكمبِ ُوَر‬
‫ت ْمل مج ُ ْ ي ت‬

She's in computers.

‫َح َّ َ َيْ ٌ فِيك‬
‫ت َدث ز د‬

Zayd said bad things
about you

-

year

-

weekend

-

telling the time

[4] To show a state or
condition
[5] To show somebody's
job or profession
[6] In the sense of
unpleasant and unkind
talk about somebody who
is not present
[7] In reading multiply
equation


‫: اثنان فِي َالَة‬
‫ث ث‬
‫ُ َاوي سَّة‬
‫تس ِت‬
6

: 2 multiplies
by 3 equal 6

‫عن‬
َْ
‫ْ ْم ح‬

‫مَال‬
‫ِث‬

‫ت َم‬

Preposition usages

Example

Translating

ِ‫َح َّ َ املُدِي ُ َن املَشْ ُوع‬
‫ر‬
‫ت َدث ر ع‬

The manager talked
about the project

‫ِابَ َ َ َي ٌ َن الَيت‬
‫ْتعد ز د ع ب‬

Zayd walked away from
home

ِ‫َفَ َ َيْ ٌ الكَا َ َن الطَّاولَة‬
ِ
‫ر ع ز د ِت ب ع‬

Zayd took the book of
the table

ِ‫َخلَّى َيْ ٌ َن اجلَائ َة‬
‫ِز‬
‫تَ زدع‬

Zayd let down the prize

‫ِابَعِدْ عِّي‬
‫ْت َن‬

Stay away from me

ِ‫ستَأ َّ ُ َنْ الع َل‬
‫ََت َخر ع َم‬

You'll be late from work

‫قبلْ ُ اجلَائ َةَ َن زيد‬
‫َ ِ ت ِز ع‬

I accepted the reward
on behalf of Zayd

‫أَجبْ ُ َنْ َيْد‬
‫َتع ز‬

I answered on behalf of
Zayd

‫أَنا أُف ِّ ُ السَا َةَ َنْ اجلَرِي‬
‫َضل ِّب ح ع‬

I prefer swimming to
walking

[1] Talking about
something or someone

[2] To show
something/someone is
moving a distance from
somebody/something

[3] In the sense of doing
something on behalf of
someone

[4] To distinguish
between two people or
things

‫َل اللُّ َة الُرُ َالِية ُخْتلِفَةٌ َن‬
‫ه غ ب ْتغ م َ ع‬
‫اإلسَان ِّة؟‬
‫ْب ِي‬


7

Is Portuguese very
different from Spanish?

‫َ َّى‬
‫ت‬
َ‫ح‬
‫ْ ْم ح‬

‫مَال‬
‫ِث‬

‫ت َم‬

Preposition usages

Example

Translating

‫َكَ َ َيد حَّى ال ّ َ َة‬
‫ر ض ز َت َجر‬
‫ش‬

Zayd run to the tree

‫َا َ َيد حَّى الظُهْر‬
‫ن م ز َت‬

Zayd slept until the
afternoon

[1] Up to the point in time
or the event mentioned

‫كَـ‬
‫ْ ْم ح‬

‫مَال‬
‫ِث‬

‫ت َم‬

Preposition usages

Example

Translating

[1] To describe
somebody/something
appearing to be
somebody/something else

‫َ َرُكِ َاعِمةٌ كَـاحلَرِير‬
‫بش َت ن‬

Your skin is soft as a silk

‫ُ َ ُ َام ُلنِي ك َدِيق‬
‫هو يع ِ َص‬

He treats me as a friend

[2] To describe the fact
that
somebody/something has
a particular job or
function

‫يمْكُكَ اِستِع َال َذِا الكَأْس‬
‫ُ ِن ْ ْم ه‬
‫كمزْ َر َّة‬
‫َ َ ه ِي‬
‫األخَار َاءتْ ك َّاعِقَة‬
‫َالص‬
‫ْب ج‬

