Arabic Grammar: Common Grammatical Terms, Parts of Speech, and Kinds of Nouns

Vocabulary flashcards covering foundational Arabic grammar terms, short vowels, diacritical signs, parts of speech, verb tenses, and the categories of definite and indefinite nouns.

Al-Fathah (الفتحة)

The short vowel sign written above a letter.

Al-Kasrah (الكسرة)

The short vowel sign written below a letter.

Ad-Dhamma (الضمة)

The short vowel sign written above a letter.

Harakah (الحركة)

A single short vowel sign (Fathah, Kasrah, or Dhamma). Collectively, the three signs are called Al-Harakāt Ath-Thalāthah (الحركات الثلاثة).

Al-Mutaharrik (المتحرك)

A letter that carries any of the three Harakāt.

As-Sukūn (السكون)

The sign written above a letter indicating the absence of a vowel.

Sākin (ساكن)

A letter that has a Sukūn written above it (such as the Nūn in the word 'an').

Al-Maftūh (المفتوح)

A letter with a Fathah written over it (such as the Tā' in the word 'kataba').

Al-Maksūr (المكسور)

A letter with a Kasrah written below it.

Al-Madhmūm (المضموم)

A letter with a Dhamma written over it (such as the Mīm in the word 'qā'imun').

Ash-Shaddah / At-Tashdīd (الشدة / التشديد)

The sign written over a letter indicating consonant doubling.

Mushaddad (مشدد)

A letter that has a Tashdīd written above it (such as the Dāl in the word 'madda').

At-Tanwīn (التنوين)

The doubled forms of the Fathah, Kasrah, or Dhamma signs.

Lām At-Ta'rīf (لام التعريف)

The prefix particle 'Al' (ال), meaning 'the', which turns an indefinite noun into a definite noun.

Al-Mu'arraf bil-Lām (المعرف باللام)

A noun that is prefixed with the definite article particle 'Al' (ال), such as Al-Bayt, Al-Walad, or Al-Qamar.

Arabic Alphabet الحروف الهجائيه

A set of 29 letters, starting from the letter Alif (ا) and ending at the letter Yā' (ي).

Hurūf al-'Illah (حروف العلة)

The weak letters or vowels in Arabic, consisting of Wāw (و), Alif (ا), and Yā' (ي).

Al-Hurūf As-Sahīhah (الحروف الصحيحة)

The consonants, comprising all 29 letters of the alphabet except for the three vowels (Wāw, Alif, and Yā').

Hamzat al-Wasl (Joining Hamzah Rule)

The initial Hamzah in certain words that is omitted from pronunciation when the preceding word is connected directly to it (e.g., 'Kitābullāh', 'dhālikal-kitābu').

Al-Kalimah (الكلمة)

A word denoting or conveying a meaning, categorized into three distinct types: Ism (Noun), Fi'l (Verb), and Harf (Particle).

Ism (اسم)

A word naming a person, place, or thing; it has no tense and includes adjectives.

Fi'l (فعل)

A word denoting an action that is bound to one of three grammatical tenses: past, present/future, or imperative.

Harf حرف

Particle in which the meaning is understood only if used with other words or in a sentence.

Al-Mādī (الماضي)

The past tense form of a verb, such as 'sami'a' (he heard).

Al-Mudāri' (المضارع)

The imperfect verb form denoting either the present or future tense, such as 'yasma'u' (he hears / is hearing).

Al-Amr (الأمر)

The imperative form of a verb conveying a command, such as 'isma'' (you must hear!).

Hāl (حال)

The present tense aspect of Fi'l Mudāri', such as 'yaktubu' meaning 'he is writing'.

Mustaqbal (مستقبل)

The future tense aspect of Fi'l Mudāri', such as 'yaktubu' meaning 'he shall write'.

Harf (حرف)

A particle whose meaning is only fully understood when it is used alongside other words in a sentence.

Ma'rifah (مَعْرِفَةٌ)

A definite or specific noun denoting a particular or specific person, place, or object.

Nakirah (نَكِرَةٌ)

An indefinite, non-specific, or common noun denoting an unspecified object (e.g., 'rajulun' - a man).

Ism al-'Alam (اسم العلم)

A proper noun referring to a specific name of a person or place (e.g., Zayd, Zaynab, Misr); one of the seven types of Ma'rifah.

Ad-Damīr (الضمير)

A personal pronoun (e.g., huwa, anā, anta); one of the seven types of Ma'rifah.

Ism al-Ishārah (اسم الإشارة)

A demonstrative pronoun or noun (e.g., hādhā, hādhihi, dhālika, tilka); one of the seven types of Ma'rifah.

Ism al-Mawsūl (اسم الموصول)

A relative pronoun (e.g., alladhī, alladhīna); one of the seven types of Ma'rifah.

Ism al-Munādā (اسم المنادى)

The noun of exclamation or address invoked by a vocative particle (e.g., yā rajulu, yā Allāh); one of the seven types of Ma'rifah.

Al Muarraf bil-laam المعرف باللام

Noun with the Definite article ال

Ism al-Mudāf (اسم المضاف)

A related noun that is annexed to any of the other six categories of Ma'rifah (e.g., bāb al-bayti, mā' an-nahri, kitābu Zayd); one of the seven types of Ma'rifah.