Pronouns in Arabic | الضَّمَائِرُ

Introduction

Pronouns are used as a substitute for a noun like he, her, his, her, their, them, I, etc.

There are basically two types of pronouns:

 

1. Attached pronouns – الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ which come attached to a noun, verb, or particle.
2. Detached pronouns – الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ which comes separatly without attaching itself to a verb, noun, or particle.
3.  

Classification of pronouns

 

Pronouns can be classified according to:

Conversation – الْكَلامُ:

• Third-person – الْغَائِبُ
• Second person – الْمُخَاطَبُ
• First-person – الْمُتَكَلِّمُ

Gender -الْجِنْسُ:

• Masculine – المُذَكَّرُ
• Feminine – الْمُؤَنَّفُ

Number – الْعَدَدُ

• Singular – الْمُفْرَدُ
• Dual – المُثَنَّى
• Plural – الْجَمْعُ

Note: unlike English, Arabic uses a separate word for “two,” which is the dual – المُثَنَّى.

 

Email Address*

Your country*

---

 

Third Person Pronouns – الضَّمَائِرُ لِلْغَائِبِ

 

As these are used most often in the Qur’an, we will deal with them first.

 

Table for masculine third-person pronouns – مُذَكَر غَائِب

 

Detached pronouns –  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
هُوَ	هُمَا	هُمْ
He	They two	They all

 

Attached pronouns – الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
هُ	هُمَا	هُمْ
His	Theirs (two)	Theirs (all)
لَهُ	لَهُمَا	لَهُمْ
For him	For them (two)	For them (all)
إِيَّاهُ	إِيَّاهُما	إِيَّاهُمَا
Only him	Only them (two)	Only them (all)

Table for feminine third-person pronouns – مُؤَنَّثُ غَائِب

 

Detached pronouns –  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
هِيَ	هُمَا	هُنَّ
She	They two	They all

 

Attached pronouns – الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
هَا	هُمَا	هُنَّ
Her	Theirs (two)	Theirs (all)
لَها	لَهُمَا	لَهُنَّ
For her	For them (two)	For them (all)
إِيَّاهَا	إَيَّاهُمَا	إِيَّاهُنَّ
Only her	Only them (two)	Only them (all)

Examples of detached pronouns –  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

 

Detached pronouns –  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
هُوَ مُسْلِمٌ	هُمَا مُسْلِمَانِ	هُم مُسْلِمُوْنَ
He is a Muslim	They both are Muslims	They are Muslims

 

Attached pronouns – الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
هِيَ مُسْلِمَةٌ	هُمَا مُسْلِمَتَانِ	هُنَّ مُسْلِمَاتٌ
She is a Muslim	They both are Muslims	They are Muslims

Examples of attached pronouns –  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ with a noun:

 

Detached pronouns –  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
رَبُّهُ	رَبُّهُمَا	رَبُهُمْ
His Lord	Their Lord	Their Lord

 

Attached pronouns – الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
رَبُّهَا	رَبُّهُمَا	رَبُّهُنَّ
Her Lord	Their Lord	Their Lord

Examples of attached pronouns –  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ with a verb:

 

Detached pronouns –  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
خَلَقَهُ	خَلَقَهُمَا	خَلَقَهُمْ
He created him	He created them	He created them

 

Attached pronouns – الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
خَلَقَهَا	خَلَقَهُمَا	خَلَقَهُنَّ
He created her	He created them	He created them

Examples from the noble Quran

Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One (112:1)

فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ

But Satan whispered to them (7:20)

وَقَاسَمَهُمَا إِنِّي لَكُمَا لَمِنَ النَّاصِحِينَ

And he swore [by Allah] to them, “Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors.” (7:21)

أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ

that you do not worship except Him(17:23)

إِذْ هُمْ عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌ

And they, to what they were doing against the believers, were witnesses. (85:6)

وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ

you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith]. (2:4)

Second Person Pronouns

الضَّمَائِرُ لِلْمُخَاطَبِ

 

Table for masculine second-person pronouns – الضَّمَائِرُ لِلْمُذَكَرِ لِلْمُخَاطَبِ

 

Detached pronouns –  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
أَنْتَ	أَنْتُما	أَنْتُمْ
You	You both	You all

 

Attached pronouns – الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
كَ	كُمَا	كُمْ
Yours	Yours (two)	Yours (all)
لَكَ	لَكُمَا	لَكُمْ
For you	For you both	For you all
إِيَّأكَ	إِيَّاكُما	إِيَّاكُمْ
Only from you	Only from you (two)	Only from you (all)

Table for feminine second-person pronouns – الضَّمَائِرُ لِلْمُؤَنَّثِ لِلْمُخَاطَبِ

 

Detached pronouns –  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
أَنْتِ	أَنْتُمَا	أَنْتُنَّ
You	You both	You all

 