You can use that glass
as a vase
The news came as a
shock

‫م منذ‬
ُ ْ ُ / ‫ُذ‬
‫ْ ْم ح‬

‫مَال‬
‫ِث‬

‫ت َم‬

Preposition usages

Example

Translating

‫لَمْ َأَمْ منْ ُ َو َني‬
‫ن ُ ذ ي ْم‬

I didn't sleep for two
days

‫لَمْ أَ َ ُ منْ ُ سنِني‬
ِ ‫ره ُ ذ‬

I haven't seen him in
years

[1] from a time in the past
until a later past time, or
until now


8

‫بِـ‬
‫ْ ْم ح‬

‫مَال‬
‫ِث‬

‫ت َم‬

Preposition usages

Example

Translating

‫َكُ ُ َيْ ٌ بالقلَم‬
َ ِ ‫ي ْتب ز د‬

Zayd wrote with the pen

‫َأمْ َكْ ُ ب َدِه‬
‫س ت ِي‬

I took him by the hand

‫َرْ ُ ُ َيْ ٌ بالفُرشاة‬
ِ ‫ي سم ز د‬

Zayd paints with brush

‫يَا ُ َيْ ٌ ب َالبِس الع َل‬
‫َم‬
‫َن م ز د ِم‬

Zayd sleeps with work
clothes

‫ُأصِي َ َيْ ٌ بِـ َ َرٍ فِي َأسِه‬
‫ب ز د حج ر‬

Zayd was hit by a stone
in his head

‫ُفَكِّ ُ َيْ ٌ ب َّفَر‬
‫ي ر ز د ِالس‬

Zayd is thinking about
making a travel

ٍ‫قَام َيْ ٌ بِـرِحلَة‬
ْ ‫زد‬

Zayd went in a trip

‫م َّ زيد بِـي‬
‫َر‬

Zayd passed by me

‫َيتِي بِـ َانِبِ ال َيْدل َّة‬
‫ص َِي‬
‫بْ ج‬

My home is beside the
pharmacy

‫بك ِّ ُ ُور‬
‫ُل سر‬

with all my pleasure

‫ِانَ َى َيد من عملِهِ بِـسرعة‬
ََ
‫ْته ز‬

Zayd finished his job
quickly

ْ‫ِانَ َى َيد بـ ُونِ ُ َا َ َة أَ َد‬
‫ْته ز ِ د مس عد ح‬

Zayd finished without
anyone helping

‫َسَ ُ َي ٌ ب َكْلٍ ج ِّد‬
‫ي ْبح ز د ِش َي‬

Zayd's swimming is
good

ٍ‫يَح ّ ُ َيْ ٌ بطَالقَة‬
ِ ‫َت َ ً ز د‬
‫دث‬

Zayd speaks fluently

ٍ‫َأْكُ ُ َيْ ٌ بِـصمْت‬
َ ‫ي لزد‬

Zayd eats quietly

‫فَعلْ ُ َ َا باخلَطأ‬
ِ ‫َ ت هذ‬

I did it by mistake

ِ‫قَاب ْلُ ُ بال ُدْفَة‬
‫َ ته ِ ص‬

I met him by chance

[1] To show
something/somebody
that are
used/touched/carried..etc
to do specific work

[2] past
somebody/something

[3] To show the way in
which somebody does
something


9

Do you swear?

Zayd felt pain

‫أََا أَشْ ُ ُ ب َّ َا َة‬
ِ ‫ن عر السع د‬

I feel happy

َ‫َأَا فَ ُو ٌ بِـك‬
‫ن خر‬

I'm proud of you

‫َهت َّ َي ٌ ب َوْ َتِه‬
‫ي َْم ز د ِز ج‬

Zayd cares about his
wife

‫َعتَى زي ٌ بح َانِه‬
‫ي َْن د ِ ِص‬

[5] To show feeling

‫باهلل عليك؟‬
ِ‫َ َ َ َي ٌ باأللَم‬
َ ‫شعر ز د‬

[4] Used when swearing
to mean ‘in the name of’

Zayd takes care of his
horse

[6] To show caring

‫َا َ َيد الَيْ َ بـِ َأَاثِه‬
‫بع ز بت ث‬
[7] To show things that
are combined

This expression is used in
slang as:

Zayd sold the house
with its furniture

)‫(با َ َيد الَيت بإِلي فيه‬
ِ ‫عز ب‬
[8] To show the period or
quantity used for buying,
selling or measuring
something

