Arabic Grammar - Lesson 13: Indefinite Nouns (Tanween) and Conjunctions

Vocabulary and key grammatical rules covering definite vs. indefinite Arabic nouns (Tanween) and the joining conjunction 'Wa' based on Lesson 13.

The book (definite noun indicated by 'Al-').

الكِتَابُ (Al-Kitabu)

A book or any book (indefinite noun with Tanween ending).

كِتَابٌ (Kitabun)

The believer.

المُؤْمِنُ (Al-Mu'minu)

A believer or any believer.

مُؤْمِنٌ (Mu'minun)

The disbeliever.

الكَاِفِرُ (Al-Kafiru)

A disbeliever or any disbeliever.

كَافِرٌ (Kafirun)

When 'Al-' (ال) is removed from the beginning of a noun, double vowel endings (Tanween) are added, translating to 'a' or 'any' (e.g., Kitabun, Kitaban, Kitabin).

Indefinite Noun Rule (Removal of Al-)

Light or a light.

نُورٌ (Nurun)

Arabic conjunction meaning 'and', used to connect words.

وَ (Wa)

A light and a book.

نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ (Nurun wa Kitabun)