🔤 Grammar
Pronouns & 'to be' in the nominal sentence
In Arabic, the verb 'to be' is invisible in the present tense. «أنا طالب» (I student) means 'I am a student'. This is called a nominal sentence — subject + predicate with no verb between them.
Gender in pronouns
Arabic pronouns are gendered even in 'you' and 'they'. أنتَ (anta) = you (masc.), أنتِ (anti) = you (fem.). هم (hum) = they (masc.), هن (hunna) = they (fem.).
Formal greetings
السلام عليكم (peace be upon you) is universal. The reply وعليكم السلام returns the wish. مرحباً (marḥaban) is more casual, like 'hello'.
Conjugation tables
Subject pronouns
| Arabic | Translit | English |
|---|---|---|
| أنا | anā | I |
| أنتَ | anta | you (masc.) |
| أنتِ | anti | you (fem.) |
| هو | huwa | he |
| هي | hiya | she |
| نحن | naḥnu | we |
| أنتم | antum | you (masc. pl.) |
| هم | hum | they (masc.) |
Examples
- أنا من مصر.anā min Miṣr.I am from Egypt.
- هي طالبة.hiya ṭāliba.She is a student.
- نحن أصدقاء.naḥnu aṣdiqāʾ.We are friends.
Practice
Match each pronoun to its meaning.
Tap a english below, then tap the arabic it belongs to — or drag it.
Arabic
English
Match each greeting to its meaning.
Tap a english below, then tap the arabic it belongs to — or drag it.
Arabic
English