[9] To show who or what
does, creates or causes
something

[10] To show how or in
what way something is
done


‫َاع الـمنزِ َ بـ 18 آالف‬
‫ب َْ ل‬

He sold the house with
10 thousands

‫حنن نبيعه بالـمتْر‬
ِ

We sell it by the meter

َ‫بـِـاِسْمِ ِّرِكَة، َحْ ُ َشْكُ ُك‬
‫ن نن ر‬
‫الش‬

On behalf of the
company, we thank you

‫هَذَا الكتَاب بقلَم زَيْد الصايِغ‬
َِ ِ

This book was written
by Zayd Al-Sayeg

‫َولَةٌ غن َّةٌ بـالـ َ َادِن‬
‫د ْ َ ِي ِ مع‬

A country rich in
minerals

ِ‫ِامتألَ احلَوْ ُ بِـالـ َاء‬
‫ض م‬
َْ

A pool was filled by
water

01

‫لِـ‬
The usages when it comes before a NOUN

‫ْ ْم ح‬

‫مَال‬
‫ِث‬

‫ت َم‬

Preposition usages

Example

Translating

ٍ‫ه َا الكِتا ُ ِلـزِيد‬
‫ب‬
‫ذ‬

This book is belong to
Zayd

ً‫أعْطَى َيْ ٌ ِلـ َوْجتِهِ َد َّة‬
‫ز د ز َ ه ِي‬

Zayd gave a gift to her
wife

‫َ َا الكَا ُ ِلـي‬
‫هذ ِت ب‬

This book is mine

‫َا َحُكَ ِلـطِيبِ ق ْلبِك‬
َ
‫س م ْت‬

I forgave you for your
kind heart

ِ‫َ َ َ َيْ ٌ ِلـشِ َاءِ َّ َاء‬
‫ذهب ز د ر الدو‬

Zayd went to buy a
medicine

‫ِانتبِه ِلـ ْلَظَّا َة‬
‫َْ ن ر‬

Be careful with the
eyeglass

‫َا َا فَعلْتِ ِلـ َعْرِكِ؟‬
‫مذ َ ش‬

What have you done to
your hair?

! ِ‫َا ِلـلْ َوْ َة‬
‫ي رع‬

How beauty !

! ِ‫َا ِلـلْ َ َاَة‬
‫ي غر ب‬

How strange !

‫لَـمزِيدٍ مِ َ املَعلُو َات، اِتصِل بَا‬
‫َّ ِن‬
‫َ ن ْ م‬

For more information,
call us

‫لَقَد َسِرْ ُ ِلـ ْلم ِّةِ الَانِية‬
‫خ ت َر ث‬

I lost for the second
time

‫َأَغِي ُ ِلـَالثةِ أ َّام‬
‫س ب ث َي‬

I'm going away for three
days

ِ‫املُفَا ُ ِلـ ْلَاب‬
‫ْت ح ب‬

The key to the door

ِ‫احل ُّ ِلـ َذِهِ املُشْكلَة‬
ِ
‫َل ه‬

The solution to this
problem

[1] To show who is
intended to have or use
something or where
something is intended to
be put

[2] To show a reason or
cause

[3] To show the person or
thing that is affected by
an action

[4] In the sense of wonder

[5] To obtain something

[6] To show the occasion
or time when something
happens

[7] To show a relationship
between one person or
thing and another


00

‫لِـ‬
The usages when it comes before a PRESENT VERB

‫ْ ْم ح‬

‫مَال‬
‫ِث‬

‫ت َم‬

Preposition usages

Example

Translating

[1] To make a command
Note that:
- you can alter
"preposition + verb" with
command verb)
- the verb has SUKOON

[2] To show a purpose or
a reason
Note that: the verb has
FATHA


‫ِلُ َاعِدْ اآلخرِين‬
‫تس‬
)‫(= َاعِدْ اآلخرين‬
‫س‬

‫ِلَأكُلْ طَ َا َك‬
‫عم‬
‫ت‬
)‫(= كُلْ طَ َا َك‬
‫عم‬

Help other people

Eat your food

‫ذ َ جح‬
َ َ ْ‫َاكِرْ لِـتن‬

Study to be succeed

‫م رس ت َ م‬
َ َّ‫َهبْ ُ ِإلَى الـ َدْ َ َةِ لِ َأَعل‬
‫ذَ ت‬

I went school to learn

02

Are you ready
for quick test?

Visit:
http://www.everyday-arabic.com/2013/10/proposition-test_31.html


03

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You may not use this work for commercial purposes.

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04

A Guide to Arabic Prepositions for Non-native Speakers

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A Guide to Arabic Prepositions for Non-native Speakers