Attached pronouns – الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
كَ	كُمَا	كُمْ
Yours	Yours (two)	Yours (all)
كِ	كُمَا	كُنَّ
Yours	Yours (two)	Yours (all)
لَكِ	لَكُمَا	لَكُنَّ
For you	For you both	For you all
إِيَّاكِ	إِيَّاكُمَا	إِيَّاكُنَّ
Only from you	Only from you (two)	Ony from you (all)

Examples of detached pronouns – الضَّمَائِرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

 

Masculine

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
أَنْتَ مُسْلِمٌ	أَنْتُمَا مُسْلِمَانِ	أَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُوْنَ
You are a Muslim	You both are Muslims	You all are Muslims

 

Feminine

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
أَنْتِ مُسْلِمَةٌ	أَنْتُمَا مُسْلِمَتَانِ	أَنْتُنَّ مُسْلِمَاتٌ
You are a Muslim	You both are Muslims	You all are Muslims

Examples of attached pronouns with a noun:

 

Masculine

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
رَبُّكَ	رَبُّكُمَا	رَبُّكُمْ
Your Lord	Lord of you both	Lord of you all

 

Feminine

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
رَبُّكِ	رَبُّكُمَا	رَبُّكُنَّ
Your Lord	Lord of you both	Lord of you all

Examples of attached pronouns with a verb:

 

Masculine

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
خَلَقَكَ	خَلَقَكُمَا	خَلَقَكُمْ
He created you	He created you both	He created you all

 

Feminine

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
خَلَقَكِ	خَلَقَكُمَا	خَلَقَكُنَّ
He created you	He created you both	He created you all

Examples from the Noble Quran:

 

قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ

They said, “Exalted are You; we do not know what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise.” (2:32)

وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ

And We said, “O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise  (2:35)

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

It is You we worship and You we ask for help. (1:5)

أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ

Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your breast? (94:1)

يَا مَرْيَمُ اقْنُتِي لِرَبِّكِ وَاسْجُدِي وَارْكَعِي مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ

O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow [in prayer].” (3:43)

First Person Pronoun – الضَّمَائِرُ لِلْمُتَكَلَّمِ

 

In the third and second person, we have categorized a singular, dual, and plural accord to the number. However, dual does not exist for the first-person pronoun.

نَحْنُ

it is used for both dual and plural.

As in English, the first person pronouns are common for both masculine and feminine genders.

 

Examples of First-person (masculine/feminine)

 

Detached pronouns

 

Singular	Plural
أَنَا	نَحْنُ
I	We

 

Attached pronouns (to a noun)

 

Singular	Plural
ىْ	نَا
My	Our

 

Attached pronouns (To verb)

 

Singular	Plural
نِىْ	نَا
Me	Us
لِىْ	لَنَا
For me	For us
إِيَّاىَ	إِيَّانَا
Only me	Only us

Note: When attached pronouns are used with a noun, we suffix to the noun:

ى

When they are used with a verb :

نِىْ

is used.

رَبِّيْ	خَلَقَنِيْ
My Lord	He created me

Sometimes in the first person, possessive singular pronouns ى is not attached to the noun or verb, but the possession is indicated by accenting the last letter with a kasrah.

أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ

I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me (2:186)

لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ

For you is your religion, and for me, is my religion.” (109:6)

إنَّ	comes in the meaning of surely/certainly. It can be attached to pronouns and used.

نَا + إِنَّ	= إِنَّا	Surely we
كَ + إِنَّ	= إِنَّكَ	Surely you
هُ + إِنَّ	= إِنَّهُ	Surely he

Examples from the Noble Quran:

 

إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا

Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, (6:79)

إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ

Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], al-Kawthar. (108:1)

فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا

Then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance. (110:3)

Examples of detached pronouns

 

Masculine

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
أَنَا مُسْلِمٌ	نَحْنُ مُسْلِمَانِ	نَحْنُ مُسْلِمُوْنَ
I am a Muslim	We two are Muslims	We all are Muslims

 

Feminine

 

Singular مفرد	Dual متنى	Plural جمع
أَنَا مُسْلِمَةٌ	نَحْنُ مُسْلِمَتَانِ	نَحْنُ مُسْلِمَاتٌ
I am Muslim	We two are Muslims	We all are Muslims

Examples of detached pronouns with a noun:

 

Masculine/Feminine

 

Singular	Plural
رَبِّيْ	رَبُّنا
My Lord	Our Lord

Examples of detached pronouns with a verb:

 

Masculine/Feminine

 

Singular	Plural
خَلَقَنِيْ	خَلَقَنَا
He created me	He created us

Examples from the Noble Quran:

 

قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ

And when it is said to them, “Do not cause corruption on the earth,” they say, “We are but reformers.” (2:11)

مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا

about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad] (2:23)

وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ

we declare Your praise and sanctify You? (2:30)

وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

But among them is he who says, “Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” (2:201)

This Arabic lesson is now finished. The next one will be insha’Allah about the prepositions in Arabic.

 

Al-dirassa center offers you the possibility to study the Arabic language easily with a qualified teacher. If you are interested, do not hesitate to consult us.

 

Discover our private classes by Zoom or Skype with a private tutor